Georgina’s
husband came to the Ball dressed as his famous ancestor, Admiral
Richard Howe (1726-1799) and even carried the original sword
presented to the Admiral by King George III upon his great victory
against the French, which is known in naval history as ‘The
Glorious First of June 1794’. Although it might have appeared
more suitable for his wife to accompany him to the Ball as Mary
Hartopp, the Admiral’s spouse, it was Georgina’s
mother-in-law who acted the role! Georgina
dressed herself as Queen Maria Leszczyńska (1703-1768), wife of King Louis XV of France and daughter of the dethroned Polish King
Stanisław Leszczyński.
Her
choice of costume was perfectly matched by Lafayette, who equipped
his studio with a fitting roccoco background and props, when
she sat for him three days after the ball to have her portrait
made for the Devonshire House Ball’s commemorative album.
As
part of the international set, Daisy, Princess of Pless and
Georgina met again at Cowes in 1903, at a dinner aboard the
Emperor Wilhelm II’s yacht, and at a house party at Chatsworth.
Georgina must have been very fond of Daisy as some years later
she wrote that the Princess of Pless was “a dream of
beauty” and that she would “never see such grace, dignity and
perfect carriage again.”
The
Howe couple enjoyed the intimate friendship of King Edward VII
and Queen Alexandra, and entertained them on many occasions
at their country seat, Gopsall Hall in Leicestershire, and at
Curzon House in London. During the King‘s last visit, Lady Howe
was already gravely ill. She insisted, however, upon being wheeled to the dinner table in an invalid chair
in order that the august guest might enjoy the society of his
hostess.
Countess
Howe died after a long illness on 9 February 1906.
