Background
James was born into the Cavendish-Bentinck family, the daughter of Prudentia (née Leslie) and George Cavendish-Bentinck.
James was born into the Cavendish-Bentinck family, the daughter of Prudentia (née Leslie) and George Cavendish-Bentinck.
The couple resided at Grafton Street, London, and bred horses at Coton House. The King"s private secretary Frederick Ponsonby wrote that she was "full of humour and high spirits, walking with the King and keeping him amused". Despite being a millionaire, James was noted for her extreme frugality.
She served her guests milk that her cat wouldn"t drink and preferred to host Catholics on Fridays because fish was cheaper than meat.
She continued to breed horses and participate in races, winning the Victoria Cup and 1932 Coronation Cup. James died in 1948, leaving her jewellery and paintings by Titian, Joshua Reynolds and Thomas Gainsborough to her goddaughter, Queen Elizabeth.
In 1872 the 11-year-old Mary Venetia Cavendish-Bentinck had been a bridesmaid at the wedding of Christina Nilsson, a famous opera singer of the period. The wedding was a high society affair, arranged by Venetia"s father in Westminster Abbey, London.