The 2nd Baron St Helens 1945-2025

Lord St Helens, the 2nd Baron, died 1 March, 2025. He was 79. 

Richard Francis Hughes-Young, was born 4 November, 1945, the second son of the then Lt-Col. Michael Hughes-Young, MC (born 28 Oct, 1912), later Conservative MP for Wandsworth Central 1955-64, and a junior minister in the Macmillan and Douglas-Home administrations, who was raised to the peerage, 30 Dec, 1964, one of the last hereditary peers to be so created. His wife, and Richard's mother, was the former Elizabeth Agnes Blakiston-Houston (1911-1956), scion of the Blakiston baronets.

He succeeded his father in the peerage 27 December, 1980. (His elder brother Patrick having died in 1970 aged 27). He took his seat in the House of Lords in 1982, and sat as a Conservative peer until he was ousted in Blair's shake-up of the upper chamber in 1999.

Lord St Helens married in 1983, Mrs Emma Rosemary Talbot-Smith (1952-2018, nee Lyle), former wife of Nicholas Talbot-Smith, and third daughter of Thomas Keith Lyle, CBE, FRCP (1903-1987), and his wife the former Jane Bouverie Maxwell (1914-2009), descended from the Barnard-Hankey landed family. Lady St Helens died 26 Dec, 2018.

The peer leaves issue, a son the Hon Henry Thomas Hughes-Young (born 7 March, 1986), who now succeeds as 3rd Baron, and a daughter the Hon Lara Elizabeth (born 1987).

Prince Henry and the then Meghan Markle attended the wedding in 2017 of Lara Hughes-Young and Tom Inskip (descended from the Noel-Buxton barons).

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Clark/Ryland engagement

 The engagement was announced 18 March, 2025, between W. George Clark, son of the late Matthew Clark and Jane Clark, of Aldeburgh, Suffolk, and Arabella Kate Ryland (born 1994), second daughter of Charles John Ryland (born 1962), of Tidebrook, East Sussex, and his wife the former Jane M. Cullis.

Arabella's paternal grandmother, Anne Innes (1929-2019), was a scion of the Irish gentry family of that name of Dromantine and descended from the Wolseley baronets (cr 1628), and the Earls of Meath.

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Hugh Simon Fetherstonhaugh 1949-2025

 Hugh Simon Fetherstonhaugh died 13 March, 2025. He was 76. 

He was a farmer, a scion of the Fetherstonhaugh landed gentry family and a maternal grandson of the 8th Viscount Galway.

He was born 25 January, 1949, the elder son of David Henry Fetherstonhaugh (1924-1994), head of the landed family, and his wife the former Hon Mary Victoria Monckton-Arundell (1924-2010), elder daughter of the 8th Viscount Galway (1882-1943).

He married 1stly 27 March, 1971 (div. 2005), Louise Philipps (1946-2013), the adopted daughter of Major the Hon Richard Hanning Philipps (1904-1998), scion of the Barons Milford, and his wife the former Lady Marion Violet Dalrymple (1908-1995), daughter of the 12th Earl of Stair, KT, DSO, DL (1879-1961). 

He married 2ndly, 2005, Mrs Caroline (Mouse) Springham (nee Robertson). 

Hugh Fetherstonhaugh (pronounced 'Fanshaw') leaves issue from his 1st union, two sons, (Edward) Dickon Hanning (born 1981), and Fergus Hugh (born 1990), and two daughters, Sophie Lucia (born 1973), and Alice Maria (born 1975).

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Julian Alexander Ludovic James 1939-2025

Julian Alexander Ludovic James died 6 March, 2025. He was 85.

He was descended paternally from the Dunbar of Hempriggs baronets (and was in remainder to that baronetcy), and maternally from the Boyle Earls of Glasgow. 

Julian James was a page at the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953, being one of the two pages of Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope, Lord High Steward, who bore St Edward’s Crown. 

He was born 31 October, 1939, the eldest son of Capt Christopher Alexander James, RN, DL, JP (1916-1969), and his wife the former Cynthia Swire (who died 9 April, 1971), descended from the Earls of Glasgow; & married 18 December, 1965, Hilary Jane Browne (born 25 October, 1945), daughter of Capt Thomas Gillespie Browne, JP, Royal Engineers (1913-1997), descended from the Earls of Kintore, by whom he had three sons, Christopher Mark William (born 18 Feb, 1967), David Hugh Geoffrey (born 31 May, 1969), and Andrew Michael Richard (born 2 May, 1976).

