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Barbara Palmer (née Villiers), Duchess of Cleveland

(1640-1709), Mistress of Charles II

Sitter in 35 portraits
The favourite mistress of Charles II during the 1660s, Barbara Villiers was a dominant presence both at court and in the public's imagination. She married Roger Palmer, later the Earl of Castlemaine, in 1659, and met Charles soon after. She was appointed Lady of the Bedchamber to the Queen in spite of the latter's protests. Regarded as the foremost beauty of her day, she acquired great wealth and had at least five children with the King. She became a Catholic in 1663, dabbled in politics, and was implicated in the fall of Clarendon. She was made a Duchess in her own right in 1670, when her influence with the King was beginning to wane.

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Barbara Palmer (née Villiers), Duchess of Cleveland with her son, probably Charles FitzRoy, as the Virgin and Child
after Sir Peter Lely
NPG 2564

Barbara Palmer (née Villiers), Duchess of Cleveland with her son, probably Charles FitzRoy, as the Virgin and Child
by Sir Peter Lely
NPG 6725

Barbara Palmer (née Villiers), Duchess of Cleveland
after Sir Peter Lely
NPG 387

Barbara Palmer (née Villiers), Duchess of Cleveland
by John Michael Wright
NPG 5497

Barbara Palmer (née Villiers), Duchess of Cleveland
after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
NPG 427

Barbara Palmer (née Villiers), Duchess of Cleveland ('Duchess of Cleveland. Reproduction for carte-de-visite')
by Camille Silvy
NPG Ax58928

Barbara Palmer (née Villiers), Duchess of Cleveland ('Duchess of Cleveland. Reproduction for carte-de-visite')
by Camille Silvy
NPG Ax58929

Barbara Palmer (née Villiers), Duchess of Cleveland
after William Faithorne, after Sir Peter Lely
NPG D20389

Barbara Palmer (née Villiers), Duchess of Cleveland
by William Faithorne, after Sir Peter Lely
NPG D22670

Barbara Palmer (née Villiers), Duchess of Cleveland and Lady Barbara Fitzroy
attributed to Henri Gascar
NPG D30499

Barbara Palmer (née Villiers), Duchess of Cleveland
published by Richard Tompson, after Sir Peter Lely
NPG D1471

Barbara Palmer (née Villiers), Duchess of Cleveland
published by Richard Tompson, after Sir Peter Lely
NPG D20377

Barbara Palmer (née Villiers), Duchess of Cleveland
by Robert Williams, after Sir Peter Lely
NPG D21365

Barbara Palmer (née Villiers), Duchess of Cleveland
published by Alexander Browne, after Sir Peter Lely
NPG D11405

Barbara Palmer (née Villiers), Duchess of Cleveland
by Robert Williams, published by Edward Cooper, after Willem Wissing
NPG D15199

Barbara Palmer (née Villiers), Duchess of Cleveland
by Isaac Beckett, published by John Smith, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
NPG D30496

Barbara Palmer (née Villiers), Duchess of Cleveland
by and published by Isaac Beckett, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
NPG D1472

Barbara Palmer (née Villiers), Duchess of Cleveland
by Isaac Beckett, published by John Smith, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
NPG D1473

Barbara Palmer (née Villiers), Duchess of Cleveland
by Isaac Beckett, published by John Smith, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
NPG D1474

Barbara Palmer (née Villiers), Duchess of Cleveland
by Isaac Beckett, published by John Smith, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
NPG D11617

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Related People

Charles FitzRoy, Duke of Cleveland (son)
Lady Barbara Fitzroy (daughter)
George Fitzroy, 2nd Duke of Northumberland (son)
Henry FitzRoy, 1st Duke of Grafton (son)
Charlotte Lee (née Fitzroy), Countess of Lichfield (daughter)

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Barbara Palmer (née Villiers), Duchess of Cleveland