The mother of Queen Mary and Queen Anne was herself a subject, the daughter of the celebrated Lord Clarendon, and was born in 1638. She was maid of honour to the Princess of Orange during the exile of the family of Charles I., and was in Paris with her royal mistress when the Duke of York first met and loved her. An engagement between them was solemnly entered into at Breda, 24th November, 1659, but it was not for some time afterwards that James proclaimed her as his wife.

The entrance of Anne Hyde into the family of the Princess of Orange took place in the year 1655, in consequence of the sudden death of Mrs. Killigrew, one of the maids of honour to the princess. Lord Clarendon was at that time living with his wife and four children at Breda, in a house which the Princess Royal had assigned him; and was, in the first instance, very much averse from the honour proposed; but, at the instance of the King and his sister, he eventually accepted the offer with much thankfulness and humility. The Queen-mother, who always hated Clarendon, was much opposed to the appointment.

Of the marriage, Pepys says:—

“February 23d, 1660-1.

“Mr. Hartlett told me how my Lord Chancellor had lately got the Duke of York and duchesse, and her woman, my Lord of Ossory, and a doctor, to make oath before most of the judges of the kingdom concerning all the circumstances of their marriage.