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Rev.Richard Robert Bindon Plowman 1938-2025

The Rev. (Richard Robert) Bindon Plowman died 26 February, 2025, aged 86.

He was born in 1938, son of Robert Gillbee Plowman (1911-1995), and his wife the former Ruth Wynn Dutton (1913-2014): and married 25 June, 1977, Robina Ann Wyldbore-Smith (born 3 October, 1943), scion of the Smith-Marriott baronets, elder daughter of John Henry Wyldbore-Smith (1916-1982), and his wife the former Robina Ward (1917-1993); by whom he had issue, a son, Andrew John Napier Plowman (b 11 Jan, 1979, d. 8 July, 1989), and a daughter, Felicity Frances Robina (b 1980).

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Beatrice Catherine Yates (born 21/02/2025)

 Jade Naomi Charlotte Yates (nee Letts), wife of Ivo James Michael Yates (born 24 August, 1993), gave birth to a daughter, Beatrice Catherine, 21 February, 2025.

Ivo Yates is the eldest son of Christian A. Yates, of Bedchester, Dorset, and his wife the former Rosemary Anne (Rosie) Cookson (born 1963).

Jade Yates (born 1993), is the youngest daughter of Daniel Letts, of Boys Hill, Dorset, and his wife the former Jean Catherine Fraser (born 16 April, 1954), descended from the Dukes of Atholl.

John Murray, 3rd Duke of Atholl > Rt Rev Lord George Murray > Rt Rev George Murray > Rev George Murray > Rev Douglas Murray > Lt-Col Walter Murray > Jean Pamela Murray > Jean Fraser > Jade Letts > Beatrice Yates

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Ann Elizabeth Heber-Percy (née Rowley) (died 2025)

 Ann Elizabeth Heber-Percy (née Rowley) died 6 March, 2025. She was 83.

She was a daughter of John Douglas Rowley, of Bristol, Avon, and married 1stly ______ Francis, by whom she had issue. She married 2ndly, 1988, as his second wife, Cyril Raymond (Riff) Heber-Percy (born 23 May, 1945), of Folly Farmhouse, Farmington, Gloucestershire, scion of the Dukes of Northumberland, son of Lieutenant-Colonel Cyril Hugh Reginald Heber-Percy, DSO, MC (1905-1989), and his second wife, the former Diana Radclyffe (1917-2006), scion of that landed gentry family.

She leaves two grandsons from her first marriage, George & Hugo.

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Newton/Pickthorn engagement

 The engagement was announced 15 March, 2025, between Ben H. Newton, eldest son Mr Keith Newton and the late Mrs Leyanne Provera, of Sydney, Australia, and Alice Mary Ella Pickthorn (born 22 February, 1996), scion of the Pickthorn baronets, eldest daughter of Thomas David Alexander Pickthorn (born 16 July, 1967), of Cambridge, and his wife the former Nicola Sheerin.

Sir Kenneth Pickthorn, 1st Baronet (1892-1975) > Henry Pickthorn (b 1928) > Thomas Pickthorn (b 1967) > Alice Pickthorn (b 1996)

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Robb/Vestey engagement

 The engagement was announced 15 March, 2025, between Angus J.M. Robb, elder son of Gavin John McLean Robb (born 1962), of Humbie, East Lothian, by his wife the former Fiona Margaret Ledingham (born 1965), and Georgina Ann Monro Vestey (born 1994), scion of the Vestey baronets, elder daughter of Robin John Henry Vestey (born 14 April, 1968), of Little Thurlow, Suffolk, and Mrs Victoria Eileen Herbert Vestey (nee Waddell), of Newmarket, Suffolk.

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Bridget Wentworth-Stanley (nee Pease) 1926-2025

 Bridget Wentworth-Stanley, who died 7 March, 2025, aged 98, was the widow of David Wentworth-Stanley, scion of that landed gentry family.

