Nina Bowes-Lyon, Countess of Strathmore and Kinghorne
Encyclopedia
Cecilia Nina Bowes-Lyon, Countess of Strathmore and Kinghorne, GCVO
, DStJ
(11 September 1862 – 23 June 1938) was the mother of Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon
(later Queen Elizabeth, and then Queen Mother) and maternal grandmother and godmother of Queen Elizabeth II.
(grandson of British Prime Minister William Cavendish-Bentinck, 3rd Duke of Portland
) and his wife, Louisa
(née Burnaby).
On 16 July 1881, she married Claude Bowes-Lyon, Lord Glamis at Petersham
, Surrey
, and they had ten children. Claude inherited his father's title of Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne
in 1904, whereupon Cecilia became Countess of Strathmore and Kinghorne.
The Strathmore estates included two grand houses and their surroundings: Glamis Castle
and St Paul's Walden Bury
. Cecilia was a gregarious and accomplished hostess, who played the piano exceptionally well. Her houses were run with meticulous care and a practical approach, and she was responsible for designing the Italian Garden at Glamis. She was deeply religious, a keen gardener and embroiderer, and preferred a quiet, family life.
During World War I
, Glamis Castle served as a convalescent hospital for the wounded, in which she took an active part until she developed cancer and was forced into invalidity. In October 1921 she underwent a hysterectomy
, and by May 1922 she had recovered sufficiently to celebrate the engagement of her youngest daughter, Elizabeth, to the King's son, Prince Albert, Duke of York
, later George VI, the following January. When asked by pressmen for a photograph during the Edward VIII abdication crisis
, she reportedly said, "I shouldn't waste a photograph on me."
. Lady Strathmore outlived four of her ten children. She was buried on 27 June 1938 at Glamis Castle
.
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
, DStJ
Venerable Order of Saint John
The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem , is a royal order of chivalry established in 1831 and found today throughout the Commonwealth of Nations, Hong Kong, Ireland and the United States of America, with the world-wide mission "to prevent and relieve sickness and...
(11 September 1862 – 23 June 1938) was the mother of Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon
Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon
Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon was the queen consort of King George VI from 1936 until her husband's death in 1952, after which she was known as Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, to avoid confusion with her daughter, Queen Elizabeth II...
(later Queen Elizabeth, and then Queen Mother) and maternal grandmother and godmother of Queen Elizabeth II.
Life
She was born in London, the eldest daughter of Rev. Charles Cavendish-BentinckCharles William Frederick Cavendish-Bentinck
Charles William Frederick Cavendish-Bentinck was a great-grandfather of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom...
(grandson of British Prime Minister William Cavendish-Bentinck, 3rd Duke of Portland
William Cavendish-Bentinck, 3rd Duke of Portland
William Henry Cavendish-Bentinck, 3rd Duke of Portland, KG, PC was a British Whig and Tory statesman, Chancellor of the University of Oxford and Prime Minister. He was known before 1762 by the courtesy title Marquess of Titchfield. He held a title of every degree of British nobility—Duke,...
) and his wife, Louisa
Louisa Cavendish-Bentinck
Louisa Cavendish-Bentinck was the second wife of the Reverend Charles Cavendish-Bentinck, and the grandmother of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother and great grandmother of Queen Elizabeth II.She was the daughter of Edwyn Burnaby, of Baggrave Hall and Anne Caroline Salisbury.She married...
(née Burnaby).
On 16 July 1881, she married Claude Bowes-Lyon, Lord Glamis at Petersham
Petersham
Petersham is a place in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames on the east of the bend in the River Thames south of Richmond, which it shares with neighbouring Ham. It provides the foreground of the scenic view from Richmond Hill across Petersham Meadows, with Ham House further along the River...
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, and they had ten children. Claude inherited his father's title of Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne
Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne
The title Earl of Kinghorne was created in the Peerage of Scotland in 1606 for Patrick Lyon. In 1677, the designation of the earldom changed to "Strathmore and Kinghorne". A second Earldom was bestowed on the fourteenth Earl in the Peerage of the United Kingdom in 1937, the title being Strathmore...
in 1904, whereupon Cecilia became Countess of Strathmore and Kinghorne.
The Strathmore estates included two grand houses and their surroundings: Glamis Castle
Glamis Castle
Glamis Castle is situated beside the village of Glamis in Angus, Scotland. It is the home of the Earl and Countess of Strathmore and Kinghorne, and is open to the public....
and St Paul's Walden Bury
St Paul's Walden Bury
St. Paul's Walden Bury is a stately home and surrounding gardens located in the village of St Paul's Walden in Hertfordshire. A home of the Bowes-Lyon family, it is best known for its connection to the late Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother...
. Cecilia was a gregarious and accomplished hostess, who played the piano exceptionally well. Her houses were run with meticulous care and a practical approach, and she was responsible for designing the Italian Garden at Glamis. She was deeply religious, a keen gardener and embroiderer, and preferred a quiet, family life.
During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Glamis Castle served as a convalescent hospital for the wounded, in which she took an active part until she developed cancer and was forced into invalidity. In October 1921 she underwent a hysterectomy
Hysterectomy
A hysterectomy is the surgical removal of the uterus, usually performed by a gynecologist. Hysterectomy may be total or partial...
, and by May 1922 she had recovered sufficiently to celebrate the engagement of her youngest daughter, Elizabeth, to the King's son, Prince Albert, Duke of York
George VI of the United Kingdom
George VI was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death...
, later George VI, the following January. When asked by pressmen for a photograph during the Edward VIII abdication crisis
Edward VIII abdication crisis
In 1936, a constitutional crisis in the British Empire was caused by King-Emperor Edward VIII's proposal to marry Wallis Simpson, a twice-divorced American socialite....
, she reportedly said, "I shouldn't waste a photograph on me."
Death
She suffered a heart attack in April 1938 during the wedding of her granddaughter, Anne Bowes-Lyon, to Thomas, Viscount Anson. She died 8 weeks later, aged 75, at 38 Cumberland Mansions, Bryanston Street, in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Lady Strathmore outlived four of her ten children. She was buried on 27 June 1938 at Glamis Castle
Glamis Castle
Glamis Castle is situated beside the village of Glamis in Angus, Scotland. It is the home of the Earl and Countess of Strathmore and Kinghorne, and is open to the public....
.
Styles from birth to death
- 1862–1881: Miss Cecilia Cavendish-Bentinck
- 1881–1904: Lady Glamis
- 1904–1938: The Right Honourable The Countess of Strathmore and Kinghorne