Garter for the Sultan of Oman

The Sultan of Oman has begun a state visit to the UK, meeting the King, the Queen and the Prince and Princess of Wales in Windsor.

The welcome took place in the open air outside Windsor and Eton Riverside station, where the monarch greeted Sultan Haitham bin Tarik Al Said amid the pouring rain.

The King removed his top hat as he greeted his guest, shaking his hand with a wide smile, while the Princess of Wales performed a deep curtsey as they stood under the covered dais.

The party then stepped into ornate horse drawn enclosed carriages for the procession through the streets of Windsor to the castle, ahead of the ceremonial welcome in the quadrangle.

The Oxford-educated Sultan joined the King in the Irish State Coach, where the two chatted as they sat side by side.

King Charles was seen to pat down his own hair after his brief exposure to the drizzle.

Queen Camilla travelled in the second carriage, the Scottish State Coach, accompanied by Oman's deputy prime minister for defence affairs Sayyid Shihab bin Tariq Al Said.

The Prince and Princess of Wales followed in the third carriage, the Australian State Coach, with the deputy prime minister for economic affairs Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham Al Said and secretary general of the diwan of the royal court Sayyid Loay bin Ghalib Al Said.

The Queen wore a vivid red wool crepe dress and coat by Fiona Clare, a hat by Philip Treacy, and a ruby and diamond flower brooch, with the colour seemingly a nod to the Omani flag.

The Princess of Wales's dark green Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen coat and Juliette Botterill hat appeared to carry the same reference.

Prince William had earlier travelled solo, on behalf of the King, to greet Oman's ruler at one of his residences in the UK.

The Princess of Wales arrived at the royal dais together with the King and Queen, instead of travelling with her husband, because the Sultan is not being accompanied by his wife during his stay.

The visit by Haitham bin Tarik Al Said is the first by a Sultan of Oman to the UK for 44 years.

The last came in 1982, when Queen Elizabeth II hosted the late Sultan Qaboos bin Said, the current Sultan's cousin, at Buckingham Palace.

It was later announced that the King has conferred the Most Noble of the Garter upon the Sultan of Oman.

Haitham bin Tarik Al Said becomes a 'stranger' Knight, outside the 24 Ordinary Knights Companion, and joins a distinguished band of foreign royals to be so ennobled.

Naruhito, the Emperor of Japan became a stranger Knight in 2024 following in the footsteps of his father Emperor Akihito (1998). 

Other monarchs so honoured include Margrethe II, Queen of Denmark (1979), Carl XVI Gustav, King of Sweden (1983), King Juan Carlos of Spain (1988), Princess Beatrix, former Queen of the Netherlands (1989), Felipe VI, King of Spain (2017), and Willem-Alexander, King of the Netherlands (2018).

Previous non-Christian royals to be honoured with the Garter include Naser al-Din Shah Qajar, Shah of Persia (by Queen Victoria, 1873), Mozaffar ad-Din Shah Qajar, Shah of Persia (By King Edward VII, 1903), Meiji, Emperor of Japan (by King Edward VII, 1905), Taisho, Emperor of Japan (by King George V, in 1912),  and Hirohito, Emperor of Japan (by King George V, 1929).

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Morrison/FitzGerald engagement

The engagement was announced 20 October, 2026, between Geordie Anthony Morrison (born 14 September, 1989), son of the Hon Hugh Morrison (born 7 November, 1960), of East Ilsley, Berkshire, and his former wife (Cecilia) Jane Jenks (born 1963, now Mrs Paul Hearn), of Lambourn, Berkshire, and  Charlotte Elizabeth FitzGerald (born 1993), daughter of Michael FitzGerald, of Golant, Cornwall, and his wife the former Sarah M.M. Burgess (born 1961).

Geordie Morrison is a grandson of the late 2nd Baron Margadale, DL, JP (1930-2003).

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Anthony Julian Robarts 1937-2026

 (Anthony) Julian Robarts died 12 October, 2026. He was 89.

