Frances Stewart the Duchess of Richmond was born - On this day in history

Frances Stewart, the mistress of King Charles II, was born on 8 July 1647 in Paris. Stewart was acclaimed as one of the great beauties of the Restoration court and known as 'la belle Stuart'. She was reputedly the mistress of King Charles II and some sources suggest the pair may have had an illegitimate child.

Frances Stewart was chosen by King Charles as the model for 'Britannia' and her likeness appeared on British coinage until decimilisation in 1971.