Elizabeth Villiers, the eldest of the eight children of Sir Edward
Villiers, was regarded as ungainly with a bad complexion and a squint,
certainly not a beauty. However, she had a good figure and a long white
neck. In 1677, with her sisters Anne and Katherine, she
accompanied the young Princess Mary, who had married the Prince of
Orange, to Holland.
In 1679 when the Prince of Orange made his first advances she tried
to discourage him. What the Prince of Orange found attractive in her was
that she was witty, intelligent and an excellent talker. She was arrogant,
not vain, had a sense of humour and her reserved manner hid a genuine warmth
and generosity. However, rumours of their affaire reached Paris that year,
probably by 1680, Princess Mary became aware of their relationship.
In October 1685 the Prince of Orange dismissed Mrs. Trelawny from his
Court. He had disliked her for many years because of her intrigues between
the Prince and Elizabeth Villiers. However, Mrs. Trelawny was not the only
one to tell tales as Mary's father, hoping to break up his daughter's marriage,
had encouraged others to relay domestic gossip to him.
However, through the meddling of Mary's father the affaire became public
and Elizabeth was sent back to England. To stop rumours continuing there,
Elizabeth's father then begged the Prince and Princess of Orange to allow
her to return to Holland. Elizabeth was given permission to return but
Princess Mary refused to receive her. Elizabeth then went to live with
her sister Madame de Puissars. Bentinck, favourite of the Prince of Orange
as well as Elizabeth's brother-in-law, forbade his wife to visit Elizabeth.
In the meantime the affaire with the Prince continued and was to last for
over fifteen years.
In 1688 Elizabeth's sister Anne Bentinck was dying and, because they
had not been on speaking terms for several years, Elizabeth went to her
sister's house, keeping herself in the background. However, Princess Mary
called her over and Elizabeth and Anne made their peace. After William
and Mary established themselves as King and Queen in England, Elizabeth
returned to London where, for a while, she lived again with her sister,
Madame de Puissars. Then she moved into lodgings close to Kensington Palace
and soon resumed seeing the Prince of Orange, who was now King William
III. As before, the affaire was conducted discreetly. William III settled
Irish properties, which had belonged to his father-in-law, on Elizabeth
Villiers.
When William III lost his wife, he was devastated and, as soon as he
decently could, he married off his mistress to one of his regimental commanders
and thereafter ignored her. It was in November 1695 that Elizabeth married
George
Hamilton, fifth son of the Duke of Hamilton. He was handsome, dair-haired,
had nothing much to say but, for a younger son, was extremely rich. He
had distinguished himself in every one of William III's battles and had
been severly wounded at Namur. In 1695 George Hamilton became Brigadier-General
and Earl of Orkney in January 1696. Their marriage though frowned upon
by several members of the Hamilton family, was a happy one producing three
daughters. Elizabeth, Countess of Orkney, kept up her friendship with politicians;
and even twenty years later her opinions were still valued by Government
ministers. In 1727 at the Coronation of King George II, her appearance
was described by Lady Mary Wortley Montagu: "She exposed behind a mixture
of fat and wrinkles; and before, a very considerable protuberance which
preceded her. Add to this the inimitable roll of her eyes, and her grey
hair and 'tis impossible to imagine a more delightful spectacle."
In their house at Cliveden on 5 September 1724, Elizabeth and her husband
entertained King George I and, on 30 July 1729, Queen Caroline. On 19 April
1733, Elizabeth died, and her husband on 29 January 1737.
Source: Leo van de Pas |