He was born in April, 1937, son of Anthony Vere Cyprian Robarts (1910-1982), of Fellyard Slapton, Towcester, Northamptonshire, and his wife the former Grizel Mary Grant (1914-2004), daughter of Maj-Gen Sir Philip Gordon-Grant, KCB, CMG (1869-1943), and his wife Annette Emily Mary Coventry (1884-1963), scion of the Earls of Coventry, descended from the 6th Earl.

He married at Chelsea in April, 1961, Edwina B. Hobson (born July, 1941), by whom he had issue, two sons, Charles (born 1962), and David (born 1964), and a daughter, Katherine Mary (Kate), (born 1966).

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Sir John Gordon Hannam, Kt 1929-2026

 Sir John Hannam, who died 8 October, 2026, aged 97, was the Conservative MP for Exeter, 1970-1997.

He was born 2 August, 1929, son of Thomas William Hannam, by his wife the former Selina Young.

He married 1sty, 1956, Wendy Macartney, by whom he had two daughters, and married 2ndly, 1983, as her second husband, Mrs Vanessa Irene Wauchope (born 10 March, 1940), former wife of John Edward Robert Wauchope, and daughter of Wing Commander Henry Adelbert Anson (1895-1955), scion of the Earls of Lichfield, and his second wife the former Muriel Irene Smith (1908-1996).

Hannam was knighted in 1992.

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David Peter Aykroyd 1937-2026

 David Peter Aykroyd, who died 9 October, 2026, aged 89, was a scion of the Aykrotd baronets, of Lightcliffe (created UK, 1920).

He was born 6 June, 1937, the third son of Colonel George Hammond Aykroyd, TD (1900-1972), of The Priory, Nun Monkton, York, by his wife (and kinswoman) the former Margaret Roberts Aykroyd (1903-1981).

He was a younger brother of Sir Michael David Aykroyd, 4th Baronet (1928-2010), and uncle of Sir Henry Aykroyd, 5th Baronet (born 4 April, 1954).

 He married 1stly, 30 October, 1958, Lydia Huldine Beamish (1939-2004), second daughter of Richard Pigott Beamish, of Castleyons, County Cork (of an Irish landed family), and his wife the former Ernestine Marguerite Hitchmough.

He married 2ndly, 2005, as her third husband, his brother John's widow, Mrs Lavinia Mary Aykroyd (nee Beasley, born 17 February, 1945), daughter of Patrick Thomas Beasley (1906-1982), and his wife Lady Alexandra Mariota Flora Egerton (1919-1991), daughter of the 6th Earl of Wilton (1896-1927).

By his first wife he had issue, a son, Nicholas William (1962-1989), and three daughters, Amanda Huldine (born 2 June, 1960), Emily Sorrel (born 9 Nov, 1970), wife of Lue Fenwicke-Clennellm scion of that landed gentry family, and Matilda Rose (born 15 March, 1978), Viscountess Clanfield, wife of Ashton Peel, Viscount Clanfield, son and heir of the 3rd Earl Peel, GCVO.

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Archibald George Bennett (born 2026)

 Alice Bennett (née Nichols), wife of George Albury Richard Bennett (born 1994), gave birth to a son, Archibald George, 12 October, 2026, a brother for Henry Albury Herbert, who was born 2 January, 2025.

Alice is a daughter of Mr & Mrs Jeremy Nichols.

George is a son of Charles Albury George Bennett, and his wife the former Joanna Caroline Vernon (born 26 March, 1963), scion of the Vernon baronets.

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Anthony Charles Farquhar 1942-2026

 Anthony Charles Farquhar, who died 7 October, 2926, aged 84, was a scion of the Farquhar baronets.

He was born 10 March, 1942, the second son of Sir Peter Walter Farquhar, 6th Baronet (1904-1986), and his wife the former Elizabeth Evelyn Hurt (1907-1983), and was a younger brother of Sir Michael Farquhar, 7th Baronet (born 29 June, 1938).

