Mary Villiers, Duchess of Buckingham facts for kids
Mary Villiers, Duchess of Buckingham (born Fairfax; 30 July 1638 – 20 October 1704), was an important English noblewoman. She was the wife of George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham.
Mary was the daughter of Thomas Fairfax, 3rd Lord Fairfax of Cameron, and his wife, Anne. She was born in 1638 and was tutored by the famous poet Andrew Marvell during her teenage years.
Marriage to the Duke
Mary was supposed to marry someone else, but she chose to marry George Villiers, the Duke of Buckingham. They were married on 15 September 1657. At this time, the Duke was not in favor with the government. He was even placed under house arrest and later imprisoned in the Tower of London. However, Mary's father, Lord Fairfax, helped arrange his release in 1659.
Mary and the Duke of Buckingham did not have any children.
Life at Court
Mary became a Lady of the Bedchamber to Catherine of Braganza, who was the queen of Charles II of England. This meant Mary had an important role helping the queen. She held this position from 1663 to 1679. Mary was known as a very good and religious lady, even though the royal court at that time was sometimes seen as wild.
A Royal Adventure
In October 1670, Mary, the queen, and their friend the Duchess of Richmond decided to have some fun. They went to a fair near Audley End dressed up as country women. They wore red petticoats and waistcoats, trying to blend in.
However, their costumes were quite unusual, and their way of speaking was different from the local people. Soon, a crowd started to gather around them. Someone in the crowd recognized the queen! After that, the royal party returned home, followed by many people from the fair. It was a memorable and funny adventure.
Later Life and Legacy
Mary's husband, the Duke of Buckingham, passed away in 1687. Mary Villiers, the Dowager Duchess, lived until 1704. She was buried next to her husband in the Buckingham vault at Westminster Abbey.
