Frances Apsley (1653–7 June 1727), later Lady Bathurst, was a

maid of honour A maid of honour is a junior attendant of a queen in royal households. The position was and is junior to the lady-in-waiting. The equivalent title and office has historically been used in most European royal courts. Role Traditionally, a queen ...

to the future Queen Mary II of England and her younger sister, the future Queen Anne, the daughters of the Duke and Duchess of York. She was the daughter of Sir Allen Apsley and his wife, the former Frances Petre. Letters written to her by a sentimental adolescent Princess Mary reveal that she idolised Frances Apsley. Whilst there are some historians who believe the writings to be evidence of Mary's homosexuality, most historians disagree; Mary's marriage to William of Orange was a happy one and she seems to have been deeply in love with her husband. She did, however, maintain a platonic friendship with Frances, who married Sir Benjamin Bathurst, via ongoing correspondence.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Apsley, Frances 1653 births 1727 deaths

Frances Frances is a French and English given name of Latin origin. In Latin the meaning of the name Frances is 'from France' or 'free one.' The male version of the name in English is Francis. The original Franciscus, meaning "Frenchman", comes from the F ...

English letter writers Women letter writers British maids of honour Mary II of England 17th-century English women 18th-century English people 18th-century English women Anne, Queen of Great Britain Court of Charles II of England