Olivia Serres - Analysis

Analysis

Serres's pretensions has been called the result of an absurd vanity. Between 1807 and 1815 she had made the acquaintance of some members of the Royal family. From this time onwards, she is claimed to have been obsessed with the idea of raising herself, at all costs, to their social level. The tale once invented, she brooded so continuously over it that she may have ended by believing it herself.

The account of her claim of birth follows the Establishment version of events. The union of Henry Frederick, Duke of Cumberland to widow Anne Horton (née Luttrell) in October 1771 was the principal reason why the Royal Marriage Act of 1772 was passed. If Olive (b. 1772) had been born from this union, it would have been very 'inconvenient'. Hence a powerful reason to deny the existence of the child. There is a growing body of evidence that the 'official' version of events is in fact inaccurate. This is set out in a new book; Olive: Princess of Cumberland (1772-1834) - A Royal Scandal by Miles Macnair (Nov 2011). ISBN 978-1858584812

On 21 November 2009 The Times published an In Memoriam notice which said: OLIVE Princess of Cumberland, died in penury November 21, 1834. Injustice is not forgotten.