She was the former Bridget Pease (born 1926), eldest daughter of the late Maj. Philip Ivan Pease (d. 1964, of that BLG family), by his wife Doris Madeline Crichton (1904-1993), scion of the Earls of Erne, and married 1 March, 1951,(Geoffrey) David Wentworth-Stanley, a member of the Burke's Landed Gentry family of Wentworth-Stanley of High Wych. He was born 28 May, 1924, 3rd son of Charles Sidney Bowen Wentworth-Stanley, CBE (1892-1960), of High Wych Grange (head of the family), by his first wife, Edith Katharine Brocklebank (scion of the Brocklebank Baronets), and he died 18 Aug, 2005

She leaves issue:-

(i) [David] Michael, b. 1952, married to Jane Hall (descended from the Marquesses of Dufferin & Ava) 

(ii) Nicholas Philip, b. 1954 (his 1st wife, Clare Steel, is now wife of the 4th Marquess of Milford Haven) 

(iii) Christopher James, b. 1962. 

(iv) Adrian, b. 1965

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Daphne Jessica MacDonald Johnston (born 2025)

  Megan MacDonald Johnston (née Steele-Knowles), wife of Archie James MacDonald Johnston (born 15 July, 1991), gave birth to a daughter, Daphne, Jessica, 3 March, 2025, a sister for Hector Robin Steele, who was born 27 February, 2023.

Archie is a son of Iain MacDonald Johnston, and his wife the former Jessica Marion Hoskyns (1967-2017), scion of the baronets of that name, descended from the ninth baronet.

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Florence Rosanagh Rizzo (born 2025)

 Iona Katherine Rizzo (nee Dent, born 1991), wife of Dominic G. Rizzo, and scion of the Dent landed gentry family, gave birth to a daughter, Florence Rosanagh, 7 March, 2025, a sister for Joseph Michael, who was born 22 June, 2023.

Dominic is a son of Mr & Mrs Joseph Rizzo, of New Jersey, United States.

Iona is a daughter of Andrew Congreve Dent, of Oxfordshire, by his wife the Lady Rosanagh Elizabeth Angela Mary Taylour [born 20 January, 1961], daughter of the late 6th Marquis of Headfort [1932-2005], by his wife the Hon Elizabeth Angela Veronica Nall-Cain [1938-2017], daughter of the 2nd Baron Brocket [1904-67]. 

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Amber Genevieve Armytage 1971-2025

 Amber Genevieve Armytage died 1 March, 2025, aged 53.

The former Amber Genevieve Renwick was born at Hastings in 1971, a daughter of Matthew Renwick, of Hawkhurst, Kent, and his wife nee Colley; and married in 2003, Marcus David Armytage (born 17 July, 1964), scion of the Armytage baronets, son of Roderick Charles Armytage (1934-2014), and his wife the former Susan Whitehead (who died 23 July, 1996), by whom she had issue, a son Arthur (born 28 September, 2004), and two daughters, Molly (born 14 February, 2006), and Arabella (born 26 April, 2011).

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Repard/Newman engagement

 The engagement was announced 14 March, 2025, between George Repard (born 2 August, 1994), son of James Philip Repard (born 1956), and Jennie Spencer-Churchill (born 25 September, 1966), scion of the Dukes of Marlborough, and Alice E. Newman, daughter of Mr Jeremy Newman and Mrs Elaine Burrows.

George Repard is a great-great grandson of the Rt Hon Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, KG, OM, CH, TD, DL, FRS, RA (1874-1965)

Sir Winston Churchill  > Randolph Churchill (1911-68)  > Winston Churchill (1940-2010) > Jennie Spencer-Churchill (b 1966) > George Repard (b 1994)

Valerie Lois Brodrick (nee Stroud) 1947-2025

Valerie Lois Brodrick died 27 February, 2025, aged 77.

She was the former Valerie Lois Stroud, daughter of Gerald Max Stroud, JP (1910-2004), by his wife the former Madeleine Louise Katherine Sussmann (1915-2004), and married 27 September, 1969, Michael John Lee Brodrick (born 12 October, 1941), scion of the Viscounts (later Earls) of Midleton, son of Norman John Lee Brodrick (1912-1992), and his wife the former Ruth Severn Unwin (1920-1998), daughter of Sir Stanley Unwin, KCMG (1884-1968), by whom she had a son, Robert John Lee Brodrick (born 9 May, 1972), and a daughter, Tessa Elizabeth Camilla Brodrick (born 14 Nov, 1975).

