QUEEN VICTORIA WORE A SNAKE RING : ALICE KEPPEL GAVE THE KING A SNAKE RING TOO : VICTORIAN ERA LOVE MOTIFS

I thought you might be interested in this article about the symbolism of snake jewelry in the Victorian era. It has a drawing of Queen Victoria's snake ring! Snake rings are back in style now.

Excerpt: Serpent motifs became particularly prominent during the reign of Queen Victoria, who received an engagement ring from Prince Albert featuring a snake with an emerald-set head and ruby eyes. This sparked a fascination with snake-inspired designs, making them a defining trend of the Victorian era.

Today, it is believed the ring is buried with Queen Victoria at the Royal Mausoleum at Frogmore.

Link here for more interesting information and photos 

LAPADA ORG GUIDE TO VICTORIAN JEWELRY

Now the image above is of a snake swallowing its own tail. I posted it here because our Mistress of the Month, Alice Keppel, gave King Edward VII a diamond ring with this eternal love motif.

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AGNES KEYSER'S PARENTS WERE NEW MONEY PEOPLE ACCEPTED INTO THE PEERAGE : SHE DIDN'T WANT HIS MONEY BUT THE KING NEEDED HER

In Queen Victoria's time, there were about 1500 families who dominated London Society based on their pedigree rather than their money. But room was being made for the likes of the Keyser's. Excerpt page 55 : ... "By the 1890's stocks, shares, and money-making skills pushed into the social limelight a whole range of families backed by purchased land and money which had not been inherited... 

Edward Albert, Prince of Wales, finally became King in 1901 when his mother, Queen Victoria, died.  There was much anticipation because the people wanted change. It was well known that he was involved with Alice Keppel, but well, it was always said that the King had "democratic tastes" in women.  And he was involved with both Alice Keppel and Agnes Keyser

Excerpt page 75:  "The Prince of Wales association with Agnes Keyser developed at a much slower pace than his with Alice Keppel, and was not to increase in intensity until after he became King and his health entered its steady decline.  Alice would never lose her lace as maltress du roi (mistress of the King), but the monarch's need for Agnes evolved as a loving friendship.  It is likely too, that Edward was a regular visitor to the London house of the Keyser sisters at 17 Grosvenor Crescent, which the family leased from the Duke of West minister.

Exactly when and where the Prince of Eales and Agnes Keyser met for the first time in 1898 is difficult to tell. The prince - with Alice Keppel - was to visit the former Keyser home of Warren House on a number of occasions and knew the Keysers well, but it is likely that they first met in London through mutual friends, within the network of Anglo-Jewry which vacillated at the edge of Edward's court.  In particular the Bishcoffsheims and their relatives the Goldschmidts, the Sassoons, the Cassels, and the Wernhers, were all members of the princes' court circle. Many of their friends were to be further linked with Agnes and her new royal admirer through the advent of the South African War.

Agnes and her sister, Fanny, were volunteers in nursing service and relief organizations.

Here is how AI (using Wikipedia) defines the South African War:

The Second Boer War (1899–1902) was a major conflict where the British Empire fought two independent Boer republics—the Transvaal and the Orange Free State—for control of South Africa. Driven by imperial expansion and the desire to control gold resources, Britain utilized a massive army to overcome early Boer guerrilla tactics, concluding with the Treaty of Vereeniging, which annexed the republics.

Causes: The conflict arose from disputes over British "Uitlanders" (foreigners) in the gold-rich Transvaal, political friction between imperial expansionists (e.g., Lord Milner) and Boer leaders (e.g., Paul Kruger), and the aftermath of the 1895 Jameson Raid.

British Tactics & Consequences: To counter guerrilla tactics, the British implemented a "scorched earth" policy and established concentration camps for Boer civilians, causing over 26,000 deaths from disease and malnutrition. This sparked significant controversy in Britain.

Outcome: The war was the longest, most expensive (200 million pounds)
and bloodiest war for Britain between 1815 and 1914, costing over 20,000 British lives.

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AGNES KEYSER : "SISTER AGNES" WAS A NEVER MARRIED CHILDLESS WOMAN WHO LOVED THE AGING MONARCH KING EDWARD VII AND NEED NOT TAKE A DIME FROM HIM

Agnes Keyser as "Sister Agnes"

painting by Miss Maude Coleridge which appeared in tabloidish The Tatler, 16 September 1914.

image from Wikipedia

AGNES KEYSER

1852 – 1941

Raymond Lamont-Brown authored this book, which compares and contrasts the two acknowledged mistresses of King Edward VII's last years. It serves as the primary reference for this month's posts.

The magazine illustration above shows Agnes as a nurse, and called "Sister Agnes."  However, she had no nurse training. She could be called nurturing but commanding. The King was ailing, obese, in pain.

