Duke of Buccleuch appointed Chancellor of the Order of The Thistle

The Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry has been appointed to the office of Chancellor of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle.

Richard John Walter Montagu-Douglas-Scott, 10th Duke of Buccleuch, KT, KBE, CVO, DL (born 14 February, 1954), succeeded to the family honours on the death of his father, 4 September, 2007, and was appointed a Knight Companion of the Order of the Thistle in 2017.

The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle is an order of chivalry and the senior order in Scotland. The current version of the order was founded in 1687 by King James VII of Scotland, who asserted that he was reviving an earlier order. The order consists of the sovereign and sixteen knights and ladies, as well as certain "extra" knights (members of the British royal family and foreign monarchs). The sovereign alone grants membership of the order; they are not advised by the government, as occurs with most other orders. 

The current membership of the order: His Majesty the King was admitted a knight in 1977 and has been Sovereign of the Order since his accession, 8 Sept, 2022. The other Royal or Extra knights and ladies are Her Majesty the Queen (2023), HRH The Princess Royal (2000), and Prince William, Duke of Rothesay (2012).

The Knights and ladies currently number thirteen, with three vacancies:-

The Earl of Elgin and Kincardine KT CD JP DL (1981), The Lord Mackay of Clashfern KT PC KC FRSE (1997), The Lord Wilson of Tillyorn KT GCMG FRSE (2000), The Lord Steel of Aikwood KT KBE PC (2004), The Lord Robertson of Port Ellen KT GCMG PC FRSA FRSE (2004), The Lord Cullen of Whitekirk KT PC KC FRSE FREng (2007), The Lord Hope of Craighead KT PC KC FRSE (2009), The Lord Patel KT FMedSci FRSE (2009), The Lord Smith of Kelvin KT CH FRSGS (2014), The Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry KT KBE CVO DL FSA FRSE FRSGS (2017), Sir Ian Wood KT GBE (2018), Lady Elish Angiolini LT DBE PC KC FRSA FRSE (2022), Sir  George Reid KT FRSE (2022).

The Duke of Buccleuch, a great-nephew of the late Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester (1901-2004), is 10th Duke of Buccleuch (Scotland, let. pat. 20 Apr 1663, sur. and regrant 16 Jan 1666 and 17 Nov 1687), 12th Duke of Queensberry (Scotland, let. pat. 3 Feb 1683, sur. and regrant 17 Jun 1706), 12th Marquess of Dumfriesshire (Scotland, let. pat. 3 Feb 1683, sur. and regrant 17 Jun 1706), 13th Earl of Buccleuch (Scotland, let. pat. 16 Mar 1619, sur. and regrant 16 Jan 1666 and 17 Nov 1687), 10th Earl of Doncaster (England, let. pat. 14 Feb 1662/3), 10th Earl of Dalkeith (Scotland, let. pat. 20 Apr 1663, sur. and regrant 16 Jan 1666 and 17 Nov 1687), 12th Earl of Drumlanrig and Sanquhar (Scotland, let. pat. 11 Feb 1682, sur. and regrant 17 Jun 1706), 12th Viscount of Nith, Tortholwald and Ross, (Scotland, let. pat. 11 Feb 1682, sur. and regrant 17 Jun 1706), 14th Lord Scott of Buccleuch (Scotland, let. pat.18 Mar 1606, sur. and regrant 16 Jan 1666 and 17 Nov 1687) 13th Lord Scott of Whitchester and Eskdaill (Scotland, let. pat. 16 Mar 1619, sur. and regrant 16 Jan 1666 and 17 Nov 1687), 10th Baron Scott of Tindale, (England, let. pat. 14 Feb 1662/3), 12th Lord Douglas of Kilmount, Middlebie and Dornock, (Scotland, let. pat. 11 Feb 1682, sur. and regrant 17 Jun 1706).

The office of Chancellor is mentioned and given custody of the seal of the order in the 1687 statutes, but no-one was appointed to the position until 1913. The office has subsequently been held by one of the knights, though not necessarily the most senior. 

The Duke of Bucccleuch, one of Europe's biggest landowners, is seated at Bowhill, Selkirk , Boughton House, Kettering, Northamptonshire, and Drumlanrig Castle, Dumfriesshire.

He married 31 October, 1981, the Lady Elizabeth Marian Frances Kerr, daughter of the 12th Marquess of Lothian. He duchess died 30 April, 2023, aged 68, a week before the Coronation of King Charles III in which the duke took a ceremonial role.

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Dawes/Paravicini engagement

The engagement was announced 9 December, 2023, between Benjamin Guy Dawes (born 1998), eldest son of Guy Anthony Dawes (born 1967), of Liss, Hampshire, and his wife the former Jane Wendy Regan (born 1969), & Charlotte Francesca Paravicini (born 19 April, 1999), descended from the Earls of Macclesfield, younger daughter of Charles Vincent Somerset Paravicini (born 21 June, 1968), of Midhurst, West Sussex, and his wife the former Lucia Francesca Laurie (born February, 1969).