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Patricia Ruck Keene (nee Gibbons) c1921-2025

Patricia Ruck Keene, who died 7 March, 2025, aged 103, was the widow of Capt John Ruck Keene, OBE, DSC, RN.

She was born Patricia Gibbons, daughter of James Henry Gibbons, of Castlebar, Co Mayo, and married firstly, 1939, Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Leslie Fasson (1904-1944); married 2ndly, 27 September, 1948, Capt John Henry Ruck Keene (born 5 May, 1902), Naval ADC to Queen Elizabeth II, 1953-67, scion of that landed gentry family, fifth son of the Rev Edmund Ralph Ruck Keene (1857-1932), and his wife the former Emma Corrie (who died 1935). Capt Ruck Keeene died 17 October, 1967.

Mrs Ruck Keene had issue, one son, Benjamin Charles (1949-2011).

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Major Philip Andrew Janson Wright, OBE

 Major Philip Andrew Janson Wright, OBE, late the Grenadier Guards, sometime Deputy Assistant Serjeant-at-Arms, House of Commons, died 4 March, 2025, aged 83.

He was a son of Sir Andrew Barkworth Wright KCMG CBE MC with Bar (1895 – 1971) a colonial administrator and army officer. He served as the Governor of British Cyprus from 1949 to 1954 and as Governor of the Gambia from 1947 to 1949, by his wife Rosemary Barrett, CStJ.

In a Daily Telegraph interview Wright told of a time in 1950 when he was 10 years old and Prince Philip lent him a pair of flippers in a swimming pool in Cyprus. As Philip recalls, Prince Philip ‘... was commanding HMS Magpie ….. and the ship called in on Cyprus as part of the Mediterranean fleet. My father, Sir Andrew Wright, was Governor and Prince Philip visited us in Government House. My father said “any time you want to use the swimming pool, do come and use it”. One night Prince Philip’s evening swim coincided with mine. He had “frog feet” and I’d never seen them before. He said they belonged to his uncle, Lord Mountbatten’. Philip Wright, wearing Prince Philip’s flippers ‘flip flopped up and down the pool’ until a governess appeared and shouted ‘It’s time to get out now, Philip!’ The Prince looked up sharply. ‘I think he thought she was talking to him’.

Philip Wright married 17 June, 1967, Henrietta Elizabeth Hotham (born 3 May, 1944), scion of the Barons Hotham, daughter of Lieutenant-Commander the Hon John David Hotham, RN (1911-1962), and his wife the former Aileen Coates (who died 1 Nov, 2009), and a niece of the 7th Baron Hotham (1899-1967), by whom he had two daughters, Romayne Louise (born 1972), and Melanie Clare (born 1974). 

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Massey/Brunel-Cohen engagement

 The engagement was announced 13 March, 2025, between Patrick William Edmund Massey (born 1983), son of William Grevile Sale Massey (born 31 Aug, 1953), of Beanacre, Wiltshire, and his wife the former Cecilia D'Oyly Awdry (born 4 Aug, 1954), scion of that landed gentry family, and Rosie May Brunel-Cohen (born 1991), fifth daughter of Mark Patrick Brunel-Cohen (born 8 August, 1949), of Sherborne, Dorset, and his wife the former Sally Joan Culham.

Rosie Brunel-Cohen is descended from the Samuel baronets:-

Sir Stuart Montagu Samuel, 1st Baronet, MP (1856-1926) > Vera Evelyn Samuel > George Stuart Brunel-Cohen (1918-80) > Mark Brunel-Cohen (b 1949) > Rosie Brunel-Cohen

The Samuel family founded the merchant bank Samuel Montagu & Co. Sir Stuart, the 1st Bt, was a nephew of Samuel Montagu, 1st Baron Swaythling (1832-1911).

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The Duchess of Westminster is expecting a baby in the summer

 The Duchess of Westminster, wife of the 7th Duke of Westminster, one of Britain's wealthiest men, is expecting a baby in the summer.

A spokesman for the couple, said on Wednesday: "The duchess is expecting a baby in the summer.

