Lot 18: Philip Jean (British, 1755-1802) Maria, Duchess of Gloucester (1736–1807), wearing white dress and blue mantle, her powdered wig worn à la conseilleur

Maria, Duchess of Gloucester (1736–1807), wearing white dress and blue mantle, her powdered wig worn à la conseilleur.
Gold frame, the reverse glazed to reveal blue glass set with gilt-metal initial M beneath a crown.
Oval, 73mm (2 7/8in) high

Maria Walpole was the daughter of Sir Edward Walpole KB PC (Ire) (1706–1784) and Dorothy Clement. Her grandfather was Sir Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford, KG, KB, PC (1676–1745), considered to be the first Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1721-41). She grew up at Frogmore House in Windsor, but her parents were not married, and her illegitimate status hindered her social standing despite her family connections.

On the 15th May 1759, she married James Waldegrave, 2nd Earl Waldegrave. The Earl died in 1763, leaving Maria a widow after just four years of marriage. They had three daughters: Lady Elizabeth Laura Waldegrave (1760–1816) who married her cousin, the 4th Earl Waldegrave, Lady Charlotte Maria Waldegrave (1761–1808) who married the 4th Duke of Grafton ***(see lot X)*** and Lady Anna Horatia Waldegrave (1762–1801) who married Admiral Lord Hugh Seymour, son of Francis Seymour-Conway, 1st Marquess of Hertford. Anna and Hugh were the great grandparents of Charles Spencer, 6th Earl Spencer, the great-grandfather of Diana, Princess of Wales.

Three years following the death of Earl Waldegrave, Maria married Prince William Henry, Duke of Gloucester (1743–1805). The Duke was a younger brother of George III. The marriage was conducted in secret owing to Maria's non-royal rank and illegitimate birth. Their union led to the passing of the Royal Marriages Act of 1772 but remained legal in the eyes of the government because they married before the act was passed. As such, Countess Waldegrave came to be styled, 'Her Royal Highness, The Duchess of Gloucester and Edinburgh' but she was never received at court. The Duke and Duchess lived at St Leonard's Hill in Clewer, near Windsor and had three children: Princess Sophia of Gloucester (1773–1844), Princess Carolina Augusta Maria of Gloucester (1774–1775) and Prince William Frederick, Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh (1776–1834).

Princess Carolina died aged nine months following a smallpox inoculation, intended to protect her from the disease. As great-grandchildren in the male line of King George II, the Gloucester's children were styled, 'Highness' from birth and used the territorial designation of Gloucester in conjunction with their princely styles. After William Frederick married his cousin Princess Mary, he and his surviving sister Sophia received the style of 'Royal Highness'.