Charlotte is a granddaughter of Mary Ann Parker Bowles (born 9 June, 1945), and a great-niece of Brigadier Andrew Parker Bowles (born 27 Dec, 1939), first husband of HM Queen Camilla.

The 6th Earl of Macclesfield (1811-96) > Hon Algernon Parker Bowles (1849-1940) > Eustace Parker Bowles (1884-1952) > Derek Parker Bowles (1915-77) > Mary Ann Parker Bowles (b 1945) > Charles Paravicini (b 1968) > Charlotte Paravicini (b 1999)

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Richard William Godfrey Astell 1944-2023

 Richard William Godfrey (Robin)Astell, who died 25 November, 2023, aged 79, sometime of Tissington Hall, Derby, was a scion of the Astell landed family of Woodbury and Everton; born 27 September, 1944, son of Major Henry Thornton Astell (1915-1989), of Bishop's Castle, Salop, by his 1st wife the former Kathleen Anne Rees; & married  in 1986, Sarah Mary Bellord (born 1950), daughter of Major Robert Bellord (1908-70), the Irish Guards, and his wife the former Susan Clara Willoughby (1922-2017), scion of the Barons Middleton, by whom he had issue.

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Anstey/Denison engagement

The engagement was announced 8 December, 2023, between Alfred William Leighton (Freddie) Anstey, descended from the Earls of Devon, son of Henry Michael Anstey (born 5 October, 1965), of King's Cliffe, Northamptonshire, and his wife the former Kate Louise Harris, & Emma Louise Denison (born 1994), youngest daughter of Robert Paul Denison (born 1963), of Earley, Reading, and his wife the former Alison Jane Bottomley (born 1968).

Rev the 16th Earl of Devon (1875-1935) > Lady Evelyn Courtenay (1908-85) > Thomas Anstey (1937-86) > Henry Anstey (b 1965) > Freddie Anstey (b c 1998)

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Richard Henry Tollemache Walker 1935-2023

 Richard Henry Tollemache Walker, who died 4 December, 2023, was a scion of the Earls of Dysart.

He was born at Christchurch, New Zealand, 13 January, 1935, the second son of Lawrence Robert Galwey Walker (1891-1984), of Oamaru, New Zealand, by his wife the former Winifred Dora Tollemache (1898-1981), scion of the Earls of Dysart; and married in May, 1965, Yvonne le Marquand, daughter of Percy Lawrence le Marquand, of Timaru, New Zealand, by whom he had issue, a son, John Henry (born 1968), and a daughter, Caroline Mary (born 1966).

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Wilfred Michael Stewart Vaughan (born 2023)

 Claudia Vaughan [nee Birrell], wife of Capt Henry M.H. Vaughan, The Life Guards (born 1991), scion of that landed family, gave birth to a son, Wilfred Michael Stewart, 25 November, 2023, a brother for Hubert George Baynham [Bertie], who was born 15 September, 2021.

Henry Vaughan is the only son of Mr Thomas Francis Vaughan [born 1948], of Pencoyd, Herefordshire, by his wife the former Sarah Jean Harding-Rolls (scion of Harding, of Birling Manor).

Claudia Emma  A. Vaughan [born 1991], is the only daughter of Mr Christopher R.S. Birrell [born 1954], of Cucklington, Somerset, and his wife the former Emma G.A. Breton [born 1956].

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Dorothy Vivien Wilson 1928-2023

 Dorothy Vivien Wilson, who died 23 November, 2023, aged 95, was a scion of the Wilson landed gentry family, of Cliffe Hall.

She was born 22 January, 1928, younger daughter of Capt Sir Frank O'Brien Wilson, CMG, DSO, RN (1883-1962), and his wife the former Elizabeth Frances Pease (1894-1974), daughter of Sir Arthur Francis Pease, 1st Baronet (1866-1927). She was unmarried.

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John Salusbury Kynaston Mainwaring 1938-2023

 John Salusbury Kynaston Mainwaring, scion of that landed gentry family, died 23 November, 2023. He was 85.

He was born 18 April, 1938, the eldest son of Brigadier Hugh Salusbury Kynaston Mainwaring, CB, CBE, DSO, TD (1906-1976), and his wife the former Diana Dugdale (1913-1967), scion of that landed family of Wroxall; and married 20 July, 1968, Anne Bucknill, younger daughter of the late Capt Anthony Bucknill and Mrs Michael Webster, of The Vale, Windsor Forest, Berkshire, by whom he had issue, a son, William, and two daughters, Laura and Annabel.

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Trennery/Seymour engagement

The engagement was announced 6 December, 2023, between Thomas George Trennery, son of Paul and Jackie Trennery of Harpenden, Hertfordshire, & Charlotte Emily Seymour (born 1990), scion of the Barons Howard De Walden, daughter of Thomas Oliver Seymour (born 20 Oct, 1952), scion of the Marquesses of Hertford, and his wife the former Sally Ward Coolidge, daughter of Henry P. Coolidge, of Lincoln, Mass, United States.

