Lord Claud Anthony Hamilton 1939-2026

 Lord Claud Anthony Hamilton, who died 27 April, 2026, aged 86, was a scion of the Dukes of Abercorn.

He was born 8 July, 1939, the second son of the 4th Duke of Abercorn (1904-1979), and his wife the Lady Mary Katherine Crichton (1905-1990), Mistress of the Robes to HM Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, and scion of the Earls of Erne, daughter of Henry Viscount Crichton (1872-1914), and his wife Lady Mary Cavendish Grosvenor (1883-1959), daughter of the 1st Duke of Westminster (1825-1899).

Lord Claud was a first cousin of John, 8th Earl Spencer (1924-1992), and thus a cousin twice removed of the Prince of Wales and Duke of Sussex.

Lord Claud was a former High Sheriff of County Fermanagh, appointed in 1990, and became a JP for the county in 1991. 

The Old Etonian joined the Irish Guards as a Lieutenant in 1957. His home was at Killyreagh House, Enniskillen.

He married 7 April, 1982, Catherine Janet Faulkner, daughter of Sir James Dennis Compton Faulkner, CBE, VRD, DL (1926-2016), and his wife the former Janet Cunningham (who died in 1994), and a niece of the Baron Faulkner of Downpatrick, PC (1921-1977), the sixth and last Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, by whom he had issue, a son, Alexander (born 8 June, 1987), and a daughter, Anna (born 23 Aug, 1983).

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Peter Mackelcan Woodroffe 1927-2026

  Peter Mackelcan Woodroffe died 13th April, 2026. He was 98.

He was born in 1927, son of Kenneth Derry Woodroffe (1892-1972), and his wife the former Raby Alfreda Mackelcan Kroenig-Ryan (1902-1991),, and he married in Chelsea, London, in 1973, Amanda Aloysia Nicolette Forbes (born 4 April, 1950), daughter of Henry Forbes (1914-2002), and his wife the former Pamela Aloysia Tate (1923-2021), scion of the Tate baronets, by whom he had issue, two sons, Justin (born 1977), and Clifford (born 1979).

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Hillgarth/de Guzmán engagement

 The engagement was announced 29 April, 2026, between Sebastian Alan Henry Philip Hillgarth (born August, 1985), eldest son of Justin Francis Mariano Sebastian Hillgarth (born Nov, 1947),  and his late wife Nobil Donna Antonella Carlotta Maria Grabau di Livorno e di Volterra (born Dec. 1952), of Geneva, Switzerland, & Inés de Guzmán, eldest daughter of the late Don José Miguel de Guzmán Rendueles and of Doña María Covadonga Gutiérrez Merino, of the Principado de Asturias, Spain.

Sebastian Hillgarth is a grandson of Capt Alan Hugh Hillgarth (1899-1978), and his wife the Hon Mary Sidney Katharine Almina Gardner (1896-1994), daughter of the 1st & last Baron Burghclere (1846-1921), and his wife Lady Winifred Anne Henrietta Christina Herbert (1864-1933), daughter of the 4th Earl of Carnarvon (1831-1890).

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Penelope Mary Albinia Naylor (nee Buxton) 1939-2026

 Penelope Mary Albinia Naylor, who died 2 April, 2026, aged 87, was a scion of the Buxton baronets.

She was born 28 March, 1939, third daughter of Major John Fowell Buxton (1902-1970), and his wife the former Katherine Mary Bacon (1908-2000), daughter of Sir Nicholas Henry Bacon, 12th and 13th Baronet (1857-1947); and married 27 January, 1966, Richard Christopher Naylor (born 1936), son of Thomas Humphrey Naylor (1890-1966), and his wife Dorothy Isabel Holt (1902-1986), daughter of Sir Richard Holt, 1st Baronet, MP (1868-1941); by whom she had issue, a son, Thomas (born 1 March, 1967), and a daughter, Harriet Albina (born 1970).

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Timothy Miles Farmiloe 1935-2026

 Timothy Miles Farmiloe died 22 April, 2026. He was 91.

He was born 22 February, 1935, second son of Miles Bligh Damer Farmiloe (1903-1983), descended from the Barons Congleton, by his wife the former Cynthia Joyce Holt (died 1990).

