Mark Chaytor Dickinson 1951-2026

 Mark Chaytor Dickinson died 25 August, 2026. He was 75, and descended from the Chaytor baronets.

He was  born 17 May, 1951, son of Peter Dickinson and his wife the former Anne Chaytor (1919-2002), daughter of Sir Edmund Hugh Chaytor, 6th Baronet (1876-1935).

He married firstly, in 1978 (Div. 1992), Amanda Evelyn Fraser (born 1956, later the Hon Mrs Timothy Buxton), daughter of Air Commodore Anthony Walkinshaw Fraser, and his wife the former Angela Mary Graham Shaw (1936-2018), descended from the 1st Viscount Dunedin.

Mark Dickinson married 2ndly, October, 1992, Caroline Mary Palmer (born 16 December, 1952), former wife of Major Hon Richard Nicholas Bethell (born 29 May, 1950, afterwards the 6th Baron Westbury), and  daughter of Richard John Palmer (1926-2008), and his wife the Hon Sarah Faith Georgiana Spencer (1931-2015), daughter  of the 1st Viscount Churchill (1864-1934).

He leaves issue from his first marriage, a son Maximilian (b 1981), and two daughters, Olivia (b 1983), and Georgia (b 1987).

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Barden de Lacroix/Keogh engagement

The engagement was announced 29 August, 2026, between Luke Michael P. Barden de Lacroix (born 1989), the elder son of Mrs Fabienne Barden de Lacroix, of Weybridge, Surrey, and Dr Georgina Ann Keogh (born 10 August, 1990), younger daughter of Colin Denis Keogh, and his wife the former Joanna Mary Martyn Leapman (born 1953), daughter of John Frederick Martyn Leapman (1916-2000), and his wife the former Hon (Anne) Cynthia Veronica Tempest Plumer (1921-2004), daughter of the 2nd and last Viscount Plumer, MC (1890-1944).

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Rear-Admiral Sir John Garnier, KCVO, CBE 1934-2026

Rear-Admiral Sir John Garnier, KCVO, CBE, died 31 July, 2026. A descendant of the Barons Vernon. He was 92.

He served as Naval Equerry to the Queen between 1962 and 1965, Director of Naval Operations and Trade between 1982 and 1984, Flag Officer, Royal Yachts, between 1985 and 1990, and as Private Secretary and Comptroller to Princess Alexandra, the Hon Lady Ogilvy between 1991 and 1995.  He was an Extra Equerry to HM Queen Elizabeth II from 1988.

Garnier was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1982 and a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order in 1990 (having previously been appointed a Lieutenant in 1965).

He was born 10 March, 1934, son of the Rev Thomas Vernon Garnier, OBE (1875-1939) and his wife the former Helen Stenhouse, and a grandson of the Rev Thomas Parry Garnier (1841-1898), and his wife the Hon Louisa Warren Venables-Vernon (died 1894), daughter of the 5th Baron Vernon (1803-1866).

He married in 1966, Joanna Jane Cadbury (born 1943), scion of the landed chocolate manufacturing family, daughter of Alan Cadbury (1907-1994), by his wife the former Janet Mary Margaret Walker (1909-2001), by whom he had two sons, Thomas and William, and a daughter, Louisa.

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Ivo Charles Roger Matterson (born 2026)

Lucy C. Matterson (née Williams), wife of Thomas John Hardwick Matterson [born 1991], descended from the Child baronets, gave birth to a son, Ivo Charles Roger, 2 July, 2026, a brother for their twins Rafferty John Woolhouse & Rex Edward Hardwick, who were born 4 March 2024.

Thomas is a son of Charles John Hardwick Matterson [born 26 December, 1960], of Polstead, Suffolk, and his wife the former Elizabeth Caroline McGregor Moffatt [born 1962].

Lucy is a daughter of Mr & Mrs Brian Williams, of Putney, London.

Sir Coles John Child, 2nd Baronet [1906-71] > Honor Diana Child [b 1936] > Charles Matterson [b 1960] > Thomas Matterson [born 1991] > Ivo Matterson [born 2026].

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His Majesty Harald V, King of Norway, 1937-2026

 His Majesty Harald V, King of Norway, died in hospital in Oslo, 28 August, 2026_. He was 89.