Charlotte Seymour is descended from the Barons Howard De Walden and in remainder to that English barony:-

The 8th Baron Howard De Walden (1880-1946) > Hon Rosemary Nest Scott-Ellis (1922-2017) > Thomas Seymour (b 1952) > Charlotte Emily Seymour (b 1990)

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Loyd/Dawkins engagement

 The engagement was announced 6 December, 2023, between Rupert Charles Percy Loyd (born 8 February, 1990), scion of the Loyd landed family of Lockinge, the second son of David William Arnold Loyd (born 4 January, 1949), of Mildenhall, Wiltshire, and his wife the former Anabel Laura Dorothy Morrison (born 31 December, 1955), scion of the Barons Margadale, & Alice E. Dawkins, daughter of Hon John Dawkins AO and Maggie Dawkins of Yorke Peninsula, South Australia.

Rupert Loyd is a great-grandson of the 1st Baron Margadale:-

1st Baron Margadale (1906-96) > Hon Sir Charles Morrison MP (1932-2005) > Anabel Morrison (b 1955) > Rupert Loyd (b 1990)

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Matilda and Scarlett Rounding (born 2023)

 Lucy Amelia M.Y. Rounding (nee Froggatt, born 24 August, 1993), wife of Edward George (Ed) Rounding (born 4 February, 1991), gave birth to twin daughters, Matilda and Scarlett, born 3 November, 2023.

Ed Rounding is a son of Anthony Rounding (born 1955), and his wife the former Elaine Kaiser (born 1954).

Lucy, descended from the Stanley of Dalegarth & Ponsonby landed gentry family, is the only daughter of Nicholas Keith Froggatt (born 11 January, 1963), by his wife the former Maggie Tang (born 21 May 1962).

The twins are great-great-granddaughters of Elizabeth Norah Stanley (b 1909- ?) who descended from the Earls of Galloway and from King Henry VII.

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Elizabeth Jane Cowen (née Holland) 1967-2023

Elizabeth Jane Cowen (née Holland) died 26 November, 2023, aged 56. She was born in 1967, daughter of William Holland, of Chaceley, Gloucestershire; and married in 1999, Major Stuart Huxley Cowen (born 1960), son of Maj Rosslyn Fairfax Huxley Cowen (1919-2016), and his wife the Hon Shelagh Mary Rank (1923-2007), daughter of the 1st & last Baron Rank (1888-1972); by whom she had issue, a son Henry, and a daughter, Georgina.

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Peter Charles Barclay, The Barclay of Towie Barclay and of that Ilk 1938-2023

 Peter Charles Barclay The Barclay of Towie Barclay and of that Ilk, died 2 November, 2023.

He was recognised by Lord Lyon King of Arms, and matriculated his arms at the Lyons Court on 22 March 1971.

He was born 26 February, 1938, a son of Lieutenant-Colonel Walter Patrick Barclay, The Black Watch (1899-1943), and his wife the former Daphne Dorothy Crisp Binny (1913-1985); Unm.

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Gene Carol de Speville (née Blunt) 1943-2023

Gene Carol de Speville (née Blunt), who died 28 November, 2023, aged 80, was a scion of the Blunt baronets.

She was born 24 April, 1943, daughter of Capt Grant Anthony Clavell Blunt, RM (1920-2005), of Warwick Dr, London, and his wife the former June Dorothy Liddle (who died 15 Nov, 2019); and married 1967, Bertrand Edouard Doger de Speville (1941-2020).

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Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead 1944-2023

 The Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead, the former minister, MEP and wife of ex-Labour leader Lord Kinnock, died 3 December, 2023, aged 79.

The former Glenys Elizabeth Parry (born 7 July, 1944), was a politician and teacher who served as Minister of State for Europe from June to October 2009 and Minister of State for Africa and the United Nations from 2009 to 2010. A member of the Labour Party, she was previously a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for Wales, formerly South Wales East, from 1994 to 2009. She was also a businesswoman and a founder of multiple organizations, including One World Action (formerly The Bernt Carlsson Trust) in 1988 and Edwin Symonowicz Enterprises along with Polish singer and businessman Edwin Symonowicz in 2012.

 In June 2009 she was raised to the peerage for life and her title was gazetted in the name, style and title of Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead, of Holyhead in the County of Ynys Môn. 

Gelnys Parry married 25 March, 1967, Neil Gordon Kinnock (born 28 March, 1942). Her husband was Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Labour Party from 1983 to 1992. He served as a Member of Parliament from 1970 to 1995, first for Bedwellty and then for Islwyn. He was Vice-President of the European Commission from 1999 to 2004. Kinnock was considered to be on the soft left of the Labour Party. Her husband was raised to the peerage for life in January, 2005, as Baron Kinnock, of Bedwellty in the County of Gwent.

Baroness Kinnock leaves issue, a son, Stephen Nathan Kinnock (born 1 Jan, 1970), Labour MP for Aberavon since 2015, and a daughter, Rachel.

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