Clare Mary E. Bossom (born 1993, née Hunter), wife of Caspar Luke Sebastian Bossom (born 1991), scion of the Bossom baronets, gave birth to a son, Alfred Alexander Eric, 18 February, 2026.
Clare is a daughter of Carl Stephen Patrick Hunter, OBE (born 1962), and his wife the former Dorothy Crookenden (born 1960).
Caspar is a son of Doric Alfred Howard Bossom (born 27 February, 1960), and his wife the former Sara Jocelyn Vaughan (born 1958).
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Laura Worsley (née Taylor), wife of Nicholas Arthington Pitfield Worsley [born 29 July, 1988], scion of the Worsley baronets, of Hovingham Hall, gave birth to a daughter, Clio Zuleika Rose, 4 February, 2026, a sister for Lachlan Alexander Arthington, who was born 7 October, 2023.
Laura is the only daughter of Mr & Mrs Ian Taylor, of Assington, Suffolk, and Nicholas is the eldest son of Jonathan Hugh Worsley [born 3 Oct, 1960], of Hillington, Norfolk, by his wife the former Laura Pitfield.
The infant is a great-great niece of the late HRH The Duchess of Kent, GCVO.
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Lucie Quicke [née Shuttlewood, born 1986], wife of Thomas William Quicke [born 1987], descended from the Dewey baronets, gave birth to a third daughter, Ophelia Clementine Clara, 14 February, 2026, a sister for Araminta Florence Cressida, who was born in 2019, and for Florence Isabella Ophelia, born 26 May, 2021.
Thomas Quicke is a son of Colonel Richard Neville Brayley Quicke [born 1951[, and is wife the former Amanda Julia Dewey [born 1957].
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The engagement was announced 28 February, 2026, between Dominic Hew Williams Barrington (born 1994), scion of the Barrington baronets, eldest son of Rupert Hew Williams Barrington (born 5 January, 1963), of Miserden, Gloucester, and Mrs (Ann) Olivia Barrington (nee Nutting, born 20 Aug, 1963, scion of the Nutting baronets), of St Just in Roseland, Cornwall, & Augusta Kate Redding (born c 1996), daughter of Jon Stewart Redding (born 1952), of Wandsworth, London, and his wife the former Joanna Charlotte Stephenson (born 1960).
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The engagement was announced 28 February, 2026, between William (Billy) Falcon (born 1994), son of Andrew Falcon (born 1958), of Reymerston, Norfolk, and his wife the former Victoria de Bunsen (born 16 July, 1968), scion of that landed gentry family, & Brooke Elizabeth Hollingbery (born 1995), daughter of Sir George Michael Edward Hollingbery, KCMG (born 12 Oct, 1963), of Alresford, Hampshire, sometime British Ambassador to Cuba, by his wife the former Janette Marie White.
Billy Falcon is of Wellesley descent, descended from the 1st Earl of Mornington. His mother, Victoria, is a granddaughter of the 6th Baron Carrington, KG, GCMG, CH, MC, PC (1919-2018).
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Jenna Kate Hobhouse (née Ralfe, born 1984), wife of Hugh James Hobhouse (born 1984), scion of the baronets of that name, gave birth to a daughter, Nina Romy Ida, 18 February, 2026, a sister for Martha Grace (born 27 Apr, 2019), and for Thea Susan Julia (born 7 Oct, 2020).
Hugh is the eldest son of Martin Hugh John Hobhouse (1955-2024), and his wife the former Julia Isobel Craib, and a great-grandson of Sir Reginald Hobhouse, 5th Baronet (1878-1947).
Jenna is a daughter of Christopher Ralfe (born 1951), and his wife the former Gwendoline Shaw.
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Richard Mervyn Wingfield, who died 26 January, 2026, aged 83, was a scion of the Viscounts Powerscourt.
He was born 30 December, 1942, elder son of Capt Mervyn Robert George Wingfield, DSO, DSC, RN (1911-2005), and his wife the former Sheila Mary Pigé Leschallas (1909-2006); and married 26 July, 1969, Diana Longhurst (born 5 May, 1948), daughter of Peter Michael Longhurst (1918-1990), of Haslemere, Surrey, and his wife the former Barbara Watson (1918-2008), by whom he had one son, James (born 24 Oct, 1973), and a daughter, Caroline (born 9 Aug, 1976).