"The couple are delighted with the news and are very much looking forward to starting a family."

The Duke of Westminster married Olivia Henson at Chester Cathedral on 7 June, 2024. The Prince of Wales stood as one of the duke’s ushers.

Crowds lined the streets of Chester to cheer the arrival of the duke, his bride with her father, and the Prince of Wales. Princess Eugenie, Mrs Jack Brooksbank was one of the 400 guests.

The Duke's calculated wealth of just over £9.7 billion puts him 13th on the 2022 Sunday Times Rich List. He was until 2024 perhaps one of the country's most eligible bachelors.

The young duke is a fourth cousin once removed of the King. They both have Romanov blood, the duke via his mother Natalia, and the King via the late Prince Philip's Romanov descent.

The duke's parents, the 6th Duke and Natalia Phillips married at Chester Cathedral, 7 October, 1978, and the Royal Family were there to celebrate the union of one of Britain's wealthiest men and Natalia, daughter of one of Queen Elizabeth II's great friends, the former Georgina Wernher. The duke's aunt, Lady Leonora Grosvenor, married the late 5th Earl of Lichfield at the cathedral, 8 March, 1975, and another aunt, Lady Jane Grosvenor married the 10th Duke of Roxburghe there, 10 September, 1977.

"The Duke and Miss Henson became engaged at Eaton Hall in April 2023, and have been incredibly grateful for the warm messages of congratulations they have received since then."

Hugh Westminster, 34,  is godfather to Prince George of Wales, and a close confidante of the Prince and Princess of Wales. He was born 29 January, 1991, the only son of the 6th duke (1951-2016).

Hugh Richard Louis Grosvenor, the 7th duke, inherited the Eaton Hall estate near Chester, and large land holdings in London, Lancashire, Scotland, and in Canada, on the death of his late father, who died suddenly on his Abbeystead estate in Lancashire,  9 August 2016. The Westminster fortune is estimated to stand at 9.7 billion. 

The duke’s mother, the former Natalia Ayesha Phillips (born 8 May 1959), descended from the Russia tsars and from Pushkin, is a granddaughter of Lady Zia Wernher, of Luton Hoo, a great friend of the late Queen Elizabeth II. It was at Luton Hoo where the late Queen and her consort spent many wedding anniversaries in the lifetime of Lady Zia, who died in 1977, and her husband Harold, who died in 1973.

The Duke was present at the Coronation of the King and Queen in May 2023, and he carried a standard in the procession into Westminster Abbey. 

The duke has three sisters, Lady Tamara van Cutsem (born 20 Dec 1979), wife of another of the King’s godsons, Edward van Cutsem, and Lady Edwina Snow (born 4 Nov, 1981), a criminologist, wife of historian and broadcaster Dan Snow, and Lady Viola Roberts (born 9 Oct, 1992), wife of Dragoon Guards officer, Angus Roberts.

Their is no heir to the dukedom, and a son and heir would secure the peerage and the vast Grosvenor inheritance. The peerage can only be inherited by male heirs. A son will take the courtesy title Earl  Grosvenor and a daughter will be Lady (Christian name) Grosvenor. The current heir presumptive to the Marquessate of Westminster, but not the dukedom, is a Grosvenor cousin, Francis Grosvenor, 8th Earl of Wilton (born 8 Feb, 1934).

A son will be heir apparent to the titles Duke of Westminster (United Kingdom, let. pat. 27 Feb 1874), Marquess of Westminster (United Kingdom, let. pat. 13 Sep 1831), Earl Grosvenor (Great Britain, let. pat. 5 Jul 1784), Viscount Belgrave (Great Britain, let. pat. 5 Jul 1784), Baron Grosvenor, of Eaton in the County of Chester (Great Britain, let. pat. 8 Apr 1761), and a Baronet, styled "of Eaton" (England, let. pat. 23 Feb 1621/22).

Some ducal statistics: The 1st Duke, and most prolific of the Westminsters, was the father of seven sons and five daughters; the 2nd Duke (Bendor), four times wed, died leaving two daughters. A son died in childhood; the 3rd and fourth dukes were childless; the 5th Duke fathered one son  and two daughters; the 6th Duke, who died in 2016, left a son, the current peer, and three daughters.

