Louisa McDonnell, Countess Of Antrim
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Louisa Jane McDonnell, Countess of Antrim, VA (''née'' Grey; 15 February 1855 – 2 April 1949) was a British noblewoman and courtier.


Biography

Lady Antrim was born at
St James's Palace St James's Palace is the most senior royal palace in London, England. The palace gives its name to the Court of St James's, which is the monarch's royal court, and is located in the City of Westminster. Although no longer the principal residence ...
, the daughter of Gen. Hon. Charles Grey (a son of the 2nd Earl Grey and Private Secretary to
Prince Albert Prince Albert most commonly refers to: *Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (1819–1861), consort of Queen Victoria *Albert II, Prince of Monaco (born 1958), present head of state of Monaco Prince Albert may also refer to: Royalty * Alb ...
) and his wife, Caroline Eliza ''née'' Farquhar (daughter of Sir Thomas Harvie Farquhar). She had one brother,
Albert Grey, 4th Earl Grey Albert Henry George Grey, 4th Earl Grey, (28 November 185129 August 1917) was a British peer and politician who served as Governor General of Canada from 1904 to 1911, the ninth since Canadian Confederation. He was a radical Liberal aristocrat ...
and her three sisters Sybil, Duchess of St Albans (wife of 10th Duke of St Albans), Lady Victoria Dawnay (wife of Lewis Payn Dawnay), and Mary, Countess of Minto. In 1890, the Countess became a
Lady of the Bedchamber Lady of the Bedchamber is the title of a lady-in-waiting holding the official position of personal attendant on a British queen regnant or queen consort. The position is traditionally held by the wife of a peer. A lady of the bedchamber would gi ...
to
Queen Victoria Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until Death and state funeral of Queen Victoria, her death in January 1901. Her reign of 63 year ...
, serving until the latter's death in January 1901. She was reappointed under
Queen Alexandra Alexandra of Denmark (Alexandra Caroline Marie Charlotte Louise Julia; 1 December 1844 – 20 November 1925) was List of British royal consorts, queen-consort of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Empress of India, from 22 Januar ...
one month later, serving until
Edward VII Edward VII (Albert Edward; 9 November 1841 – 6 May 1910) was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 22 January 1901 until Death and state funeral of Edward VII, his death in 1910. The second child ...
's death in 1910. As a lady of the court, the countess often accompanied the Queen to official engagements, and served in waiting on the Queen at one of the royal palaces for scheduled months. In April 1900 she accompanied Queen Victoria on her first visit to Ireland since 1861. She married in the
Chapel Royal A chapel royal is an establishment in the British and Canadian royal households serving the spiritual needs of the sovereign and the royal family. Historically, the chapel royal was a body of priests and singers that travelled with the monarc ...
at St. James's Palace on 1 June 1875 the 6th Earl of Antrim. They had three children: *Lady Sybil Mary McDonnell (26 March 1876 – 16 April 1959), married
Vivian Smith, 1st Baron Bicester Vivian Hugh Smith, 1st Baron Bicester (9 December 1867 – 17 February 1956), was a British merchant banker. Early life Vivian Hugh Smith was born on 9 December 1867. He was the elder son of Hugh Colin Smith (son of John Abel Smith and Gove ...
. * Randal Mark Kerr McDonnell, 7th Earl of Antrim (10 December 1878 – 15 June 1932) *Hon. Angus McDonnell (7 June 1881 – 22 April 1966) The Countess of Antrim died in London in 1949, aged 94.


References

1855 births 1949 deaths Ladies of the Royal Order of Victoria and Albert Irish countesses Ladies of the Bedchamber Court of Queen Victoria {{Ireland-earl-stub