In August 2026, the King was admitted to hospital with fluid retention caused by cortisone treatment for haemolytic anaemia and was placed on two weeks' sick leave. His son and heir Crown Prince Haakon  served as regent during his absence.

He was King of Norway for 35 years, and from 9 September, 2024, he was the oldest monarch in more than 1,150 years of Norwegian monarchy, living longer than his father King Olav V, who died at 87 years and 199 days. Following the death of his cousin Queen Elizabeth II, 8 September, 2022, King Harald became  Europe's oldest hereditary reigning monarch.

A Descendant of King Edward VII, he was therefor connected by blood to all the Europe and Scandinavian monarchs. King Harald was first cousin once removed of Philippe, King of the Belgians, and likewise of Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg, and a second cousin once removed of King Charles III, likewise of Frederik X, King of Denmark, and Carl XVI Gustaf King of Sweden, and a third cousin twice removed of Willem-Alexander, King of the Netherlands. He was a third cousin once removed of Felipe VI, King of Spain. He was a seventh cousin of Albert II, Prince of Monaco, and a fourth cousin once removed of Hans-Adam II, Prince of Liechtenstein.

He was born at Skaugum, 21 February, 1937, the third child but only son of the then Crown Prince Olav of Norway, KG, KT, GCB, GCVO (born at Sandringham, 2 July, 1903, as Prince Alexander Edward Christian Frederik of Denmark), and his wife Princess Martha Sofia Louisa Dagmar Thyra of Sweden (born Stockholm, 28 March, 1901, died at Oslo, 5 April, 1954).

In 1905 Norway became independent for the first time in five centuries, having during that time either being tied to Sweden or Denmark. There was the question whether the new independent country should be a monarchy or a republic. Under the influence of the German Emperor Wilhlem II, a royal but democratic constitution was agreed upon, and King Harald's grandfather, a Danish prince, was selected as King. His ascension to the Norwegian throne was confirmed by a plebiscite, in which the majority in favour of monarchy was nearly four to one.

His paternal grandfather, HRH Prince Christian Frederik Carl Georg Valdemar Axel of Denmark (born at Charlottenlund, 3 August, 1872), was elected King of Norway, 18 November, 1905, when Norway's union with Sweden was dissolved. Prince Christian became Haakon VII, King of Norway, and reigned until his death at Oslo, 21 September, 1957. The then Prince Christian married in the private chapel at Buckingham Palace, 22 July, 1896, HRH The Princess Maud Charlotte Mary Victoria of Wales, VA, CI, GCVO, GCStJ (born at Marlborough House, London, 26 November, 1869, died in London, 20 November, 1938), youngest daughter of the then Prince of Wales [later King Edward VII] and Queen Alexandra.

Young Harald studied for periods at the University of Oslo, the Norwegian Military Academy, and Balliol College, Oxford. A keen sportsman, Harald represented Norway in sailing at the 1964, 1968, and 1972 Olympic Games, and later became patron of World Sailing.

Harald became Crown Prince of Norway upon his grandfather's demise, 21 September, 1957. His father reigned as Olav V, King of Norway.

Harald was appointed GCVO by his cousin Queen Elizabeth II in 1955, and received the Royal Victorian Chain in 1994. He became the 990th Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter in 2001.

He married at Oslo, 29 August, 1968, Sonja Haraldsen (born Oslo, 4 July, 1937), daughter of Carl August Haraldsen, by his wife the former Dagny Ulrichsen, by whom he had issue, a son, Crown Prince Haakon Magnus (born at Oslo, 20 July, 1973), who now succeeds to the throne, and a daughter, Princess Martha Louise (born at Oslo, 22 September, 1971).

Crown Prince Harald succeeded to the Norwegian throne on the death of his father, 17 January, 1991.

In the British Army, King Harald was appointed an honorary general in 1994, and he was the final Colonel-in-Chief of the Green Howards. He is also an honorary Colonel in the British Royal Marines. He was patron of the Anglo-Norse Society in London, formerly together with Queen Elizabeth II, his second cousin. Harald was in the line of succession to the British throne, because of his descent from great-grandfather, King Edward VII.

