Scandalous Facts About Harriet Mordaunt, The King's Mistress
Harriet Mordaunt was beautiful and rich, and once she was old enough, she married a wonderfully wealthy English baronet. But that was only half of her story.
The lady also had an insatiable appetite in the bedroom, and she had trouble controlling her desires. For a woman of her time, that was a problem.
Eventually, she succumbed to her lust and brushed shoulders with the wrong royal…and she paid a horrible price for it. Read on to find out about her journey from aristocracy to insanity.
1. She Had Fifteen Siblings
Talk about a big family! Before her marriage, Lady Harriet Mordaunt was Harriet Sarah Moncreiffe, and she was the fourth child in a line of 16 children.
So she had seven sisters and eight brothers, and her parents certainly couldn’t have devoted much time to her with such a rowdy household afoot. But even though little Harriet may have felt a little lonely from time to time, she wanted for nothing.
2. Her Family Was Affluent
As a kid, Harriet never had to worry about having food on the table or having clothes on her back. Her dad was a baronet, and her mom was an earl’s daughter. As you might imagine, they were as well-off as any Scottish family could be in the 19th century. In fact, her parents spoiled her rotten. She spent most of her childhood romping around Moncreiffe House (the family’s picturesque ancestral home) grounds without a care in the world—well, almost.
3. Her Parents Had High Expectations
Moncreiffe House had the sort of atmosphere others could only describe as “free and easy.” But it still wasn’t exactly a walk in the park to be a Moncreiffe daughter.
Beauty, grace, class, fashion, cultural capital—Harriet’s parents had tall expectations for their children and wanted them to have it all and more—not least because of the very elite people they happened to know...
Wikipedia Grandfather by her mother side
4. She Had Royal Connections
Lady Mordaunt made the acquaintance of Queen Victoria's eldest son, Albert Edward, when she was just a little girl. Her parents had connections to the royal family, and of course, the prince was always welcome at their residence.
They perhaps even harbored hopes that Albert would take an special liking to their daughter. Imagine having a prince as a playmate!
They never could have imagined what kind of man that boy would grow up to be...