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Douglas Michael Free died in Pau, France, 18 February, 2026, aged 76.
He was a son of Thomas Victor Free (1897-1949), and his wife the former Mary Louise Waddoups (1897-1958); and married in 1987, the Hon Harriet Susan Anne Neill (born 1962), daughter of the life peer the Baron Neill of Bladen (1926-2016), and his wife the former Caroline Susan Debenham (1930-2010), daughter of Sir Piers Debenham, 2nd Baronet (1904-1964), by whom he had issue, a son, Alexander (born c. Jan 1992), and two daughters, Philomena (born 1989), and Isabella (born 1996).
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Sacha Grimston (nee Tasker), wife of Edward Charles Lucklyn Grimston [born 1985], scion of the Barons Grimston of Westbury, gave birth to a daughter, Georgiana Rose Tasker Grimston, 4 November, 2025, a sister for Antigone Rosslyn Katherine, who was born 23 July, 2023.
Sacha Grimston (née Miss A.S.R. Tasker), is the youngest daughter of Mr & Mrs Alan Tasker, of Lower Failand, North Somerset.
Edward Grimston is the son of Major the Hon [Gerald] Charles Walter [Charley] Grimston [born 4 September, 1953], of Finmere, Oxfordshire, and his wife the former Katherine Evelyn Kettle.
The Hon Charley Grimston is the younger brother and heir presumptive of the 3rd Baron Grimston of Westbury.
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Diana Mary Pigott (born 1992, nee Stewart-Brown), wife of Matthew Thomas Michael Pigott [born 1992], gave birth to a daughter, Sophia Rose, 13 February, 2026, a sister for George Henry Anthony, who was born 12 May, 2023.
Diana is a daughter of the late Ronald Reay Stewart-Brown (1948-2015), of Charlbury, Oxfordshire, scion of that landed gentry family, and his wife the former Juliet Rosamund Birch Reynardson (born 1952), scion of that landed gentry family.
Matthew Pigott is the younger son of Lt-Gen Sir Anthony David Pigott, KCB, CBE (1944-2020) and and his wife the former Felicity Ann Astley-Cooper (b 1954), a scion of the Cooper baronets [UK, cr 1821].
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Drusilla Norman Shulman (née Beyfus), who died 26 February, 2026, aged 98, was a journalist and etiquette writer who was best known for her books on modern modes and manners.
She was born in London, 1 March, 1927, a daughter of Norman Beyfus (1891-1975), and his wife the former Florence Noel Rhys Barker (1895-1974). After leaving finishing school, Beyfus began her writing career writing women's columns at the Reading Mercury and the Berkshire Chronicle. As a young journalist, 19 year old Beyfus was sent to Berlin in 1948 by the Daily Express to cover the Berlin blockade. In the 1960s, she contributed a chapter to Len Deighton's London Dossier, a guide book to 'modern' London. She was later a features editor at Vogue. As an etiquette writer, Beyfus contributed to over 60 different magazines and published books on the topics of modes and manners.
On 6 June, 1956, she married the Canadian-born journalist, war historian and theatre critic Milton Shulman (1913-2004), by whom she had three children, Alexandra Shulman, CBE (born 13 November, 1957), a journalist and the editor of British Vogue; Nicola Shulman (born 1960), a model, biographer, the Marchioness of Normanby, wife of Constantine Phipps, 5th Marquess of Normanby; & Jason Shulman (born 1963), a photographer, sculptor and magazine art director.
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Nigel Edward Goodeve-Docker died 15 February, 2026, aged 81.
He was born in 1944, son of Arthur Guy Goodeve-Docker (1904-1969), of The Firs, Hermitage, Newbury, Berkshire, and his wife the former Mary Watts (1912-1985), and he married in 1973, Aurelia Jean Pirie-Gordon (born 18 March, 1950), scion of that landed gentry family, of Buthlaw, second daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel George Patrick Pirie-Gordon (1918-2011), and his wife the former Catherine Grace Taylor (who died 2004), by whom he had two sons, Mark Patrick Goodeve-Docker (born 1979), and Phillip George Goodeve-Docker (born 1982, who died tragically, 28 April, 2013, on the icecap of Greenland during an expedition), and a daughter, Mary Kate Goodeve-Docker (born 1977).
