Frances Villiers, Countess of Jersey Frances Villiers, Countess of Jersey Frances Villiers, Countess of Jersey ("née" Twysden; 25 February 1753 – 23 July 1821) was one of the more notorious of the many mistresses of King George IV when he was Prince of Wales, "a scintillating society woman, a heady mix of charm, beauty, and sarcasm". Through marriage she belonged to the Villiers family. She was born Frances Twysden, in London, second and posthumous daughter of The Rt Rev. Dr Philip Twysden (c.1714–52), Church of Ireland Lord Bishop of Raphoe (1746–1752; died 2 November 1752, allegedly shot while attempting to rob a stagecoach near London),
Mary II of England line to the throne after her father. The Duke of York converted to Roman Catholicism in 1668 or 1669 and the Duchess about eight years earlier, but Mary and Anne were brought up as Anglicans, pursuant to the command of Charles II. They were moved to their own establishment at Richmond Palace, where they were raised by their governess Lady Frances Villiers, with only occasional visits to see their parents at St James's or their grandfather Lord Clarendon at Twickenham. Mary's education, from private tutors, was largely restricted to music, dance, drawing, French, and religious instruction. Her mother died in