The dukedom of Westminster was the last dukedom to be given outside the confines of the royal family, and was created by Queen Victoria in 1874.

The Duchess of Westminster (born 1 Sept, 1992), is a senior account manager with Belazu, an ethical food company, in London. She is extremely well connected, with lines of descent from the Hoare banking dynasty, the Marquesses of Britsol, of Ickworth, Suffolk, and the Dukes of Rutland, of Belvoir Castle. She is the elder daughter of Mr Rupert Cornelius Brooke Henson (born 7 September, 1962), of Longworth, Oxfordshire, and his wife the former Caroline Belinda Frisby (born 17 August, 1963), scion of that landed gentry family, descended from the Hoare banking family and the Marquesses of Bristol. Olivia’s uncle, Charles Wolrige Gordon, is the Grand Master of Scottish freemasons, Scotland’s senior freemason. Olivia’s mother is the twin sister of Charles’s wife, Angela Clare Wolrige Gordon.

Olivia has a brother Jasper (born 1994), who announced his engagement last year to the Spanish aristocrat Isabel Rodriguez-Legorburu Cabrera Kabana, and a sister, Emilia (born 1997).

Olivia is a granddaughter paternally of Thomas John Brooke Henson, MC (1931-2024), and his first wife the former Jennifer Caswell Cornelius (born 1938), daughter of Leonard Raymond Cornelius (1907-88), and his wife the former Betty Kathleen Caswell (1916-2010). Her grandparents divorced and in 1983 Mrs Jennifer Henson married Robert Christopher Thoroton Hildyard (1912-86), scion of a Yorkshire landed gentry family, descended from the Foljambe Earls of Liverpool.

The Romanov link:-

Nicholas I, Tsar of Russia (1796-1855) > Grand Duke Michael of Russia (1832-1909) > Grand Duke Michael of Russia (1861-1929)  > Lady Zia Wernher (1892-1977)  > Georgina Wernher (1919-2011)  > Natalia Ayesha Phillips (b 1959) > The 7th Duke of Westminster (b 1991)> Baby Grosvenor

Nicholas I, Tsar of Russia (1796-1855) > Grand Duke Constantine of Russia (1827-1892) > Grand Duchess Olga of Russia (1851-1926) > Prince Andrew of Greece (1882-1944) > Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (1921-2021) > King Charles III (b 1948)

Olivia is also descended from the Dukes of Rutland :-

The 5th Duke of Rutland > Lady Katherine Manners > Lord Augustus Henry Charles Hervey > Lady Geraldine Mariana Hervey > Angela Beryl Hoare > Simon Rollo Frisby > Caroline Belinda Frisby > Olivia Grace Henson

Olivia's descent from the Marquesses of Bristol-

Frederick, 2nd Marquess of Bristol > Lord Augustus Henry Charles Hervey >Lady Geraldine Hervey > Angela Beryl Hoare > Simon Frisby . Caroline Frisby > Olivia Grace Henson 

The Duke and Olivia are both 6x great grandchildren of the 5th Earl of Carlisle (making them 7th cousins) and 7x great grandchildren of the 4th Duke of Beaufort (making them 8th cousins).

Olivia is a great-great granddaughter of Henry Hoare (1866-1956), partner in the eponymous family concern -  Hoare's Bank, of Ellisfield Manor, Basingstoke, White Wings, Angmering, Sussex, and La Lucretola, Lago di Como, Italy. The Old Etonian died 29 July, 1956.

Olivia's descent from the Arbuthnot baronets:--

Sir William Arbuthnot, 1st Baronet (1766-1829) > John Alves Arbuthnot (1802-75) > William Arbuthnot (1833-96) > Alice Arbuthnot (b 1869) > Capt William Herbert Fox (1901-40) > Sara Fox (d 2018) > Caroline Frisby (b 1963) > Olivia Henson (b 1992)

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James Lewis Ashurst Majendie 1932-2025

 James Lewis Ashurst Majendie died 3 March, 2025. He was a scion of the landed gentry family of that name, of Hedingham Castle, Halstead, Essex.