He married 25 October, 1969, Elizabeth Jane Braithwaite (1946-2004), daughter of Colonel Timothy Braithwaite, DL (1917-1989), of Limpley Stoke, Bath, by his wife the former Jean Esther Dalgleish (1924-2017), by whom he had issue, three daughters, Alexandra, Annabelle and Antonia.

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Sir Robert James Craufurd of Kilbirnie, 9th Baronet 1937-2026

 Sir Robert James (Robin) Craufurd of Kilbirnie, 9th Baronet, died suddenly following a fall, 8 October, 2026. He was 89.

He was born 18 March 1937, son of Sir James Craufurd of Kilbirnie, 8th Baronet (1886-1970), and his wife the former Ruth Marjorie Corder (who died 13 February, 1998, aged 97); and succeeded to the baronetcy (created GB, 1781, of Kilbirney, Ayrshire) on his father's death, 7 April, 1970.

He married 1stly, 1 February, 1964 (div. 1987), Catherine Penelope Westmacott (c1930-2017), daughter of Capt Horatio Westmacott, RN (1885-1954), of Torquay, Devon, and his wife the former Irene Mary Juanita Gwennap Moore (1892-1989) and married 2ndly, 1987, Georgina Anne Russell (born 1947), daughter of Commander John Dennis Russell, RN (1911-1973), of Lymington, Hampshire, and his wife the former Helen Anne Evelyn Corbet (1913-2005), scion of the Corbet baronets. He leaves issue from his first marriage, three daughters, Caroline, Penelope and Veronica.

The baronetcy now becomes extinct.

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Judith Anne Methuen-Campbell (nee Crowther) 1938-2026

 Judith Anne Methuen-Campbell died 8 October, 2026, aged 88.

She was born in 1938, daughter of Joseph Crowther and his wife nee Harris; and married 1stly, in 1959 (div), David Ifor L. Bassett (born 23 February, 1936, died 1992), son of Herbert Bassett and his wife Marjorie, of Glamorgan; and married 2ndly, 28 November, 1975, as his second wife, Christopher Paul Mansel Campbell Methuen-Campbell (1928-1998), scion of the Barons Methuen, son of the Hon Laurence Paul Methuen (1898-1970), and his wife the former Hon Olive Douglas Campbell (1896-1949), daughter of the 4th Baron Blythswood, KCVO (1870-1929). She leaves issue from both marriages. From her first union three children, Carelly, Amanda and Philip, and from her second marriage a son, Thomas (born 4 March, 1977).

Her son, Thomas Rice Mansel Methuen-Campbell is heir presumptive to the Barony of Methuen.

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The 16th Earl of Lindsay, DL 1955-2026

The 16th Earl of Lindsay, DL, died in London, 9 October, 2026. He was 70.

He was the 15th Viscount of Garnock [S., 1703], & the 16th Lord Parbroath [S., 1633], & the 15th Lord Kilbirny and Drumry [S., 1703], & the 16th Earl of Lindsay [S., 1633], & the 25th Lord Lindsay of the Byres [S., 1444].

He was seated at Lahill House, Fife.

Jamie Lindsay.

James Randolph Lindesay-Bethune was born 19 November, 1955, son of the 15th Earl of Lindsay (1926-1989), and his 1st wife the former Hon Mary-Clare Douglas-Scott-Montagu (1928-2016), scion of the Barons Montagu of Beaulieu, and descended from the Scott Dukes of Buccleuch and King Charles II.

He succeeded his father as 16th Earl, 1st October, 1989. 

He married 2 March, 1982, Diana Mary Chamberlayne-Macdonald (born 12 September, 1961), daughter of Major Nigel Donald Peter Chamberlayne-Macdonald, CVO, OBE, DL (1927-2013), and his wife the former Penelope Mary Alexandra Chamberlayne.

