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The Windsor Beauties - 10 Women of the Restoration Court

The Windsor Beauties - 10 Women of the Restoration Court

Author: Lindsay Holiday April 21, 2026 Duration: 32:03
History Tea Time
History
I'm at Hampton Court Palace in the Communication Gallery to look at a very special collection of paintings, the Windsor Beauties. These portraits immortalize 10 woman said to be the most stunning members of the restoration court. They exude elegance, confidence, and more than a hint of seduction. It was long whispered that famous philanderer, King Charles II used the paintings like a catalog, to choose which lovely lady would be his bedfellow for the evening. His lascivious majesty would then place his order with the Keeper of his Privy Closet, known as his ‘Pimp-master General’ who would then call for the patiently waiting lucky lady. The Windsor beauties gained such a notorious reputation that by 1835, the now prudish royal court despised them. The collection was consigned to Hampton court Palace, which was no longer a royal residence. But were the Windsor beauties really just restoration Pinups, or is there more to the story? Let’s meet the real women rendered in colorful goop, and find out why they were chosen. We’ll discover who was and was not a royal mistress, and which beauties were sleeping with each others husbands. We’ll learn how they traded beauty for power and wealth, and find out if they were really as attractive as their famous portraits. Let’s get to know the Windsor Beauties: Elizabeth Hamilton, Comtesse de Gramont Mary Bagot, Countess of Falmouth & Dorset Elizabeth Wriothesley, Countess of Northumberland Anne Digby, Countess of Sunderland Jane Needham, Mrs. Myddelton Margaret Brooke, Lady Denham Frances Brooke, Lady Whitmore Henrietta Boyle, Countess of Rochester Barbara Villiers, Duchess of Cleveland Frances Stuart, Duchess of Richmond and Lennox Anne Hyde, Duchess of York & Albany Join me every Tuesday when I'm Spilling the Tea on History! Check out my Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/lindsayholiday Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091781568503 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyteatimelindsayholiday/ Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@historyteatime Please consider supporting me at https://www.patreon.com/LindsayHoliday and help me make more fascinating episodes! Music: Baroque Coffee House by Doug Maxwell #HistoryTeaTime #LindsayHoliday Please contact ⁠⁠⁠advertising@airwavemedia.com⁠⁠⁠ if you would like to advertise on this podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Every Tuesday, Lindsay Holiday pours a fresh cup and settles in to share the fascinating, often overlooked tales from our past. History Tea Time is built on the idea that history is best served with a generous helping of personality and a focus on the compelling narratives that textbooks tend to skip. Lindsay’s approach feels like a conversation with a knowledgeable friend who has a real knack for digging up the juiciest details. While you’ll often find episodes delving into the lives of queens and royalty from across the globe, there’s a consistent spotlight on women’s history, bringing forward the stories of figures who shaped the world from behind the throne or beyond the traditional spotlight. Listening to this podcast feels like uncovering a secret side of the past, one where the human drama, ambitions, and scandals are given center stage. Each episode is a deep dive into a specific story, told with clarity and a genuine enthusiasm that makes even the most complex historical moments accessible and utterly engaging. If you’ve ever wanted the real, unvarnished, and truly interesting stories behind the names and dates, this is your weekly invitation to listen in.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

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History Tea Time
Podcast Episodes
Potential British Monarchs REJECTED for George I [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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In 1700 the Stuart Dynasty was out of heirs, save one, Princess Anne. Parliament studied the royal family tree to determine who was next in line. The problem was they were all catholic. The succession skipped over 41 clo…
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