The 5th Earl of Cranbrook 1933-2026

The Earl of Cranbrook, the 5th Earl, distinguished zoologist, naturalist and conservationist, died at his home in Suffolk, 24 August, 2026. He was 93.

Lord Cranbrook dedicated his life to studying and protecting the biodiversity of Malaysia and Southeast Asia, began his scientific fieldwork in the region as an assistant at the Sarawak Museum in the late 1950s.

He was  Viscount Cranbrook (cr 1878), Baron Medway (cr 1892), and Earl of Cranbrook (cr 1892). He was known by the courtesy title Baron Medway from his birth until inheriting the family honours in 1978.

His home was Great Glemham House, Saxmundham, Suffolk.

He was Chairman, Institute for European Environmental Policy [1990], Chairman International Trusr for Zoological Nomenclature [2001], Assistant, Sarawak Museum 1956-58, Fellow Yayasan Siswa Lokantra [Indonesia] 1960-61; Assistant Lecturer in Zoology, University of Malaya, 1961-70; Editor of Ibis, 1973-80; Member, House of Lords Select Committee on EC then EU 1979-99; Chairman Environmental Public Health and Consumer Protection Sub Committee 1998-99; Board Member, Anglian Water Authority 1987-89; non executive director of Anglian Water 1989-98; Chairman, English Nature 1990-1998; Member of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution, 1981-1992; NERC 1982-88; &c; Freeman of the City of London; Deputy Lieutenant for Suffolk.

He published numerous works of a zoological, environmental nature. In recognition of his immense contributions to Malaysia he was conferred the Panglima Negara Bintang Sarawak, which carries the title Dato Sri in 2005.

Lord Cranbrook dedicated his life to studying and protecting the biodiversity of Malaysia and Southeast Asia, began his scientific fieldwork in the region as an assistant at the Sarawak Museum in the late 1950s.

Gathorne Gathorne-Hardy was born 20 June, 1933, elder son of the 4th Earl of Cranbrook, CBE, DL, JP (1900-1978), and his wife the former Fidelity Seebohm, OBE (1912-2009), and succeeded to his father's peerages, 22 November, 1978.

He married 9 May, 1967, Caroline Jarvis (born 18 December, 1935), the only daughter of Colonel Ralph Jarvis, DL, of Doddington Hall, Lincoln, and his wife the former Antonia Mary Hilda Meade, scion of the Earls of Clanwilliam, by whom he had issue, two sons, John Jason, styled Baron Medway (born 26 October, 1968), who now succeeds as 6th Earl, and the Hon Angus Edward Gathorne-Hardy (born 28 May, 1973), and one daughter, Dr Lady Flora Gathorne-Hardy (born 10 Oct, 1971).

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Rafe Alexander Philip Shenkman (born 2026)

Kate Anne Shenkman [née Winser, born 1987], wife of Maximilian Ivan Michael Shenkman [born 1982], gave birth to a son, Rafe, Alexander Philip, 10 August, 2026, a brother for Minnie Merry Melissa, who was born 27 February, 2020, and for Kit Ivan, born in 2022.

Max Shenkman is a son of Ivan Alexander Shenkman, by his wife the former Susan Mary Watt [born 1952], a granddaughter maternally of the 1st Viscount Mackintosh of Halifax [1891-1964].

Kate Shenkman is a daughter of Nigel de Northop Winser by his wife the former Shane Wesley-Smith [born 1955], descended from the Barons Remnant.

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Giles Bryan Chichester 1946-2026

 Giles Bryan Chichester, who died 12 August, 2026, aged 80, was a scion of the Chichester baronets.

He was a Conservative Party politician who was a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for South West England and Gibraltar from 1999 until he retired 2014. He was elected as Vice-President of the European Parliament on 6 July 2011.  

He was MEP for Devon and East Plymouth from 1994 to 1999 and represented South West England in the European Parliament from 1999 until 2014. On 23 July 2004 he was elected chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Industry, Research and Energy. He was a former chairman of the Carlton Club Political Committee and is chairman of his family business publishing maps.

He was born 29 July, 1946, the son of Sir Francis Charles Chichester, KBE (1901-1972), the pioneering aviator and solo sailor, who was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for becoming the first person to sail single-handed around the world by the clipper route and the fastest circumnavigator, in nine months and one day overall in 1966–67.