He is survived by the Countess and two sons, William (born 30 December, 1990), and the Hon David Nigel Lindesay-Bethune (born 12 May, 1993), and three daughters, Lady Frances Mary Gabinsky (born 1986), Lady Alexandra Penelope Coleman (born 1988), and HRH Charlotte Diana, Duchesse di Noto (born 12 May, 1993), wife of HRH Prince Jaime de Borbón y Landaluce, Duca di Noto (born 26 June, 1992).

The elder son, William James Lindesay-Bethune, styled Viscount Garnock (born 30 December, 1990), now succeeds to the family honours. He married 21 June, 2025, the Lady Violet Diana Louise Manners [born 18 August, 1993], eldest daughter of the 11th Duke of Rutland [born 8 May, 1959], of Belvoir Castle, and the Duchess of Rutland [nee (Rachel) Emma Louise Watkins, born 2 September, 1963]. The new Earl and Countess have an infant son, John Reggie James Lindesay-Bethune (born 4 July, 2026), who is now takes the courtesy title Viscount Garnock.

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Brigadier Timothy David Vaughan Bevan 1939-2026

 Brigadier Timothy David Vaughan Bevan, who died 4 October, 2026, aged 87, was a scion of that ;anded gentry family.

He was born in 1939, the eldest son of David John Vaughan Bevan, TD (1906-1986), and his wife the former Hon Hilary Evelyn Spicer Pakington (1914-2007), daughter of the 5th Baron Hampton (1888-1974).

He married 1stly, in 1964 [div. 1988], Jill Murrell, daughter of Leslie Murrell, of Harpford, Devon, and married 2ndly, in 1988, Penelope Edyth [Penny] Lavers, daughter of Douglas Lavers, of Kohimarama, Auckland, New Zealand.

From his first marriage he leaves a son, Simon David Vaughan Bevan (born 1970), and a daughter, Charlotte Hilary Vaughan Bevan (born 1968).

Brig. Bevan was a cousin of  Francesca Vaughan "Chica" Bevan (born 26 May, 1963), former wife of the Hon Harry Herbert (born 2 March, 1959), scion of the Earls of Carnarvon, and now the Duchess of Norfolk, second wife of the current Earl Marshal and Premier Duke in the Peerage of England, the 18th Duke of Norfolk, GCVO.

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David Ian Russell 1943-2026

 David Ian Russell, who died 3 October, 2026, aged 83, was a descended from the law lord the Baron Russell of Killowen [from whom the Russell baronets created in 1916 descend].

He was born 1 April 1943, the second son of Major Denis Leslie Russell, MBE, TD (1909-1986), and his wife the former Verena Henderson (died 1995); and married 30 April, 1976, the Hon Frances Marion Holt (born 1942), daughter of Capt Eric Holt and his wife Anne Moira Sempill, Lady Sempill [in her own right the 20th holder of the Scottish peerage] (1920-1995).

His wife is a half-sister of the 21st Lord Sempill (born 25 February, 1949).

He leaves a daughter, Katherine Ann Russell (born 19 June, 1980).

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Roger Henry Moat 1933-2026

 Roger Henry Moat died 13 September, 2026. He was 93.

Roger Moat.

He was born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, in 1933, son of Henry Moat (1905-1958), and his wife the former Margaret Golightly (1905-1989); and married 1stly, in Wharfedale, 1958, Rhona Mary Cordingley (1937-1996), daughter of Samuel Cordingley and Ann Hainsworth; and married 2ndly, 17 April, 1999, as her second husband, Anthea Anthill (born 15 Oct, 1939), scion of the Earls of Shrewsbury, widow of Philip Simon Anthill (1930-1996), and daughter of Capt Edward Hugh Frederick Chetwynd-Talbot (1909-1998), and his wife the former Cynthia Phoebe Phillips (1912-2012).

From his first marriage he leaves a son, Henry (born 1961), and two daughters, Mary (born 1959), and Penelope (born 1970).

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Simon William Alastair Whiteley 1958-2026

 Simon William Alastair Whiteley died 29 September, 2026, aged 68.