The 3rd Baron Congleton > Colonel Hon Arthur Parnell > Bertram Damer Parnell > Myles Bligh Damer Parnell, who assumed the surname of Farmiloe in lieu of his patronymic > Timothy Miles Farmiloe

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Mark Gregory Littledale 1976-2026

Mark Gregory Littledale died 14 April, 2026, aged 49.

He was born in 1976, son of Gregory Bruno Littledale (1932-2004), and his second wife the former Naomi Abigail Martin. He was a descendant of the Stapleton family, and descended from the Bertie Earls of Abingdon.

Willoughby Bertie, 3rd Earl of Abingdon > Lady Mary Bertie > Thomas Stapleton > Bryan John Stapleton > Gregory Stapleton > Marie Josephine Stapleton > Gregory Bruno Littledale > Mark Littledale

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David Wynne-Morgan 1931-2026

 David Wynne-Morgan, former Daily Mail journalist, PR executive, has died aged 95.

He was born 22 Feb, 1931, and married at Kensington in April, 1966, as her second husband, Mrs Sandra Clare Douglas-Home (born circa 1940), former wife of Cecil Robin Douglas-Home (1932-1968), scion of the Earls of Home, and daughter of Wing Commander Saville Paul (1909-1964), and his wife the former Rosa Judith Stephens (1911-2001).

Sandra Paul, a mannequin, had married 1stly, 9 July 1959 (div. 1965), the abovementioned (Cecil) Robin Douglas-Home, who had a brief and passionate liaison with the late Princess Margaret. 

After divorcing Wynne-Morgan Sandra Paul married as her 3rd husband, in Oct 1971 (div.) Nigel John Grandfield (1938-1998), and she married 4thly, at Winchester, in July, 1975, Michael Howard, QC (later the Baron Howard of Lympne, PC, QC, sometime leader of the Conservative Party, &c.)

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The Baron Hunt of Chesterton, CB, FRS 1941-2026

The Baron Hunt of Chesterton, CB, FRS, who died 20 April, 2026, aged 84, was a life peer, a meteorologist,  who was the Director General and Chief Executive of the British Meteorological Office from 1992 to 1997. 

Julian Charles Ronald Hunt was born in India, 5 September, 1941, son of a diplomat Roland Hunt and his wife the former Pauline Garnett.

Hunt was raised to the peerage for life in 2000, as Baron Hunt of Chesterton, of Chesterton in the County of Cambridgeshire, and he sat as a Labour peer in the House of Lords until 30 October 2021.

He was the leader on the Labour group of Cambridge City Council in the 1970s, and Professor of Climate modelling in the Department of Space and Climate Physics and Department of Earth Sciences at University College London. In 1989 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. He was appointed CB in 1998.

He married in 1965, Marylla Shepherd, daughter of Rupert Shepherd, by whom he had three children, a son, Sir Tristram Hunt, a former Labour MP who was knighted earlier this year, and two daughters, Matilda, a doctor, and Jemima, a journalist and novelist.

He was a distant cousin of another life peer, the Baron Hunt of Fawley (1905-1987).

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The 5th Baron Derwent, LVO 1930-2026

The 5th Baron Derwent, LVO, of Hackness Hall, Scarborough, North Yorkshire, died 21 April, 2026. He was 95.

Lord Derwent was educated at Eton and served as a 2nd Lieutenant in the King's Royal Rifle Corps, and as a lieutenant in the Queen Victoria's Rifles (Territorial Army.)

He was 3rd Secretary, in the Diplomatic Service from 1954  to1955. He was awarded the Chevalier, Legion of Honour in 1957, and served as 2nd Secretary, Foreign Office, 1957, and was 1st Secretary, Foreign Office, 1962. Lord Derwent was a director of N.M Rothschild from 1969 to 1985.

Derwent was appointed an Officier de l'Ordre Nationale du Mérite in 1978.1 He was managing director of Hutchison Whampoa (Europe) Ltd, 1985-98. He was appointed LVO, a honour in the personal gift of the sovereign.

Robin Evelyn Leo Vanden-Bempde-Johnstone was born 30 October, 1930, son of the 4th Baron Derwent (1901-1986), CBE, sometime Deputy Speaker, House of Lords, and his wife the former Marie Louise Henriette Picard (who died 3 November, 1985); and he succeeded to the barony (cr Peerage of the UK, 1881), and to the family baronetcy (cr 1795), upon his father's death, 2 January, 1986.