Giles's mother was the former Sheila Mary Craven, who died in 1989.

He married 8 September, 1979, Virginia Ansell (born 1946), daughter of Edwin Arthur Ansell (1905-1972), of Kidderminster, Worcestershire, by his wife the former Gladys Heather Pearce (1921-2016), by whom he had two sons, George (born 19 May, 1981), Charles (born 13 Dec, 1990), and a daughter, Jessica (born 15 February, 1984).

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Timothy John Peter Emerson 1942-2026

Timothy John Peter Emerson died 17 August, 2026. He was 84.

He was born in 1942, son of Colonel John Emerson, OBE, TD (1912-2003), of Yelverton, Devon, and his wife the former Rosemary Steeds White (1918-1992); and married at Tavistock, 9 June, 1984, Susanna Jane Rashleigh (born 19 April, 1955), eldest daughter of Sir Harry Evelyn Battie Rashleigh, 5th Baronet (1923-1984), and his wife the former Honora Elizabeth Sneyd (1931-1987), scion of that landed gentry family, by whom he had issue, a son, Thomas Alexander (born 2 September, 1987), and a daughter, Charlotte Jane (born 9 June, 1985).

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Jeremy John Chantler Bradbeer 1962-2026

Jeremy John Chantler Bradbeer, died 15 August, 2026. 

He was born in Northumberland in 1962, son of Sir (John) Derek Richardson Bradbeer, OBE, TD (1931-2016), and his wife the former Margaret Elizabeth Chantler (born 1938); and married 18 May, 1996, Serena Clare Elwes (born 13 August,1967), scion of that landed gentry family of Congham, daughter of Nigel Robert Elwes (1941-2021), and his wife the former Carolyn Peta McAlpine (born 1944), by whom he had a son, Charles Julian Chantler Bradbeer (born 2 Aug, 1997), and a daughter, Eliza Jennifer (born 29 May, 1999).

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Charles Justin Campbell (died 2026)

 Charles Justin Campbell died 16 August, 2026. He was descended from the Abercromby baronets.

His interesting death notice in the Daily Telegraph read: "Campbell: Charles Justin, died gratefully on 16th August with his two sons and a couple of diminutive witches by his bedside. Son of Sir Ralph and Joan, loving husband of more than 50 years to Ann Sophia. Born in Baghdad, 14 different schools, Bahamian policeman, art gallery owner, property guru, grass court legend and lover of bonfires. Adored by his whole family and many friends far and wide. Never better. Never better."

He was a son of Sir Ralph Abercromby Campbell, Kt (1906-1989), Chief Justice of the Bahamas, by his first wife the former Joan Childers Blake.

Charles was a great-great-grandson of Sir Robert Abercromby, 5th Baronet (1784-1855).

Sir Robert Abercromby, 5th Bt > David James Abercromby > Elsie Douglas Abercromby > Sir Ralph Abercromby Campbell  > Charles Campbell (d 2026)

He was married to Ann Sophia _____, by whom he had issue.

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Horatio Ewen Jack Bowyer [born 2026]

 Verena Elpseth Crawley Bowyer [born 1992, née Smith], wife of Robert J. Bowyer, and scion of the Woollcombe landed gentry family, gave birth to a son, Horatio Ewen Jack, 5 May, 2026, a brother for Angus Peregrine Oliver, who was born 16 May, 2022, and for Clementine Winifred Mary, born 12 September, 2024.

Robert Bowyer is a son of Mr & Mrs Jonathan Bowyer, of Coniston, Cumbria.

Verena Smith is the eldest daughter of Oliver Geoffrey Woollcombe Smith [born 12 August, 1947], of Healaugh, near Tadcaster, Yorkshire, scion of the Samuel Smith brewing family, by his wife the former Priscilla Mary Elspeth Crawley [born 1959].

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Pike/Brown engagement

  The engagement was announced 22 August, 2026, between Patrick Belisarius Robert Pike (born 1st January, 1996), second son of Robin Pike, of London, and his wife the former Hon Georgiana Mary Grimston (born 7 September, 1961), & Suzanne Brown, younger daughter of Nicholas  and Nancee Brown, of London.

