The Right Honourable The Countess of Warwick |
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Daisy Greville, 1899
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Born |
Frances Evelyn Maynard 10 December 1861 Easton Lodge |
Died | 26 July 1938 | (aged 76)
Spouse(s) | Francis Greville, 5th Earl of Warwick |
Children | Leopold Greville, 6th Earl of Warwick |
Parent(s) | The Hon. Charles Maynard Blanche Fitzroy |
Frances Evelyn "Daisy" Greville, Countess of Warwick (10 December 1861 – 26 July 1938) was a British socialite and long-time mistress to Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, who later became King Edward VII.
She was the inspiration behind the popular music hall song Daisy, Daisy.
Born at Easton Lodge near Great Dunmow, she was one of three children of Colonel The Honourable Charles Maynard and his second wife Blanche FitzRoy. Charles Maynard was the eldest son and heir apparent of Henry Maynard, 3rd Viscount Maynard, whose estates Greville inherited in 1865 upon the Viscount's death,her father having died three months before. Blanche FitzRoy was a descendant of Charles II through his mistresses Nell Gwyn and Barbara Villiers. Two years after her father's death, her mother married 33-year-old Lord Rosslyn, a favourite courtier of Queen Victoria. They had five children, Greville's half-sisters, including Sybil Fane, Countess of Westmorland; Millicent Leveson-Gower, Duchess of Sutherland; and Lady Angela Forbes.
At one stage, Frances Maynard was considered as a possible wife for a younger son of Queen Victoria—Prince Leopold (later Duke of Albany). The Queen approved, but the Prince was in love with someone else.