Social Victorians/People/Connaught

Also Known As

• Family name: he, Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (Albert's patronymic)
• Arthur William Patrick Albert Connaught
• Prince Arthur
• Duke of Connaught and Strathearn
  • Arthur William Patrick Albert Connaught, 1st Duke of Connaught and Strathearn (24 May 1874 - 16 January 1942)

Acquaintances, Friends and Enemies

Friends

• Leonie, Lady Leslie (sister of Jennie Churchill) was Arthur's mistress.
• Adele Grant Capell after 1916

Organizations

• The Royal Mob

Timeline

1874 May 24, Prince Arthur was "created a royal peer," the Duke of Connaught and Strathearn and Earl of Sussex.

1879 March 13, Prince Arthur and Princess Louise Margaret of Prussia married.

1897 July 2, Friday, Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Duchess of Connaught attended the Duchess of Devonshire's fancy-dress ball at Devonshire House. (Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught is #369 in the list of attendees; Princess Louise, Duchess of Connaught is #9.)

Costume at the Duchess of Devonshire's 2 July 1897 Fancy-dress Ball

Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught

The portrait by Lafayette of Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn as Effingham is photograph #12 in the album presented to the Duchess of Devonshire and now in the National Portrait Gallery. The printing on the portrait says, "H.R.H. The Duke of Connaught as Effingham." Hanging on what is probably a light-blue ribbon around his neck is the Badge of the Order of the Garter (right).

Prince Arthur, 1st Duke of Connaught and Strathearn as Effingham. © National Portrait Gallery, London.

Badge of the Order of the Garter (United Kingdom)

At the Duchess of Devonshire's 2 July 1897 fancy-dress ball, Prince Arthur had "sought the aid of Alias," the costumier.

Newspaper Reports of the Duke of Connaught's Costume

• The Duke of Connaught was "an Elizabethan General, wore a steel cuirass inlaid with gold. The dark grey velvet trunks, sleeves, and cap were slashed with grey satin embroidered in gold."
• "The Duke of Connaught, as a Military Commander. (Elizabethan period.) Doublet of gray velvet, with slashed sleeves of same, the puffs of gray silk, beaded with steel cut beads. Trunks of gray velvet, with slashing of gray silk embroidered gold and studded with cabochons and steel. Mantle of gray velvet, with embroidered gold bands. Cuirasse of steel damascened with gorget and ruff attached. Trunk hose gray silk. High boots of gray leather turned back. Toque of black velvet, with gray puffs and gray feathers. Orders, Riband and Badge of the Garter. Crispin gloves of gray leather. Sword belt, gray velvet with steel mountings. Sword, black velvet scabbard, steel hilt and blade."
• "The Duke of Connaught appeared in the uniform of a Military Commander of the Elizabethan period. The doublet and sleeves were of grey velvet, beaded with steel; the trunks of grey velvet, embroidered with gold, and a mantle of similar material with gold bands. The cuirass was of steel damascened, with gorget and ruff attached; the sword-belt of grey velvet, with steel mountings. His Royal Highness also wore the Riband and Badge of the Garter."
• "The Duke of Connaught, as a military commander of the same [Elizabethan] period, was robed in grey and black velvet."
• "THE DUKE OF CONNAUGHT as a Military Commander. (Elizabethan period). Doublet of grey velvet, with [?] sleeves of same, the puffs of grey silk, with steel cut beads. Trunks of grey velvet with slashing of grey silk embroidered gold and studded with cabochons and steel. Mantle of grey velvet with embroidered gold bands. Cuirasse [sic] of steel, damascened with gorget, and ruff attached. Trunk hose grey silk. High boots of leather turned back. Toque of black velvet with grey puffs and grey feathers. Orders— Ribbon and badge of the Garter. Crispin gloves of grey leather. Sword-belt — Grey velvet with steel mountings. Sword, black velvet scabbard, steel hilt and blade."
• "The Duke of Connaught personated the Commander of the Forces in the time of Queen Elizabeth, wearing a steel and gold cuirass, with doublets and trunks of grey velvet and satin, a mantle to match, a jewelled rapier, and a grey velvet toque finished with jewels and white plumes."
• "[T]he Duke of Connaught as an Elizabethan General, looked extremely well in his steel cuirass, inlaid with gold, and dark grey velvet doublet, and trunks slashed with gold-embroidered grey satin."
• "H.R.H. the Duke of Connaught was a Military Commander (Elizabethan period), and wore a doublet of grey velvet, with slashed sleeves of same; trunks of grey velvet, with slashing of grey silk; mantle of grey velvet, with embroidered gold bands; cuirass of steel, damascened with gorget, and ruff attached; high boots of grey leather, turned back. Orders, ribbon and badge of the Garter."
• This description accompanies a flattering line drawing of the Duke in costume (Top middle drawing, with sword, signed “Rook”): "THE DUKE OF CONNAUGHT, as a Military Commander (Elizabethan period). — Doublet of grey velvet with slashed sleeves of same, the puffs of grey silk, beaded with steel cut beads; trunks of grey velvet with slashing of grey silk embroidered gold, and studded with cabochons and steel; mantle of grey velvet with embroidered gold bands; cuirasse of steel damascened with gorget and ruff attached; trunk hose grey silk; high boots of grey leather turned back; toque of black velvet with grey puffs and grey feathers; Orders, ribbon and badge of the Garter; Crispin gloves of grey leather; sword belt, grey velvet with steel mountings; sword, black velvet scabbard, steel hilt and blade. Made by Alias, 36, Soho-square."
• "The Duke of Connaught as a military commander — Elizabethan period — wore an effective dress of grey velvet and satin, with a steel breast-plate."

Princess Louise, Duchess of Connaught

Princess Louise, Duchess of Connaught as Anne of Austria. © National Portrait Gallery, London.