He was born 9 April, 1958, the son of Peter John Henry Whiteeley (1928-2015), and his wife Lady Angela Mary North (1931-2017),  scion of the Earls of Guilford.

He married 7 April, 1988, Winifred Wu Shu-Chih, daughter of the Hon Alex Wu Shu-Chih, CBE (1920-2005), of Kowloon, Hong Kong. No issue of the the marriage.

He was a nephew of the 9th Earl of Guilford (1933-1999).

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McCorquodale/Coleman marriage

Felix & Lily.

The marriage took place 10 October, 2026, at Battersea, between Felix William Douglas McCorquodale (born 15 January, 1995), scion of that landed gentry family, the second son of David Norman Berkeley McCorquodale (born 1960), and his 1st wife the former Elizabeth-Ann Gubbins, & Lily Saffron Coleman (born 1998), daughter of Melvyn Ernest Coleman (1962-died 24 May, 2023), and his wife Annabel Nicola Croft (born 12 July, 1966), the tennis player and broadcaster.

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Matilda Patricia Collins (born 2026)

Natasha Mary Collins (nee Seel, born 1989), wife of Edward Douglas Collins [born 10 October, 1979], gave birth to a daughter, Matilda Patricia, 26 September, 2026, a sister for Isabella.

Natasha is a daughter of Jeremy Simon Seel [born 1955], of Fawley, Hampshire, and his wife the former Carolyn Mary Webb [born 1958], and is descended from the Baron Wakefield of Kendal [Ext]:-

1st and last Baron Wakefield of Kendal > Hon Ruth Isabel Wakefield > Carolyn Webb > Natasha Seel

Edward Collins is a son of Christopher Douglas Collins [born 19 January, 1940], of Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire, and his wife the former Susan Anne Lumb.  

Edward Collins descends from the Backhouse baronets:-

Sir Jonathan Backhouse, 1st Baronet > Miles Roland Charles Backhouse > Una Patricia Backhouse > Christopher Collins > Edward Collins [b 1979]

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Hall/Hurley engagement

The engagement was announced 10 October, 2026, between Dominic Leo Hall (born 4 April, 1995), son of Jeremy J. Hall, of Sandgate, Kent, and his late wife the former Georgina Katharine Hopking (1966-2007), & Constance Cora Anne Hurley (born 19 August, 1994), second daughter of Guy John Desmond Hurley, of Portsalon, Co Donegal, and his former wife Lady Samantha Clare Barbara Feilding (born 28 November, 1966), elder daughter of the late 11th Earl of Denbigh & Desmond (1943-1995).

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Felix James David Mackaness-Mills (born 2026)

Anastasia Augusta Thane Mackaness-Mills (nee Mackaness, born 26 May, 1995), wife of Frederick L.Mills, gave birth to a son, Felix James David, 28 September, 2026.

Frederick is a son of David Mills, of Highgate, London.

Anastasia is a scion of the Mackaness landed family of Boughton Hall, daughter of Brigadier James Richard St Duthus Mackaness, MBE (1957-2018), and his wife the former Mary Anne Herbert (born 1962), scion of that landed gentry family of Upper Hemsley & Old Leigh Place.

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Lt-Cdr [Kenneth] Patrick Bruce-Gardyne, RN 1933-2026

Lieutenant-Commander Kenneth Patrick Bruce-Gardyne, RN, died 30 September, 2026. He was 92.

He was a scion of the Scottish landed gentry family of that name, and a younger brother of the life peer the Baron Bruce-Gardyne (1930-1990).

He was born 13 November, 1933, the third son of Capt Evan Bruce-Gardyne, DSO, RN (1885-1949), 13th of Middleton, and his wife the former Joan McLaren (1898-1996); and married 11 April, 1964, Angela Pauline Fane (1936-2014), scion of the Earls of Westmorland, by whom he had issue, two sons, James Patrick (born 7 Sept, 1965) and Vere Alexander (born 1973), and a daughter, Victoria Sophia (born 8 Aug, 1969).

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