He married 12 January, 1957, Sybille Marie Louise de Simard de Pitray (who died 1 Aug, 2023), daughter of the  Vicomte de Simard de Pitray, and his wife Jeanine Hennessy, by whom he had issue, one son the Hon Francis Patrick Harcourt Vanden-Bempde-Johnstone (born 23 Sept, 1965), and three daughters, the Hon Emmeline (born 3 Nov, 1958), the Hon Joanna (b 1 March, 1962), and the Hon Isabelle (b 26 Nov, 1968).

His only son now succeeds to the baronetcy and barony.

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Lady Georgina Jocelyn Pelham 1942-2026

 The Lady Georgina Pelham, who died 25 April, 2026, aged 83, was a scion of the Earls of Chichester.

She was born 7 June, 1942, daughter of Capt the 8th Earl of Chichester (1912-1944), of the Scots Guards, who died in an accident on active service, 21 February, 1944, and his wife the former Ursula von Pannwitz (1911-1989, and married in 1974, Helios Alberto Caranci, by whom she had issue, a son, Helios (born 1983), and twom daughters, Cecilia (born 1976), and Ursula (born 1978).

Her mother married 2ndly, 1 8 May, 1957 (div. 1971),  Ralph Gunning Henderson.

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Toogood/Parsons marriage

 The marriage took place, 25 April, 2026, at Holy Trinity Church, Bembridge, Isle of Wight, between William Richard Stanley Toogood (born 1 June, 1996), son of Mark William Toogood (born 1964), of the Isle of Wight, and his wife the former Katharine Margaret Chetwynd (born 24 June, 1965), scion of the Viscounts Chetwynd, and Rebecca Victoria Parsons (born 1994), daughter of Ian Parsons, of Bristol, and his wife the former (Brenda) Alison Pittaway (born 1958).

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Leeming/Shaharuddin engagement

The engagement was announced 25 April, 2026, between Andrew Michael Leeming (born 23 May, 1996), younger son of Antony Richard Leeming (born 22 June, 1950), of Skirsgill Park, Penrith, descended from the Tempest landed gentry family, by his wife the former Lady Elizabeth Mary Cecilia Bowes Lyon, LVO (born 23 December, 1959), scion of the Earls of Strathmore & Kinghorne, & Safura Shaharuddin, younger daughter of Mr Shaharuddin Zainuddin and Mrs Hafsa Hasan of Kuala Lumpur.

Andrew Leeming is a grandson maternally of the late 17th Earl of Strathmore & Kinghorne (1928-1987), and is a second cousin once removed of HM King Charles III.

Lady Elizabeth Leeming is an Extra Lady-in-Waiting to HRH The Princess Royal.

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Major Toby Clements Gore 1927-2026

 Major Toby Clements Gore, who died 15 April, 2026, aged 98, was a scion of the Gore baronets.

He was born 28 December, 1927, son of Brigadier Adrian Clements Gore, DSO (1900-1990), of Horton Priory, Ashford, Kent, by his wife the former Enid Aimée Cairnes (1902-1997), and married 28 July, 1959, (Isolde) Marian Macintosh (1936-1996), by whom he had issue, four daughters, Fiona (b 1960), Juiet (b 1962), Tessa (1967-1994), and Stephanie (b 1969).

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Vivienne Mary Patricia Cresswell ( née Esmonde) 1945-2026

 Vivienne Mary Patricia Cresswell, who died 19 April, 2026, aged 81, was a scion of the Esmonde baronets, descended from Sir James Esmonde, 7th Baronet.

She was born 22 March, 1945, the third daughter of Owen James Esmonde (1905-1993), and his wife Eira Margaret Antonia Mackenzie (1913- ), scion of the Mackenzie baronets; & married 1970, Charles Timothy Cresswell (born 1941), son of Charles Patrick Skeffington Cresswell (1912-1992), and his wife the former Sidney Nancy Steyning Beard (1911-2007), by whom she had issue, two daughters, Laragh (born 1973), and Dominie (born 1975).

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Henry Vevers Phythian-Adams 1939-2026

 Henry Vevers Phythian-Adams, scion of that landed gentry family, has died aged 87.

