Henrietta Howard, Countess of Suffolk
Lady Henrietta Howard, Countess of Suffolk (* 1688 in Norfolk, † July 26, 1767 in Marble Hill House in Richmond ) was the long-time mistress of the Prince of Wales and future King George II; as well as the maid of honor ( Mistress of the Robes ) of Queen Caroline.
Life
Henrietta was the youngest daughter of Sir Henry Hobart, 4th Baronet ( 1658-1698 ) and his wife Lady Elizabeth Maynard. She had two sisters, Catherine ( † 1725) and John ( 1693-1756 ). Her father died in 1698 during a duel. Henrietta was as witty and warm-hearted beauty. On March 2, 1706, she married Charles Howard ( † 1733), although the third son of Henry Howard, 5th Earl of Suffolk, of high nobles descent, he was considered uncouth, a drunkard and a spendthrift without paternal inheritance.
George Augustus, Prince of Wales, Lady Howard made in 1719 to its permanent mistress, a position which she - was to hold for fifteen years - with the approval of her husband. Crown Princess Caroline, who she also did not find unappealing, consoled himself with the fact that they could have made worse, and adopted the new favorite as a maid in her service. His grandmother, Princess Sophie, approved the money as they, pragmatic as always, said that Lady Howard will improve the English of her grandson. Although she was married, but for an annual pension of 1000 ducats her husband was willing to postpone its claims. As of 1727 decreased Lady Howard in the favor of the Prince of Wales. This was due less to the long duration of their relationship, serious was that Henrietta, which had managed to be his mistress, the servant and friend of his wife and confidante of the honors at the same time, gradually became deaf. As someone who loved to talk a lot, however, it was dependent on attentive listeners.
1734 King George II definitly left of Lady Suffolk, as she had inherited his father's title since her husband was mentioned. Having lost its position in the royal court, she retired to her country house Marble Hill House in Twickenham back. It maintained close correspondence with, among others, Alexander Pope, Horace Walpole and Jonathan Swift. Lady Suffolk died on July 26, 1767 of heart failure.