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Caroline Louisa Feilding Charles-Jones (née Harwich) died 13 February, 2026.
She was born in 1948, daughter of Christopher Alfred E. Harwich (1909-1972), by his wife the former Daphne Margaret Feilding Davidson (1911-1949), and married as his second wife, in 1982, Hugh Francis Charles-Jones (born 1932) (son of Maj Francis Jones, CVO, TD (1908-1993), sometime Wales Herald Extraordinary, by whom she had a daughter, Lilery Caroline D.E. Charles-Jones (born January, 1986).
She was a granddaughter of Sir Walter Edward Davidson, KCMG (1859-1923), the colonial administrator and diplomat, who served periods as Governor of the Seychelles, Governor of Newfoundland and as Governor of New South Wales, where he died in office, by his wife the former Margaret Agnes Feilding (1871-1964), daughter of Gen the Hon Sir Percy Robert Basil Feilding, KCB (1827-1904), scion of the Earls of Denbigh, by his wife the former Lady Louisa Isabella Harriet Thynne (died 1919), daughter of the 3rd Marquess of Bath (1797-1837).
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(Ernest) Michael Le Quesne Herbert, who died 22 February, 2026, aged 89, was father of the life peer the Baron Herbert of South Downs, CBE, PC.
He was born in Oct 1936, and married in 1961, Judy Hutchinson, by whom he had issue, an only son, Nicholas Le Quesne Herbert (born 7 Apr, 1963), sometime Conservative MP for Arundel and the South Downs, created a life peer in 2020, and two daughters, Claire and Sara.
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The engagement was announced 25 February, 2025, between Benjamin Christopher Hamilton Cook (born 1983), younger son of the late Christopher William Batstone Cook (1951-2021), of Devon, by his wife the former Margaret Anne Blackett-Ord (born 2 March, 1950), scion of that landed gentry family of Whitfield Hall, Northumberland & Alexandra Hero C. Melhuish (born 1987), younger daughter of the late Jeremy P. Melhuish (born 1948), and his wife the former Caroline J. Charlton.
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Sir Robin Phillips, 3rd and last Baronet, died 10 February, 2026, aged 85.
Robin Francis Phillips was owner and principal of the Ravenscroft Theatre School, Hammersmith, and previous Chief Air Traffic Controller at Biggin Hill, 1970-78; with Hazel Malone Management 1978-81, Devonair Radio 1981-83, &c.
Robin Francis Phillips was born 29 July, 1940, son of Sir Lionel Francis Phillips, 2nd Baronet (1914-1944), and his wife the former Camilla Mary Parker (1916-2006), scion of the Earls of Macclesfield. He succeeded to the baronetcy 81 years ago, 6 July, 1944, when his father was killed in action in Italy.
Sir Robin was unmarried, and the baronetcy created in 1912 now becomes extinct.
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Annette Josephine Perry (née Anderson), died 28 January, 2026.
She was born in 1934, a daughter of Alan Bruce Anderson (1902-1985), and his wife the former Margaret Dampier (1900-1997), daughter of Sir William Dampier (nee Whetham) (1867-1952), of that landed gentry family; and married 1958, Cecil William Perry (born 1931), son of Edward William Perry, CSI, CIE (1891-1971), and his wife the former Mary Thrift Reavell (1906-1995), by whom she had a son and two daughters
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Grace Cristabel Alice Fernandez-Armesto [born 1987, nee Pilkington], wife of Frederico Fernández-Armesto, gave birth to a daughter, Milagros Annie Rose (known as Mila), 16 February, 2026, a sister for Alfredo, who was born 5 July, 2019, and for Esmeralda Serena Juliet, who was born 31 December, 2021.
Fred is the son of Prof Felipe Fernandez-Armesto. Grace is a daughter of Michael Charles David Pilkington [born 1948] by his wife the former Clarissa Mary Baring [born 22 September, 1955], scion of the Earls of Cromer.
1st Earl of Cromer > Hon Windham Baring > Robin Windham Baring > Clarissa Baring > Grace Pilkington > Mila Fernández-Armesto [b 2026]
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Lady Vernon, who died 22 January, 2026, aged 85, was the widow of Sir (William) Michael Vernon, Kt (1926-2014), the businessman and company director.