He was born 31 March, 1939, the second son of the Rev William John Telia Phythian-Adams, DSO (1888-1967), head of that family, and his wife the former Adela Noel Evelyn Robinson (1901-1983), and was educated at Rossall and Queen's College, Cambridge, and Leicester University. He married in April, 1974, Margaret Mary Ashby (1937-2018), daughter of Lt-Col A.E. Ashby, of Lamonby, Skelton, Cumbria, by whom he had issue, a son, Thomas Ashby B. Phythian-Adams (born 1982), and a daughter, Mary Anne G. Phythian-Adams (born 1977).

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Major Richard Colin Bonham Sampson 1950-2026

Major Richard Colin Bonham Sampson, died 4 April, 2026. He was 76.

He was born 10 February, 1950, son of Major Richard Claude Sampson (1916-2000), and his wife Rosemary Anne Collingridge (1924-2022); and married 26 January, 1985 (div. 2008), Mariana Victoria Magdalen Bray (born 26 January, 1956), daughter of Francis Arthur Michael Bray, DSC (1921-2004), and his wife Victoria Seely (b 1933- died 11 February, 2026), daughter of Sir Victor Basil John Seely, 4th Baronet (1900-1980), by whom he had issue, three sons, George (b 29 Jan, 1986), Charles (b 26 Oct, 1988), and Hugo (b 7 May, 1991).

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Dorothy Frances Fleming 1955-2026

Dorothy Frances Fleming, who died 29 March, 2026, aged 70, was a scion of that landed gentry family of Nettlebed.

She was born 21 June, 1955, the youngest daughter of Major Richard Evelyn Fleming, MC, TD (1910-1977), and his wife the Hon Dorothy Charmian Hermon-Hodge (1913-2001), daughter of the 2nd Baron Wyfold (1880-1942). She was a niece of the 'James Bond' writer Ian Fleming (1908-1964). She was unmarried.

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Andrew Michael Smiley 1952-2026

 Andrew Michael Smiley, who died 17 April, 2026, aged 73, was a scion of the Smiley baronets.

He was born 30 November, 1952, the second son of Major Charles Michael Smiley, CVO (1910-1991), and his wife Lavinia Pearson (1919-1991), scion of the Viscounts Cowdray; and married at Chelsea, in October, 1975, (Sarah) Caroline Coade (born 1956), daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Courtenay Coade (1917-1967), and his wife the former Pauline Violet Ramsden (1927-2002), by whom he had two daughters, Charlotte Sarah (born 1983), and Sarah Miranda (born 1986).

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Rev David Burton Evans 1935-2026

The Rev David Burton Evans died 11 April, 2026. He was 91.

Born circa 1935, son of Thomas Evans, of Shrewsbury, he married 27 September, 1975, Charlotte Antonia Caulfeild (born 17 April, 1939), scion of the Viscounts Charlemont, daughter of Wade Toby Caulfeild (1902-1991), and his wife Philippa Mary Brocklebank (1911-1996), scion of that landed gentry family. No issue of the union.

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The King has made three new appointments to the Order of the Garter on St George's Day

 His Majesty the King has marked St George's Day 2026 by appointing three distinguished members of the House of Lords to the ancient and prestigious Order of the Garter.

England's senior order of chivalry has been bestowed upon historian and former journalist the Baron Hennessy of Nympsfield (born 28 March, 1947). Lord Hennessy is a historian and academic specialising in the history of government. Since 1992, he has been Attlee Professor of Contemporary British History at Queen Mary University of London.

The accolade has also been awarded to the former cabinet secretary the Baron O'Donnell, GCB (born 1 October, 1952), the former senior civil servant and economist, who between 2005 and 2011 (under three Prime Ministers) served as the Cabinet Secretary, the highest official in the British Civil Service.

The third appointment is filled by the former chief justice the Baron Burnett of Maldon, PC (born 28 February, 1958), Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales from 2017 to 2023.

These St George's Day honours bring the number of non royal Knights of the Garter to twenty three. There remains one vacancy in the order of chivalry founded by King Edward III in 1348, reportedly inspired by the tales of King Arthur. The order’s Knights and Lady companions are chosen personally by the sovereign.

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