| Lady Flora Paulyna Hetty Barbara Abney-Hastings | |
| Birth Date: | 13 February 1854 |
| Nationality: | British |
Lady Flora Paulyna Hetty Barbara Abney-Hastings (13 February 1854 – 11 April 1887)[1] was a British noblewoman. She was the daughter of Charles Abney-Hastings, 1st Baron Donington, and Edith Rawdon-Hastings, 10th Countess of Loudoun. Lady Flora married Henry Fitzalan-Howard, 15th Duke of Norfolk on 18 March 1878, and they had one child, Philip Joseph Mary Fitzalan-Howard, Earl of Surrey, Earl of Arundel (7 September 1879 – 8 July 1902).
Lady Flora Paulyna Hetty Barbara Abney-Hastings was born on 13 February 1854 to Charles Abney-Hastings, 1st Baron Donington, and Edith Rawdon-Hastings, 10th Countess of Loudoun.[1] She converted to Catholicism while staying with her cousin, Lord Bute, who was also a convert.[2] Her father objected to her religious change, so she was taken under the protection of the Dowager Duchess of Norfolk, who was the mother of her future husband.[3] They formed an alliance on November 21, 1877.
Lady Flora married Henry Fitzalan-Howard, 15th Duke of Norfolk on 18 March 1878. Her name became Fitzalan-Howard. The couple had one child, Philip Joseph Mary Fitzalan-Howard, Earl of Surrey, Earl of Arundel, who was born on 7 September 1879 and died on 8 July 1902.
The marriage between Flora and Henry was a grand event that was well-documented and celebrated in its time, providing a glimpse into the lives of aristocrats in England during the late 19th century.[4]
The nuptials, known as the "Nuptials of Norfolk," took place on November 26, 1877, at the Oratory in Brompton, and were attended by a notable assemblage of aristocrats, including the Marquis of Bute, Lord Howard, the Princess Louise, and Benjamin Disraeli, the Earl of Beaconsfield and Premier of England.
The wedding stirred up great intrigue among the chattering classes both in England and in the USA. For example, the News & Courier, a daily newspaper based in Charleston, South Carolina, first published on December 31, 1873, provides a detailed account of the wedding of the Duke of Norfolk and Lady Flora Hastings. It reported that the bride, Lady Flora Hastings, wore a magnificent white satin robe trimmed with point lace and adorned with orange blossoms, a point lace veil, a rich necklace of gems presented by the bridegroom, and a sparkling tiara of diamonds presented by her father. The Duke of Norfolk was dressed in a dark blue coat and lavender pantaloons and wore a light blue cravat.
Following the ceremony, the bridal party retired to the sacristy and signed the marriage register, with Lord Bute, Earl of Beaconsfield, the Marquis of Lorne, Mgr. Weld, the bride's father, and two or three friends signing as witnesses. The couple later left for Arundel Castle, where they were received with a great welcome from the inhabitants. The castle was illuminated with fire, and there was a grand finale where the whole town was illuminated with electric light in a triumphal arch of fire. The wedding presents were rare and consisted of a large fortune.
Lady Flora was a devout Catholic, and her generous financial contributions enabled the construction of a noble funerary chapel dedicated to the Mother of Sorrows at the Brompton Oratory.[5] A plaque commemorating her contribution is mounted above the left confessional.[6] The chapel is dedicated to the Seven Sorrows of Mary, reflecting Lady Flora's deep devotion to the Virgin Mary.
Lady Flora died at the age of 33 on 11 April 1887. She is buried in the Fitzalan Chapel in Arundel.