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Barbara Palmer (née Villiers), Duchess of Cleveland

(1640-1709), Mistress of Charles II

Sitter in 33 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 2564Barbara 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 6725Barbara 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 387Barbara Palmer (née Villiers), Duchess of Cleveland
after Sir Peter Lely
NPG 387
Barbara Palmer (née Villiers), Duchess of Cleveland, by John Michael Wright - NPG 5497Barbara 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 427Barbara Palmer (née Villiers), Duchess of Cleveland
after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
NPG 427
Barbara Palmer (née Villiers), Duchess of Cleveland, after William Faithorne, after Sir Peter Lely - NPG D20389Barbara 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 D22670Barbara 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 D30499Barbara 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 D1471Barbara 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 D20377Barbara 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 D21365Barbara 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 D11405Barbara 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 D15199Barbara 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 D30496Barbara 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 D1472Barbara 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 D1473Barbara 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 D1474Barbara 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 D11617Barbara Palmer (née Villiers), Duchess of Cleveland
by Isaac Beckett, published by John Smith, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
NPG D11617
Barbara Palmer (née Villiers), Duchess of Cleveland, by Isaac Beckett, published by John Smith, after Sir Peter Lely - NPG D11940Barbara Palmer (née Villiers), Duchess of Cleveland
by Isaac Beckett, published by John Smith, after Sir Peter Lely
NPG D11940
Barbara Palmer (née Villiers), Duchess of Cleveland, by Robert Williams, sold by Bispham Dickinson, published by John Smith, after Sir Peter Lely - NPG D30501Barbara Palmer (née Villiers), Duchess of Cleveland
by Robert Williams, sold by Bispham Dickinson, published by John Smith, after Sir Peter Lely
NPG D30501

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