She was born in London, the eldest daughter of Rev. Charles Cavendish-Bentinck (grandson of British Prime Minister William Cavendish-Bentinck, 3rd Duke of Portland) and his wife, Caroline. On 16 July 1881, she married Claude Bowes-Lyon, Lord Glamis at Petersham, Surrey and they had ten children. Claude inherited his father's title of Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne in 1904, whereupon Cecilia became Countess of Strathmore and Kinghorne. During World War I her home, Glamis Castle, was a convalescent hospital for the wounded, in which she took an active part until she developed cancer and was forced into invalidity. In October 1921 she underwent a hysterectomy and by May 1922 she had recovered sufficiently to be able to celebrate the bethrothal of her youngest daughter, Elizabeth to the King's son, Prince Albert, Duke of York, later George VI, the following January. She was deeply religious, a keen gardener and embroiderer, and preferred a quiet, family life. When bothered by pressmen for a photograph during the Edward VIII abdication crisis she is reported to have said, "I shouldn't waste a photograph on me." She suffered a heart attack in April 1938 during the wedding of her granddaughter, Anne Bowes-Lyon to Thomas Anson, Viscount Anson. She died 8 weeks later, aged 75, at 38 Cumberland Mansions, Bryanston Street in London.
Lady Strathmore outlived four of her ten children. She was buried on 27 June 1938 at Glamis Castle. |