On the book cover here, Agnes is the one depicted to the top left, and Alice Keppel the bottom left. Lamont-Brown's book is about the last two loves of this King, who had devoted most of his life to pleasure whenever possible, during the last few years of his life.  

How to describe Agnes Keyser? One might suggest that she was so unlike the other mistresses of Edward Albert, the Prince of Wales who became King Edward VII, so unlikely to be a mistress, that she's remarkable in that way ... There is some speculation that he and Agnes had a love that was devoid of sexuality.  Though that may or may not be true, once again we make our way through the  mistress stereotype, that the relationship is about sex.

I want to start by posting what I learned about Agnes Keyser from reading the book I featured last month: Catherine Arnold's.

The King and his wife lived at Sandringham House which is today the preferred family home of King Charles III, but his wife felt herself to be a prisoner there because she was left home while the King was openly in a relationship with Alice Keppel. Everyone seemed to know their place in the scheme of things, for, according to author Raymond Lamont-Brown, that the King's entourage for his coronation  included other mistresses such as Daisy Greville, Countess of Warwick, Lillie Langtry, and Sarah Bernhardt. 

There is also the question of just how many children the Prince of Wales, who became King Edward VII late in life, had begot outside of his marriage. Some of the people who attended the coronation may have been the "bratlings" he had fathered.

The King was an aging, arguably sickly, portly, 58 year old when he met Agnes Keyser.  She, at 46 years old, was a prim "bachelor girl" (spinster) who had never married or had children. Her family was not quite to-the-manner-born as some of his mistresses had been, but they were rich and influential enough to have Agnes presented to Queen Victoria at court. Her parents were at least partially of Jewish heritage. Her father was a member of the Stock Exchange. She was an heiress and had the independence and freedom that most women of her era did not. It has been remarked upon that from an early age she did not much like women but she loved men. Speculation is that her own nanny was too harsh with her.

Agnes probably met the king in 1899.  The Boar war broke out and she and her younger sister, Fanny, set up a nursing home for officers.  Just officers. The King, called "Bertie." set up a trust to finance this nursing home.  Several of the donors were also of some Jewish descent. It became King Edward's Hospital for Officers.  She was thus called "Sister Agnes."

Now, from the Raymond Lamont-Brown book, we learn that both women likely got involved with the King around the same time in 1898.  In the mid 1800's in the United Kingdom there was a man-shortage. Around 20 percent of the women who were born about the same time as she never married. Not only that but the age of first marriage for women of her class had risen to 26 years old. But this isn't offered as an explanation for her resistance to marriage, which had been expected of her.  "She found the social ideal of women subjugating herself to a man in matrimony abhorrent." The Englishwoman's Review summed up her attitude perfectly when in its columns it averred that 'the higher a woman's nature is, the more likely it is that she will prefer to forgo marriage altogether, than surrender herself to a union that would sink her below her own ideal.' Because Agnes Keyser was wealthy she was never considered a social failure.

Furthermore, as a spinster, Agnes Keyser was far more independent than a married woman, being able to act as a trustee, an executrix, or an administratrix should she wish to, and to enjoy a franchise in parish matters.  Agnes Keyser became a member of the Victorian group of women who slowly developed new lifestyles which in time would influence all women. And as a terrible snob, Agnes intended to be somebody.  (Excerpts from page 45.)

The King had certainly no need of Agnes' money and she was not one to expect his financial support or generosity. But of course, what I do wonder, is if having two very different women in his life at the same time was necessary for the King to have all that he wanted and needed, if the two of them had qualities that balanced each other. For Agnes, if she thought of her as competition or not, the other woman was not the King's wife but Alice Keppel, a flamboyant personality who loved riches. Edward had been a Prince in waiting for the throne the majority of his life and his mother, Queen Victoria, was formidable. His wife, Princess Alexandra of Denmark, and he, had done their duty in bringing children into their world, but it was not a true love match. Divorce was impossible but who knows if Alexandra ever thought about it. She prevailed in the end having had the man in her life longer than any other woman.

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PRINCE EDWARD ALBERT EXPECTED AND GOT DAISY GREVILLE COUNTESS OF WARWICK AS A MISTRESS

Charlie Beresford had one of those "long suffering" wives - Mina.

Like many women of their set, Mina expected her husband to stay with her, no matter what.  But Charlie, was reported in the  London gossip columns as "Bewitched" by Daisy Greville. "Within three years of Daisy's marriage, they were lovers, much to poor Mina's consternation."

Excerpts Pages 148-149 : "Daisy had fallen spectacularly in love, despite the fact that Charlie was fifteen years older. Charlie Beresford was a celebrity, with is irrepressible high spirits, his war record, and the charm that preceded hi into the room; it was said you heard the voice before you saw the man.  Their affair unfolded with the momentum of an Elinor Glyn story, and with a conclusion more astonishing than anything that the romantic novelist could have imagined.

