Frances Apsley later Lady Bathhurst (1653 - 1727) was a maid of honour to Mary

Mary II of England

Mary II was joint Sovereign of England, Scotland, and Ireland with her husband and first cousin, William III and II, from 1689 until her death. William and Mary, both Protestants, became king and queen regnant, respectively, following the Glorious Revolution, which resulted in the deposition of...

 and Anne of York

Anne of Great Britain

Anne ascended the thrones of England, Scotland and Ireland on 8 March 1702. On 1 May 1707, under the Act of Union, two of her realms, England and Scotland, were united as a single sovereign state, the Kingdom of Great Britain.Anne's Catholic father, James II and VII, was deposed during the...

. Letters written by a sentimental adolescent Mary to Apsley reveal that Mary idolised Frances Whilst there are some historians who believe the writings to be proof of Mary's lesbianism, most historians, however, disagree for after Mary's marriage to William of Orange

William III of England

William III & II was a sovereign Prince of Orange of the House of Orange-Nassau by birth. From 1672 he governed as Stadtholder William III of Orange over Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel of the Dutch Republic. From 1689 he reigned as William III over England and Ireland...

she fell deeply in love with her husband. She did, however, maintain her platonic friendship with Frances via ongoing correspondence, who married Lord Benjamin Bathhurst. Lady Bathhurst is buried in Westminster Abbey, London, England.