Princess Louise, Duchess of Connaught (at 9) sat at Table 8 in the first seating for supper, escorted to the table by Count Mensdorff. She was born Princess of Prussia.

The portrait by Lafayette (right) of Princess Louise, Duchess of Connaught (née Princess of Prussia) as Anne of Austria is photograph #11 in the album presented to the Duchess of Devonshire and now in the National Portrait Gallery. The printing on the portrait says, "H.R.H. The Duchess of Connaught as Anne of Austria," with a Long S in Duchess.

Newspaper Descriptions of Her Costume

• "Ann of Austria. Robe of old ciselé velvet, havana colour, the turnback of skirt of rose colour silk velvet embroidered silver. Panel of havana colour silk velvet embroidered silver. Front of dress of white satin with embroidery of gold fleur-de-lys and beautiful bordered collar and cuffs of old guipure lace with sémé of pearls. Very simple headdress. Bandeau, pearl and gold and plume Ecran of feathers in hand. Handsome jewelled necklace and earrings."
• She was dressed as a "Lady of the Court of Charles II. Flowered brocade in shaded apricot velvet on a deep cream satin ground, the fronts turned back with pink silk, richly embroidered in gold and a deeper shade of pink, opening to show an under-dress of white satin embroidered in gold fleur-de-lis. The bodice of brocade had a white lace collar over satin; a white satin stomacher with four pink rosettes down the front; and sleeves formed of two puffs of white satin trimmed with bands of embroidery edged with silver."
• Her costume was "supplied by Mr. Alias, of Soho-square."
• Mr. W. Clarkson "supplied the wigs and headdresses for the Royal Family."
• The Duchess of Connaught was "wearing a lovely gown of brown velvet embroidered with silver and old lace."
• "The Duchess of Connaught came as Anne of Austria, Queen of France, in a robe of ciselé velvet, havana-coloured, the turnback of the skirt being of rose-coloured silk velvet, embroidered with silver. The front of the dress was of white satin, embroidered with gold fleur de lys, and the collar and cuffs were of old guipure lace gown [sic] with pearls. Her Royal Highness wore a handsome jewelled necklace and ear-rings."
• "DUCHESS OF CONNAUGHT as Ann of Austria. Robe of old ciselé velvet, havana colour, the turnback of skirt of rose-colour silk velvet embroidered silver. Panel of havana colour silk velvet embroidered silver. Front of dress of white satin, with embroidery of gold fleur de lys and beautiful bordered collar and cuffs of old guipure lace with sémé of [/] pearls. Very simple headdress, Bandeau, pearl and gold, and plume Ecran [sic] of feathers in band. Handsome jewelled necklace and earrings."
• "Anne of Austria, in a superb cream satin gown, brocaded in raised velvet leaves in delicate hues of fawn and green. This was turned back with rich gold embroidery to show a petticoat of white satin, worked over in gold fleur-de-lys. The stomacher was encrusted with jewels, and there was a high lace collar and a low crown in the hair." The first sentence of this Belfast News-Letter article is identical to the story in the Carlisle Patriot).
• "The Duchess of Connaught was Anne of Austria, in amber velvet brocade, her hair arranged in short ringlets under a jewelled cap. The high Vandyck collar was thickly sewn with pearls and gold."
• This description accompanies a flattering line drawing of the Duchess of Connaught in costume (Numeral 5 below the drawing, bottom right drawing, head turned to her right, body slightly turned to the right, dress differs in a few ways from the photograph portrait, feather fan): "Made by Alias, 36, Soho Square. ... No. 5. THE DUCHESS OF CONNAUGHT, Anne of Austria. — Robe of old [col. 2c / 3c ] ciselé velvet, Havana colour turned back with rose silk velvet, embroidered with silver. Panels of Havana velvet, embroidered with silver. The front of the dress of white satin, embroidered with gold fleur de lys. Collar and cuffs of old guipure, with sémé of pearls. Headdress, pearl and gold plumes."
• "The Duchess of Connaught personated Anne of Austria, in a very handsome gown of brocaded velvet, the fronts turned back with rose velvet, embroidered in silver. The white satin front was enriched with gold fleur de lys, and there were cuffs and a collar of beautiful lace."
• "H.R.H. the Duchess of Connaught, as Anne of Austria, ... looked [her character] very well."

Demographics

• Nationality: he, English; she, Prussian

Family

• Arthur William Patrick Albert (1 May 1850 – 16 January 1942)
• Princess Louise Margaret Alexandra Victoria Agnes of Prussia (25 July 1860 – 14 March 1917)

1. Princess Margaret Victoria Charlotte Augusta Norah (15 January 1882 – 1 May 1920)
2. Prince Arthur Frederick Patrick Albert (13 January 1883 – 12 September 1938)
3. Princess Victoria Patricia Helena Elizabeth (17 March 1886 – 12 January 1974)

Relations

• Queen Victoria and Albert's 7th child, 3rd son

Notes and Questions

1. Prince Arthur and Princess Louise Margaret of Prussia married on 13 March 1879. Her bridesmaids were Lady Cecilia Hay (daughter of the Earl of Erroll, married Captain Webbe), Lady Victoria Edgecumbe (daughter of the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe, married Lord Algernon Percy), Lady Ela Russell (daughter of the Duke of Bedford), Lady Georgiana Churchill (daughter of the Duke of Marlborough, married Lord Curzon), Lady Blanche Conyngham (daughter of Marquis Conyngham), Lady Adelaide Taylour (daughter of the Marquis of Headfort), Lady Louisa Bruce (daughter of the Earl of Elgin), Lady Mabel Bridgeman (daughter of the Earl of Bradford, married Lieutenant-Colonel Kenyon Slaney).