As we have seen, Daisy was accustomed to getting her own way. So it was that one morning, while the Beresfords were staying at Easton Lodge, Daisy strode into Mina's bedroom and told her that she was planning to desert Brookie abandoned their three children, and elope with Charlie.  Mina's response to this extraordinary disclosure was measured.  Mustering all the hauteur of which she was capable, Mina retorted that "the circumstances of the affair" were already well known to society, and that she had no intention of relinquishing her husband. More significantly, Mina said that she was not prepared to sacrifice her husband's career on such an insane scheme and she was taking Charlie home immediately.

If Daisy was devastated by this outcome, it came as something of a relief to Charlie Beresford.  Charlie's infatuation with Daisy was fading fast, and any lingering sentiments he may have had were destroyed by Mina's allegations that Daisy was "not content with his attentions alone." Charlie seemed anxious to move on and consign his relationship with Daisy to the past."

Daisy did not give up, after all she was in love.  In 1886 Mina was pregnant. Daisy raged. She felt betrayed by Charlie. She went against the rule that affairs in the Marlborough set were all right so long as lovers were discreet.  That her behavior had been noted in the gossip columns went against that rule but, worse, she sent a furious letter to Charlie. She wanted Charlie to leave Mina and join her on the Riviera, France. And Daisy also claimed that he was the father of her oldest daughter, Marjorie.

Charlie was not the one to open that letter and read it.  Mina was. She went to a top lawyer in London with it.  He needed to keep whatever machinations occurred out of court. In other words the lawyer was going to have to solicit an agreement, not a divorce. Mina was actually showing more gumption and power than any ordinary woman at that time dare have. She was fighting for her marriage which was, of course, entwinned with her wealth and reputation, her place in high society.

Daisy demanded the letter back...

Excerpt Page 150-151

"Infuriated by the machinations of these irritating wives and pettifogging lawyers who stood in her way, and facing the prospect of ruin if the matter became public, Daisy realized that there was only one person she could turn to. Only one man had the power, the contacts, and the chivalry to come to the aid of this damsel in distress; Bertie, the Prince of Wales. Daisy was by now on good terms with Bertie, dined regularly with him, and had met him at Ascot and Goodwood. More significantly \, Daisy was aware that Bertie was sympathetic and wise, concerning affairs of the heart.  Confident that Bertie would act on her behalf, Daisy wrote to the prince and asked if he would see her.

Bertie responded immediately. ...

... "As she sat in front of his desk, Daisy found that Bertie was looking at her "in a way all women understand."

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OSCAR WILDE ENOURAGED LILLIE LANGTRY TO BECOME AN ACTRESS AFTER BEING A MISTRESS TO EDWARD ALBERT, PRINCE OF WALES

 

Excerpt page 246

Oscar Wilde suggested that she should capitalize on her fame by taking to the stage.  She got her first taste of performing on stage at an amateur dramatic production in Twickenham, southwest London.  That led to an appearance in a charity performance at the Haymarket Theatre in London.  her name on the bill and the attendance of the Prince of Wales ensured a full house.  The critics praised her performance.  As a result, she was offered a contract to appear professionally at the Haymarket.  The prince continued to take his place in the royal box to support her.  Even though they were no longer lovers, they remained friends....

Missy here:  I think of Pamela Digby Churchill Harriman also, as she was known to stay friends with the men she had been mistress to. 

Think about this.

Some men break with you saying they just want to be friends, because they don't want you to be mad at them, and you never hear from them again. Is being friends with someone you had a romantic and sexual relationship with worth the effort?  Can it be done when you've moved into another relationship?  Between relationships?

Let me know what you think!  Use Comments!  If you don't want me to publish what you write and it's just for me to read, start by typing "Do Not Publish."

LILLIE LANGTRY's PUBLIC RELATIONSHIP WITH EDWARD ALBERT, PRINCE OF WALES AS HIS OFFICIAL MISTRESS SPARKED HER INTEREST IN HORSES

Excerpt Page 244

Very soon, the prince (Edward Albert, Prince of Wales) acknowledged Lillie as his official mistress and appeared in public with her.  They were seen riding together in Hyde Park and attending horse races, which sparked Lillie's lifelong interest in horses.  They enjoyed yachting regattas and weekends in the country. She was finally able to wear the finest dresses, given free of charge by designers who wanted the famous Lillie Langtry to be seen wearing their creations.  Aristocrats and foreign royalty wanted to meet her too.  And everyone wanted to know about the events she attended, what she wore, how her hair was styled, what she said and what she did.  She was famous as a film star today.  In 1878, she was even presented to Queen Victoria...

