Posted by Baxter on February 7, 2012, 3:00 pm, in reply to "Re: Devonshires"
Great photo, Nellie.
Deborah was probably the only peeress who was wearing the family's second-best jewels since her mother-in-law Mary had such an important role. The grand tiara had adorned another lady with the same duty at a previous coronation. Deborah's grandmother-in-law Evelyn (seen below) served as Queen Mary's Mistress of the Robes from the time she became queen until her death in 1953, except for the five years that her husband the ninth duke served as Governor General of Canada. At the time of the Queen's coronation, there were two Dowager Duchesses of Devonshire since Evelyn was still alive.
Unfortunately I don't remember where this photo came from.
Deborah writes that the Duke of Windsor told her that he loathed Evelyn. She was able to get details about his shenanigans as a young man from one of her sons and would go straight to Queen Mary with the information.
on February 7, 2012, 3:00 pm, in reply to "