Diana Beauclerk, Duchess of St Albans (c. 1679–15 January 1742), born Lady Diana de Vere, was a British courtier. She was

Mistress of the Robes The mistress of the robes was the senior lady in the Royal Household of the United Kingdom. Formerly responsible for the queen consort's/regnant's clothes and jewellery (as the name implies), the post had the responsibility for arranging the rota o ...

to Caroline, Princess of Wales from 1714 to 1717. She was one of the

Hampton Court Beauties The Hampton Court Beauties are a series of eight portraits by Sir Godfrey Kneller, commissioned by Queen Mary II of England, depicting the most glamorous ladies from the court of William III. They adorn the state rooms of King William III at ...

Mary II of England Mary II (30 April 166228 December 1694) was List of English monarchs, Queen of England, List of Scottish monarchs, Scotland, and Monarchy of Ireland, Ireland, co-reigning with her husband, William III of England, William III & II, from 1689 unt ...

Family

She was the daughter of

Aubrey de Vere, 20th Earl of Oxford Aubrey is traditionally a male English given name. The name is from the French derivation Aubry of the Germanic given name Alberic / Old High German given name Alberich, which consists of the elements ALF "elf" and RIK "king", from Proto-German ...

, and Diana Kirke. On 17 April 1694, she married

Charles Beauclerk, 1st Duke of St Albans Charles Beauclerk, 1st Duke of St Albans, KG (8 May 167010 May 1726) was an illegitimate son of King Charles II of England by his mistress Nell Gwyn. Biography On 21 December 1676, a warrant was passed for "a grant to Charles Beauclerc, the ...

, an illegitimate son of King Charles II and his mistress

Nell Gwynne Eleanor Gwyn (2 February 1650 – 14 November 1687; also spelled ''Gwynn'', ''Gwynne'') was a celebrity figure of the Restoration period. Praised by Samuel Pepys for her comic performances as one of the first actresses on the English stag ...

, whereupon Diana became Duchess of St Albans. Together Beauclerk and Diana had 12 children: *

Charles Beauclerk, 2nd Duke of St Albans Charles Beauclerk, 2nd Duke of St Albans, KG KB (6 April 1696 – 27 July 1751) was a British politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1718 until 1726 when he succeeded to a peerage as Duke of St Albans. He was an illegitimate grandson ...

(6 April 1696 – 27 July 1751) * Lady Diana Beauclerk (born ) * Lord William Beauclerk (22 May 1698 – 23 February 1732/33) * Admiral

Vere Beauclerk, 1st Baron Vere Admiral Vere Beauclerk, 1st Baron Vere (14 July 1699 – 21 October 1781), known as Lord Vere Beauclerk until 1750, was a Royal Navy officer, British peer and politician who sat in the House of Commons for 24 years from 1726 to 1750. After s ...

of Hanworth (14 July 1699 – 21 October 1781) * Colonel Lord Henry Beauclerk (11 August 1701 – 5 January 1761) *

Lord Sidney Beauclerk Lord Sidney Beauclerk (27 February 170323 November 1744) was a British politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1733 to 1744. He acquired a reputation as a fortune hunter. Early life Beauclerk was the fifth son of the 1st Duke of St ...

(27 February 1703 – 23 November 1744) * Lieutenant-General

Lord George Beauclerk Lieutenant-General Lord George Beauclerk (26 December 1704 – 11 May 1768) was a British Army officer, the sixth son of Charles Beauclerk, 1st Duke of St Albans by his wife Diana, daughter of Aubrey de Vere, 20th Earl of Oxford. Military caree ...

(26 December 1704 – 11 May 1768) * Lord Seymour Beauclerk (born 24 June 1708) * Rt. Revd.

Lord James Beauclerk Lord James Beauclerk ( – 20 October 1787) was an Anglican clergyman who served as the Bishop of Hereford from 1746 to 1787. Education He was the eighth son of Charles Beauclerk, 1st Duke of St Albans and Lady Diana de Vere. He was educated ...

( - 20 October 1787),

Bishop of Hereford The Bishop of Hereford is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Hereford in the Province of Canterbury. The episcopal see is centred in the Hereford, City of Hereford where the bishop's seat (''cathedra'') is in the Hereford Cathedr ...

* Lord Aubrey Beauclerk (1711 - 24 February 1740) * Lady Mary Beauclerk (born ) * Lady Anne Beauclerk (born )

References

External links

*
"Diana Beauclerk (née de Vere), Duchess of St Albans"
''National Portrait Gallery'' 1679 births 1742 deaths Diana English duchesses by marriage Daughters of British earls Ladies of the Bedchamber Mistresses of the Robes Diana First Ladies of the Bedchamber Diana Household of Caroline of Brandenburg-Ansbach {{England-duke-stub