Mabell Ogilvy, Countess of Airlie

Mabell Frances Elizabeth Ogilvy, Countess of Airlie GCVO , GBE (born March 10, 1866 in Mayfair , London , † April 7, 1956 in Paddington , London) was a British noblewoman , writer and lady-in-waiting to the Queen Mary .

Life

She was born as Mabell Frances Elizabeth Gore and was the eldest daughter of four children of Arthur Gore, Viscount Sudley (1839–1901), who later became the 5th Earl of Arran , and his first wife, Lady Edith Elizabeth Henrietta Jocelyn (1845–1871) , Daughter of Robert Jocelyn, Viscount Jocelyn (1816-1854), and Lady Frances Elizabeth Cowper († 1880). As the daughter of the apparently marriage of an Earl , she used the courtesy address "The Honorable" (Hon.) From birth . Since her father inherited the earl title in 1901, she was the courtesy address of Lady as his daughter .

After the early death of her mother, she grew up with her siblings with her maternal grandparents. Her childhood revolved around perfect behavior and social representation. She was taught exclusively at home by governesses and tutors with the help of the grandfather's library . In addition to geography , history , mathematics , art , dance and music , Mabell also learned French and German .

On January 19, 1886, Lady Mabell married Lt.-Col. In St George's Hanover Square Church in Westminster, London . David Stanley William Ogilvy , 6th Earl of Airlie (1856-1900). As his wife from then on she carried the courtesy title Countess of Airlie . The marriage had six children:

• Lady Kitty Edith Blanche Ogilvy (1887–1969), ⚭ (1) 1906–1925 Brig.-Gen. Sir Berkeley Vincent (1871–1963), ⚭ (2) 1926 Lt.-Col. Ralph Gerald Ritson († 1969);
• Lady Helen Alice Wyllington Ogilvy (1890–1973), ⚭ (1) 1909–1915 Major Hon. Clement Bertram Ogilvy Freeman-Mitford (1876–1915), ⚭ (2) 1918–1931 Lt.-Col. Henry Courtney Brocklehurst (1888–1942), ⚭ (3) 1933 Lt.-Col. Harold Bligh Nutting († 1954);
• Lady Mabell Griselda Esther Sudley Ogilvy (1892–1918), unmarried;
• David Lyulph Gore Wolseley Ogilvy, 7th Earl of Airlie (1893–1968) ⚭ 1917 Lady Alexandra Marie Bridget Coke (1891–1984);
• Hon. Bruce Arthur Ashley Ogilvy (1895–1976) ⚭ 1931 Primrose Eleanor O'Brien († 1961);
• Captain Hon. Patrick Julian Harry Stanley Ogilvy (1896–1917), unmarried.

In 1890 she was accepted into the Order of Saint John as Dame of Grace (DGStJ) . When the Second Boer War broke out in 1899, her husband went to South Africa as regimental commander of the 12th Royal Lancers , where he died of his injuries during the Battle of Diamond Hill on June 11, 1900. Lady Airlie took over the administration of the lands for her underage son, David Ogilvy, now 7th Earl of Airlie.

On December 3, Lady Mabell was as Lady of the Bedchamber to the maid of honor of Mary, Princess of Wales appointed. On May 6, 1910, the Prince of Wales came to the throne as King George V ; on June 22, 1911 the couple was crowned. Now as Queen Mary's lady-in-waiting, the Countess lived in an apartment in Buckingham Palace and often accompanied Queen Mary on her travels. During World War I , the Countess supported the British Red Cross and served as President of the Queen Alexandra's Army Nursing Board ; In recognition of her achievements, she received an honorary doctorate from the University of St Andrews ( Hon. Doctor of Laws (LL.D.)) in 1919 and was raised to the Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE) in 1920 .

After her eldest son married and came of age, the Countess began editing the correspondence of famous family members, such as her great-grandmother, wife of British Prime Minister Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston . In 1953 her employer and lifelong friend Queen Mary died. As their closest confidante, the Countess had an insight into the eventful life of the British royal family, which she described in her memoir . It was only after her death in 1956 that her notes were edited by the author Jennifer Ellis and published in 1962 under the book title " Thatched with Gold: The Memoirs of Mabell, Countess of Airlie ".

In 1953 she was awarded the Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO).

Works (selection)

• 1921: In Whig Society, 1775-1818.
• 1922: Lady Palmerston and her Times.
• 1933: With the Guards We Shall Go.

Trivia

Her grandson, David Ogilvy, 8th Earl of Airlie (* 1926), was Lord Chamberlain of the Household until 1997 under Queen Elizabeth II. Her grandson, Sir Angus Ogilvy (1928-2004), was by marriage to Princess Alexandra of Kent (* 1936) a member of the British Royal Family .

Individual evidence

1. ^ The London Gazette : 27382, 8559 , December 3, 1901.

literature

• Jennifer Ellis: Thatched with Gold. The Memoirs of Mabell, Countess of Airlie. Hutchinson, London 1962.
• George E. Cokayne , Vicary Gibbs (Eds.): The Complete Peerage . Volume 1, Alan Sutton Publishing, Gloucester 2000, p. 75.
• Charles Mosley (Ed.): Burke's Peerage and Baronetage . Volume 1, Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, Crans 1999, p. 45.

Web links

• Lady Mabell Frances Elizabeth Gore on thepeerage.com