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Barbara Villiers

1654 – 1708

British viscountess

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About Barbara Villiers

Lived 1654 – 1708 (aged 53–54). Barbara Villiers was a British lady-in-waiting.

Barbara (left) playing cards with her closest friend, Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough, by Sir Godfrey Kneller, c. 1702

Barbara Berkeley, Viscountess Fitzhardinge (; c. 165419 September 1708) was a lady-in-waiting to Queen Anne of Great Britain and governess to Prince William, Duke of Gloucester. Her sister Elizabeth Villiers (later Countess of Orkney) was the acknowledged mistress of William III of England from 1680 to 1695.

Born to Colonel Sir Edward Villiers of Richmond and Lady Frances Howard (a descendant of John Howard, 1st Duke of Norfolk), Barbara became a maid of honour to the princesses of York before Mary married William in 1677. Instead of accompanying her sisters Anne, Katherine and Elizabeth to The Hague, Barbara remained in England to join Anne's household, attracting the companionship of Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough, and invoking a sense of jealousy and rage within their royal mistress, Queen Anne. Hon. Mary Berkeley (bef. 1671 – 3 June 1741), married Walter Chetwynd, 1st Viscount Chetwynd of Bearhaven on 27 May 1703 in St. Martin-in-the-Fields in Church, Covent Garden, London. She was a maid of honor to Queen Anne. No issue.

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Important facts

Born
1654
Birth century
Occupation
Positions held
Lady of the Bedchamber
Also known as
Barbara Berkeley, Viscountess Fitzhardinge

People in Barbara Villiers's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Barbara Villiers's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Barbara Villiers?

British viscountess

When was Barbara Villiers born?

Barbara Villiers was born in 1654.

When did Barbara Villiers die?

Barbara Villiers died on 19 September 1708.

What was Barbara Villiers's occupation?

Barbara Villiers was a lady-in-waiting.

What nationality was Barbara Villiers?

Barbara Villiers was British.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Barbara Villiers

· Wikidata: Q4274601

· DBpedia: Barbara Berkeley, Viscountess Fitzhardinge

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Barbara Villiers. https://biography.guide/barbara-villiers/

MLA: "Barbara Villiers." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/barbara-villiers/.

Chicago: "Barbara Villiers." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/barbara-villiers/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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