Lady Agnete Yorke

A carte-de-visite portrait of Lady Agnete Yorke (1838-1919).

Incorrectly identified in the Silvy daybooks, and in numerous contemporary newspapers, as 'Lady Augusta Yorke,' this is Lady Agnete Harriet Yorke, youngest daughter of Charles Yorke (1799-1873), from 1834 the fourth Earl of Hardwicke, and his wife the Honourable Susan Liddell, sixth daughter of Thomas Liddell, 1st Baron Ravensworth,

Born on 13 December 1838, she appears on the 1851 and 1861 censuses living with her parents at Wimpole Hall in Cambridgeshire. She was one of the eight bridesmaids who attended Princess Alexandra of Denmark at her marriage to the Prince of Wales in 1863. She was also a Lady of the Bedchamber in the household of Queen Victoria's daughter, Princess Helena Christian.

On 28 November 1867 she married the Honourable Victor Alexander Montagu, son of John William Montagu, 7th Earl of Sandwich. Her husband gained the rank of Rear-Admiral in the service of the Royal Navy. Their marriage produced at least four children.

Lady Agnete Harriet Montagu died on 12 March 1919 at the age of 80. Her funeral was in the private cemetery of the Montagu family at Brampton near Huntingdon. According to a report of the ceremony which appeared in The Globe (18 March 1919), the Dowager Queen Alexandra sent a floral tribute of orchids, snowdrops and violets in the shape of a cross with a message which read: 'In fond remembrance of dearest Agnete Montagu, one of my oldest friends and bridesmaids. Rest in peace now, united to your beloved husband. From Alexandra.'

Photographed on 25 April 1861 by Camille Silvy of London.