Patrick Pike is a grandson maternally of the 2nd Baron Grimston of Westbury (1925-2003)/

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Frederick Sasha (Freddie) Manning (born 2026)

Flora Susan Andrena Manning (nee Spens, born 7 January, 1989), wife of James E. Manning, gave birth to a son, Frederick Sasha (Freddie), 13 August, 2026.

James Manning is a son of Mr Michael Manning and Mrs Angela Manning.

Flora is a daughter of the late Michael Patrick Spens of Wormiston (1939-2014), scion of that Scottish landed family, and his 2nd wife Dr Janet Margaret Mackenzie (born 1956).

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Dixon-Smith/Stewart engagement

The engagement was announced 22 August, 2026, between Harry Argentine A. Dixon-Smith (born 18 Apr, 1996), third son of the Hon Adam William George Dixon-Smith (born 1962), of Groton, Suffolk, and his wife the former Annabel Hogg, & Emily C. Stewart, only daughter of Mr and Mrs David Stewart of Blairdrummond, Stirlingshire.

Harry is a grandson of the life peer the Baron Dixon-Smith (born 30 September, 1934).

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Baroness Dixon-Smith (died 2026)

Baroness Dixon-Smith, who died 16 August, 2026, aged 89, was the wife of the life peer the Baron Dixon-Smith.

The former Georgina Janet Cook, daughter of George Cook, of Halstead, Essex, married in 1960, Robert William Dixon-Smith (born 30 September, 1934), who was later a Shadow Minister at the Department for Communities and Local Government.

Bill Dixon-Smith was Governor of the Writtle Agricultural College, from 1973 to 1985 chair. In 1993 and 1994, he was Chair of Anglia Polytechnic University governors, governor from 1973 to 2000 of what was originally Cambridgeshire College of Arts and Technology (now Anglia Ruskin University). He was elected to the Essex County Council in 1965, being vice chairman from 1983 to 1986, and chairman from 1986 to 1989 before losing his seat to Labour in 1993. He was briefly Shadow Minister for Environment. In 1994, he was made an Honorary Doctor at Anglia Ruskin University. He was raised to the peerage for life, 11 Oct, 1993, as Baron Dixon-Smith, of Bocking in the County of Essex.

Baroness Dixon-Smith leaves issue, a son, Adam, and a daughter, Sarah.

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Pike/Cave engagement

 The engagement was announced 22 August, 2026, between Jack Augustus Thomas Pike (born 18 February, 1994), eldest son of Robin Pike, of London, and his wife the former Hon Georgiana Mary Grimston (born 7 September, 1961), and Harriet Patricia Cave (born 9 September, 1995), the elder daughter of Nicholas Stephen Cave (born 22 April, 1961), of Ottery St Mary, Devon, and his wife the former Alexandra Frances Elizabeth Hicks (born 1961).

Jack Pike is a grandson maternally of the 2nd Baron Grimston of Westbury (1925-2003), and the bride-to-be is a great-granddaughter of Sir Charles Cave, 4th Baronet (1927-1997).

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Edward Thomas Raphael Newton (born 2026)

Alice Mary Ella Newton (born 22 February, 1996, nee Pickthorn), wife of Ben H. Newton, gave birth to a son, Edward Thomas Raphael, 10 August, 2026.

Ben is the eldest son of Mr Keith Newton and the late Mrs Leyanne Provera, of Sydney, Australia.

Alice Newton, a scion of the Pickthorn baronets, is the 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) > Edward Newton (b 2026)

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Roger Gambier Jenyns 1942-2026

 Roger Gambier Jenyns, who died 10 August, 2026, aged 84, was head of that landed gentry family, of Bottisham Hall, Cambridge.

He was born 16 February, 1942, elder son of Roger Soame Jenyns (1904-1976), Lord of the Manor of Bottisham, and his wife the former Anne Thomson Berridge (1906-1995), scion of that Irish landed gentry family; and married 1973, Jillian Maltby (born 1942), daughter of Colonel Edward Frank Maltby (1904-1981), of Potterspury, Northamptonshire, and his wife the former Hazel Doris Evans (1905-1990), by whom he had issue, a son [Roger] George E. Jenyns, who succeeds as head of the landed gentry family, and two daughters, Sarah and Frances.

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