Editing Prince Rupert of the Rhine (section)

==Family==
[[File:Lely - Portrait of an Unknown Woman - Tate.jpg|thumb|Actress [[Margaret Hughes]], Rupert's mistress in later life, by Sir Peter Lely, {{Circa|1670}}|alt=The picture centres on an attractive woman in her late twenties, dressed in long flowing robes suggesting a rural idyll, with one breast exposed towards the viewer. She has dark hair, and a wistful expression.]]

Towards the end of his life Rupert fell in love with an attractive [[Drury Lane]] actress named [[Margaret Hughes|Margaret "Peg" Hughes]]. Rupert became involved with her during the late 1660s, leaving his previous mistress, Frances Bard, with whom he had a son, Dudley; although Hughes appears to have held out from reciprocating his attentions with the aim of negotiating a suitable settlement.<ref name="Spencer, p.318">Spencer, p. 318.</ref> Hughes rapidly received advancement through his patronage; she became a member of the King's Company by 1669, giving her status and immunity from arrest for debt, and was painted four times by Sir [[Peter Lely]], the foremost court artist of the day.<ref>Spencer, p. 318; Highfill, Burnim and Langhans, p. 26.</ref>

Despite being encouraged to do so,<ref name="Spencer, p.318"/> Rupert did not marry Hughes, but acknowledged their daughter, Ruperta (born in 1673 and who later became Mrs [[Emanuel Howe (British Army officer)|Emanuel Howe]]).<ref name="Spencer, p.319">Spencer, p. 319.</ref> Hughes lived an expensive lifestyle during the 1670s, enjoying gambling and jewels; Rupert gave her at least £20,000 worth of jewellery during their relationship, including several items from the [[Electoral Palatinate|Palatinate]] royal collection.<ref>Spencer, pp. 320, 367.</ref> Hughes continued to act even after Ruperta's birth, returning to the stage in 1676 with the prestigious Duke's Company at the [[Dorset Garden Theatre]], near the Strand in London. The next year Rupert established Hughes with a "grand building" worth £25,000 that he bought in Hammersmith from Sir Nicholas Crispe.<ref name="Spencer, p.319"/> Rupert seems rather to have enjoyed the family lifestyle, commenting that his young daughter "already rules the whole house and sometimes argues with her mother, which makes us all laugh."<ref name="Spencer, p.319"/>