Winifred May "Freda" Mones, Marquesa de Casa Maury (née Birkin, previously Dudley Ward) (28 July, 1894 – 16 March, 1983), but commonly known by her first married name Freda Dudley Ward, was an English socialite best known for being a mistress of Edward VIII, the Prince of Wales.
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Background[]
Freda Dudley Ward was the daughter of British Colonel Charles Wilfred Birkin and his American wife, Claire Lloyd Howe. Freda was the second child in her family and the eldest of three sisters. Her paternal grandfather, Sir Thomas Birkin, 1st Baronet, was a textile magnate.
She married William Dudley Ward in 1913. Though Ward was his family surname, Dudley Ward officially became their surname through common usage. They had two daughters: Penelope Ann Rachel (later Lady Reed, and mother of actress Tracy Reed), and Claire Angela Louise (later Lady Laylock). Their marriage ended in divorce in 1931 on the grounds of adultery.
Freda’s remarried in 1937 to Pedro Jose Isidro Manuel Ricardo Mones, Marques de Casa Maury. Their marriage ended in divorce in 1954.
Freda was the mistress of the Prince of Wales from 1918 to 1934, at which time the Prince began his infamous relationship with Wallis Simpson.
2013 Christmas Special[]
She meets Rose MacClare in 1923. After a discussion between them involving the prince, Terence Sampson steals a letter from the prince to Mrs Dudley Ward from her handbag. When Mrs Dudley Ward finds out that the letter is gone, she goes to Rose asking for help.
Lord Grantham is upset with this theft, but resolves to preserve the monarchy's good name. Eventually the letter is retrieved.
Mrs Dudley Ward appears to have some sort of relationship with Charles Blake, to whom she talks during a ball at Grantham House, regarding his feelings for Mary Crawley. He even refers to her by her first name.
Behind the scenes[]
- Like the Crawley sisters, Freda Dudley Ward is the daughter of an English father and an American mother.
- Mrs Dudley Ward's granddaughter Tracy Reed was the first wife of actor Edward Fox, the elder brother of James Fox, who portrays Lord Aysgarth.
Appearances[]
| Appearances and Mentions | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Series 4 | Episode 1 | Episode 2 | Episode 3 | Episode 4 | Episode 5 | Episode 6 | Episode 7 | Episode 8 | Christmas Special Appears |
External links[]
- Other info
