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Lady Augusta Frederica Elizabeth Bruce: A Life of Service, Friendship, and Influence

Augusta Frederica Elizabeth Bruce was born on April 3, 1822, to Thomas Bruce, 7th Earl of Elgin and 11th Earl of Kincardine, and his wife, Elizabeth Oswald, Countess of Elgin.

After the death of her father, Augusta was raised in Paris, France, where she immersed herself in the cultural and intellectual circles of the city. She later became a Lady-in-Waiting to Queen Victoria, earning a reputation as a “devoted friend and servant” not only to the Queen but also to Queen Victoria’s mother, the Duchess of Kent. While serving the Royal Family, she held the prestigious office of Resident Bedchamber Woman, a position she was personally chosen for by Prince Albert.

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Parisian Salon Life and Influential Friendships

During her time in Paris, Augusta formed a lasting friendship with Mary Elizabeth Mohl, a celebrated 19th-century British writer and salon hostess. Known affectionately as “Clarkey,” Mary was admired for her wit, independence, and engaging conversation. Mary later married Julius von Mohl, a German Orientalist from Stuttgart.

Mary’s circle of friends included some of the most influential figures of the Victorian era, such as Florence Nightingale, Mary Ann Evans (pen name George Eliot), and Elizabeth Gaskell. George Eliot, a renowned novelist, published works like Adam Bede, The Mill on the Floss, Silas Marner, Felix Holt, the Radical, Middlemarch, and Daniel Deronda under a male pseudonym to ensure publication. Elizabeth Gaskell, a close associate of Charlotte Brontë, was also connected to luminaries like Charles Dickens, Harriet Beecher Stowe, and John Ruskin.

It is clear that Lady Augusta moved in intellectually stimulating circles, enjoying lively discussions in Clarkey’s Parisian salon.

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Service and Loyalty to Queen Victoria

Augusta’s devotion to the Royal Family was unwavering. She was present during Prince Albert’s illness and death, a period of profound grief for Queen Victoria that plunged the entire nation into mourning. While many were driven away by the Queen’s extended period of seclusion, Lady Augusta remained a steadfast companion, traveling with the Queen and offering comfort throughout her sorrow.

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Marriage to Arthur Penrhyn Stanley

Lady Augusta’s personal life took a significant turn when she met The Very Reverend Arthur Penrhyn Stanley, a respected clergyman and friend of Queen Victoria. When Augusta informed the Queen of her intention to marry Arthur, Victoria initially opposed the union, possibly concerned about losing a trusted confidante. Eventually, she consented, with the condition that Augusta remain “on call” to the Queen.

On December 16, 1863, Augusta married Arthur Penrhyn Stanley, the Dean of Westminster, in a union marked by deep love and mutual admiration. Together, they dedicated themselves to charitable work and supporting the less fortunate.

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Death and Legacy

Lady Augusta passed away on March 1, 1876. She was buried at Westminster Abbey in King Henry VII’s Chapel, a place of prominence that also houses her husband’s memorial. Queen Victoria commemorated her close friend with a memorial at Frogmore, the burial site of several notable Royal Family members. Some of the stained glass panels in Westminster Abbey were also donated by Queen Victoria in her memory.

A collection of Lady Augusta’s personal letters—to friends, family, and correspondence with Queen Victoria—have been published and remains in limited print, offering a deeper glimpse into her remarkable life.

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The images below include a portrait of Lady Augusta (photo courtesy of the National Gallery, England) and a letter I personally received from HRH Queen Elizabeth’s office regarding Lady Augusta, following a request I made directly to the Queen.