He was born in 1932, son of Capt Lewis Bernard Alexander Majendie, DSC, RN (1898-1961), and his wife the former Margaret Louise Speirs (1897-1972); and was a great-nephew of Margaret Aline Majendie (1872-1911), Maid of Honour to Queen Victoria, 2nd wife of Field Marshal the 1st Baron Grenfell, GCB (1841-1925).

He married 1stly, in 1960, Jennifer A.M. Kitching, by whom he had issue, three sons, Maximilian (1961-2019), Dominic (b 1962), and Adam (b 1964). He married 2ndly, 2004, Claire F. Stern.

The 25th Earl of Crawford & Balcarres (1812-1880) > Lady Margaret Lindsay (1850-1912) > James Henry Alexander Majendie (1871-1939) > Capt Lewis Majendie (1898-1961) > James Majendie (1932-2025)

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von Preussen/Nall-Cain marriage split

The four year marriage of Prince Alexander von Preussen and his aristocratic bride Antalya Nall-Cain is to end in divorce. Alexander, scion of the Royal House of Prussia, and Lord Brocket's daughter have split, as reported at Marlene Koenig's Royal Musings blog.

The high society wedding took place 27 September, 2020, at St John's Church, Lemsford, followed by a reception at Brocket Hall between Prince [Frederick] Alexander von Preussen [born 1984], scion of the Royal House of Prussia, is son of Prince Wilhelm Andreas von Preussen [born 14 November, 1947], by his late wife the former Alexandra Blahova [1947-2019].

The Hon Antalya Stephanie Lauren Nall-Cain [born 1987], is a daughter of the 3rd Baron Brocket [born 12 February, 1952], by his former 1st wife the former Isabell Maria Lorenzo.

Prince Alexander is a descendant of Queen Victoria:

Queen Victoria -> Victoria, Princess Royal -> Wilhelm II, German Emperor ->Wilhelm, Crown Prince of Germany -> Frederick von Preussen -> Wilhelm von Preussen -> Alexander [born 1984]

The bridegroom is also a great-grandson of the Guinness heir the 2nd Earl of Iveagh. 

Prince Alexander is the former lover and sometime manager of the singer, and Eastenders actress, Mica Paris, 51.

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James William Davies (born 28/02/2025)

 Lucia Davies (née Frascerra), wife of the Hon Alexander Sebastian Quentin Davies (born 1987), gave birth to a son, James William, 28 February, 2025, a brother for Grace Emily, who was born 5 August, 2023.

The Hon Alex Davies is the elder son of the late life peer the Baron Davies of Stamford , who died 13 January, 2025, aged 80, by his wife the former Chantal Tamplin, the elder daughter of Lt-Col R.L.C. Tamplin, 17th/21st Lancers, Military Knight of Windsor, by his wife the former Claudine Pleis.

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Romy Anna Buxton (born 2025)

  Kate Gunilla Buxton [nee Hunter, born 1989], wife of Henry James Aubrey [Harry] Buxton [born 19 May, 1988], scion of the Buxton baronets, gave birth to a daughter, Romy Anna, 5 February, 2025, a sister for Archie, who was born 22 July, 2021.

Kate is a daughter of Mr & Mrs David Hunter, of Mearnskirk, East Renfrewshire, and Harry Buxton is a son of the Hon [Aubrey] James Francis Buxton [born 20 March, 1956], and his wife the former Melinda Dorothy Marie Samuelson [born 10 June, 1957], daughter of Peter Henry Samuelson (1925-2008), and his wife the former Pauline Lucie Mayer, OBE (1926-2007), daughter of Sir Robert Mayer, CH, KCVO (1879-1985).

Harry Buxton is a grandson of the late life peer, the Baron Buxton of Alsa [1918-2009].

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David John Dugdale 1942-2025

David John Dugdale, who died 20 February, 2025, in Cape Town, South Africa, aged 82, was a scion of that landed gentry family, of Wroxall Abbey.

He was born 12 October, 1942, son of Commander Basil James Dugdale, RN (1895-1970), and his wife the former Lenore Ann Hutcheson; and married in 1972, Susan Margaret Stewart, daughter of Capt W.A. Stewart, of Brewood, Winter Hill, Cookham Dean, Hampshire, by whom he had a son, Charles Henry (born 1978), and a daughter, Nicola Anne (born circa 1976).

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