LILLIE LANGTRY : THREE YEARS AS THE MISTRESS OF SEX ADDICT EDWARD ALBERT, PRINCE OF WALES IN THE 1870'S : SHE FOUND HER WAY FORWARD IN MODELING AND ACTING

Author Ian Graham's book, which has a portion devoted to Lille Langtry, a mistress of Edward Albert, Prince of Wales, this month's Mistress of the Month, is the primary reference for the posts I present. This book has a long list of  women who have been "Scarlet." Several of them have already been featured here at Mistress Manifesto. 

In Chapter Six, Princes of Pleasure, we learn that Queen Victoria was disappointed in her oldest son, destined to be King of England, and until then titled the Prince of Wales. Prince Edward Albert was called Flirty Bertie. He did much more than flirt, frequently visiting prostitutes in French brothels, and without concern for what his wife, Alexandra of Denmark, who he married in 1863, might think. Marriage did not confine Edward Albert.

Today practicing Safer Sex is the only way to go, with our valid concerns for our health because venereal diseases, now called SID's, such as HIV and herpes. Then? Edward Albert was a sex addict, as I see it. In his case, having a wife and a mistress, or a series of them, did not cure him. He was involved in several scandals" with married women.

In August 2024 I featured one of his known mistresses, Catherine Walters, as Mistress of the Month, referencing a different book. He is known to have many affairs.

This months we focus on...

An 1885 Portrait of Lily by William Downey

image from Wikipedia

LILLIE LANGTRY - THE JERSEY LILY

Emilie Charlotte Le Breton

"The Jersey Lily"

1853-1929

Emilie Le Breton was a tomboy, running wild with her many brothers as a child and living the life of an island girl. Because her family had the means, she was given an education through tutors though a girl. Her father was a womanizer and adulterer, though a cleric; He reportedly fathered several children with parishioners. At fourteen she began to receive marriage proposals and at twenty she accepted the proposal of Edward Langtry, rich enough to own an eighty foot boat, especially impressive for 1874. They sailed away and set up house in London, where her outstanding beauty was only more obvious because of the simple clothing she wore.

After a lonely first year in London, she was painted by a local artist, who had prints of her image in shop windows. From then she posed for a number of artists and photographers who are respected today. She was welcomed into high society, into literary circles, as a friend and inspiration. Her husband went his own way, socializing with his men friends who went fishing and drinking. He was not paying enough attention. It's said that Lillie would ruin his life. 

In 1877, the Prince of Wales managed to have her sit next to him at a dinner party. In what seems to be the custom of friends of a Prince, they invited her husband to events in order to give Edward Albert and Lillie time to pursue an affair. He also gave her a house which she designed, as a love nest. They enjoyed themselves openly and he gifted her with jewelry and designer clothing. In 1878 she was even formally presented to Queen Victoria, the Prince of Wales' mother. Once presented, other Princes and men of wealth and power were interested in Lillie.

Lillie was acknowledged as Edward Albert's mistress for three years. The relationship began to dwindle when, at this point, Lillie's husband began to activate and may have threatened to divorce her and reveal that the married Edward Albert was his wife's lover. Other women were no doubt attractive to him, and Lillie had competition. 

As well, she began an affair with the Prince of Battenburg and became pregnant. While the Prince of Battenburg was sent away on a navy assignment, she went away to Paris and gave birth to a daughter in March 1881. The infant was soon sent away to be raised by her mother.

Once the Prince of Wales had moved on, creditors moved in on her and her husband, who went bankrupt. She also had to sell some of the rich things she had acquired. She had to go on and, like some other mistresses I've presented here at Mistress Manifesto, she used her beauty and connections to get a break. When she made her debut as an actress, the Prince of Wales attended, showing his support - and friendship. Lillie Langtry moved forward into stage acting and, controversially, divorced her husband. The Prince of Wales persisted in his friendship with Lillie, such as being there in 1897 when a horse she owned won a race.

In 1881 Lillie gave birth to a daughter and left her with her own mother to be raised. The father was Prince Louis of Battenburg.

In 1899 at the age of forty-five Lillie Langtry married Hugo de Bathe, nineteen years younger than she, and became Lady de Bathe when his father died in 1907. She retired in Monaco and died there. Her husband did not attend her funeral. He was not in her will.

This month we'll learn more about Lillie Langtry, and celebrate Valentine's Day. As I read about how Edward Albert, Prince of Wales, and his friends managed so that he could have liaisons with a mistress, I was reminded of Prince Charles, now King Charles III, and Camilla Parker-Bowles, now Queen Camilla - and featured here in the past. You can read about Camilla by going into my archives.

Missy

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Book Review

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Information of Lillie Langtry appears in pages 242 - 248 of the book buy Ian Graham.