Why I SIMPLY MUST INVITE THE KING to Tea | Baroness Bolsover

Baroness Bolsover
May 15
3 min read

Updated: 2 days ago

Welcome to my Victorian World.

Baroness Bolsover is excited to share her news

I'm BURSTING WITH EXCITEMENT for I have IMPORTANT MATTERS TO SHARE!

I, Baroness Bolsover, am thrilled to announce...

I'M RELATED TO KING CHARLES III

King Charles' MOTHER WAS QUEEN ELIZABETH II

His GRANDMOTHER WAS THE QUEEN MOTHER

His GREAT GRANDMOTHER WAS MY NIECE, CECILIA BOWES-LYON!!

Cecilia Bowes-Lyon is Baroness Bolsover's niece — Baroness Bolsover's niece - Cecilia Bowes-Lyon

Cecilia (born in 1862), was the eldest daughter of my brother-in-law, Rev. Charles Cavendish-Bentinck. She was a fine young woman, outgoing, sociable and an extremely accomplished hostess, a bit like me!

Of course, we didn’t know back in 1881 when Cecilia married Claude Bowes-Lyon, that one of their children would one day marry the King of England and become the Queen Mother. My Cavendish-Bentinck family was part of Britain's Royal Family!

My Family Secret

On a rather more serious note. Things could have turned out VERY differently. There was a shocking FAMILY SCANDAL which I have never spoken of. Until now.

I’ve mentioned Cecilia’s father was my brother-in-law, Rev. Charles Cavendish-Bentinck. Well, Cecilia was in fact born out of his second marriage.

A Scandalous Marriage

His first marriage had caused an uproar in our Cavendish-Bentinck household.

In 1839 Charles had fallen in love with and secretly married a young girl of gypsy origin, Sinetta Lambourn.

Despite their love for each other, my brother-in-law was seen to be breaking the rules, crossing class boundaries and for that he was made an outcast. His benefactor, the 4th Duke of Portland, was outraged when the secret marriage 'came out' and immediately cut off Charles' allowance and future inheritance! Love didn’t come into it in those days I’m sorry to say. It was all to do with wealth, titles and respectability.

Sadly, Sinetta died in 1850 at the age of just 29. Charles was heartbroken. The couple had no surviving children.

A Future Queen is Born

My brother-in-law married Louise Burnaby some nine years later. Miss Burnaby was from a very wealthy, highly respected family in London's Belgravia, and Charles’ good reputation was miraculously restored, all was forgiven and forgotten! Such was the hypocrisy in Victorian times!

It was from THIS MARRIAGE that my niece, Cecilia Cavendish-Bentinck (later to become Cecilia Bowes-Lyon and grandmother to Queen Elizabeth II) was born.

A Change in the Course of our Royal Family History

I often muse on what would have happened if Sinetta had lived to enjoy a long and happy life with Rev. Charles.

One thing is certain. The BRITISH ROYAL FAMILY WOULD LOOK VERY DIFFERENT from how it does today. There would've been no Cecilia Bowes-Lyon, no Queen Mother, no Queen Elizabeth II nor King Charles III as we know them today

Why I Simply Must Invite The King to Afternoon Tea

Firstly, I think His Majesty will be delighted, if not a little shocked, to meet one of his ancestors!

Secondly, I feel it my duty to fill His Majesty in on our family history and clear up any misunderstandings! And where better to do this than over a nice little Afternoon Tea. We'll certainly have plenty to gossip about!

And I'm sure the King will be impressed to see I'm keeping standards of etiquette high with my Afternoon Tea Etiquette Talk, demonstrating how to holds one's cup just like His Majesty, and eat their crustless cucumber sandwiches!