Sie Michael, scion of the Vernon baronets, joined Spillers (millers and animal food manufacturers) as trainee 1948, Director 1960-1980, Joint Manager Director 1962-1967, Deputy Chairman 1967-1968, Chairman 1968-1980. Chairman Famous Names Limited. 1981-1985, Granville Meat Company Limited. from 1981.
She was the former Penelope Alexandra Skelton, born in 1940, daughter of Air Commodore George Felix Allin Skelton (1909-1985), and his wife the former Karin Rosenius (1906-1994); and married 1stly, 1963, Norman A. Cuddeford; and married 2ndly, 15 March, 2001, Sir (William) Michael Vernon (born 17 Apr, 1926), second son of Sir Wilfred Douglas Vernon (1897-1973), and his wife the former Nancy Elizabeth Jackson (1899-1999). Sir Michael died 24 January, 2014.
Lady Vernon leaves a son from her first marriage, Alastair R.A. Cuddeford (born 1964).
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The Lady Iona Margaret Sophia Spink (née Murray, born 13 March, 1992), wife of Capt Barnaby Frederick J Spink (born 1992), gave birth to a daughter, Frederica Maria Kathryn, 24 January, 2026, a sister for Beatrice Veronica Sophia, who was born 31 May, 2024.
Capt Spink is a son of [Andrew David] Jonathan Spink [born Oct 1960], of Kimbolton, and his wife the former Kathryn Anne Armstrong [born 1963].
Lady Iona is a daughter of the 8th (and ninth) Earl of Mansfield and Mansfield (born 17 October, 1956) of Scone Palace, Perthshire, and the Countess of Mansfield (nee Sophia Mary Veronica Ashbrooke (born 22 January, 1959).
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Morag MacDougall, chief of a Highland clan who protected the family’s heritage. died 22 January, 2026, aged 86.
Madam MacDougall of MacDougall was the 31st Chief of the Name and Arms of MacDougall, was born Morag Hadfield, 21 November, 1939, daughter of Stephen John Hadfield and his wife Jean Louisa Morag MacDougall (who died 1 January, 1999, aged 88), and niece of Coline Helen Elizabeth MacDougall of Macdougall (1904-1990) recognised as 30th Chief of the Name and Arms of MacDougall in 1953.
As a speech therapist she worked with children and stroke patients, and she was much in demand to play the organ in Herefordshire churches. To her neighbours in Shobdon, Herefordshire, she was the unassuming Mrs Morag Morley, housewife, speech therapist and church organist. But on her regular visits to Scotland, and eventually in retirement there, she inhabited an entirely different persona, that of hereditary chief of one of the leading Highland clans.
Her chiefly line is long and illustrious. The eponymous Dougal, who flourished in the early 13th century, was the eldest son of Somerled, a sea-borne adventurer of mixed Gaelic and Norse heritage, who had carved out a kingdom for himself in the west. Somerled’s realm extended from the northern Hebrides to the mainland, including both Argyll and Kintyre.
Dougal, meaning “dark stranger”, was a euphemism for Viking. By means of their fleet of galleys, the MacDougalls wielded immense power and were poised at one time to add the Isle of Man to their kingdom. However, their mainland possessions were richer and less troublesome. Basing themselves in Lorn (northern Argyll) and eventually coming to terms with the King of Scots, they dropped their royal title and were soon fully assimilated into the Scottish aristocracy.
An alliance with the mighty Comyn family proved fateful for the MacDougalls and has affected their fortunes ever since. In 1306, Robert the Bruce murdered John “the Red Comyn”, who opposed his claim to the throne, making John’s uncle, Alasdair Mòr MacDougall of Argyll, his “capitale ennymy”.
Soon afterwards, Alasdair Mòr defeated his bedraggled army at Dalrigh. As the Bruce fled the field, a MacDougall clansman is said to have gripped his plaid and pulled it from his shoulders. The plaid and its clasp, consisting of a quartz charmstone set in a brooch, were presented to the victorious chief.
Now in a studded silver setting of later date, the “Brooch of Lorn” remains the proud possession of the family, and, until the 19th century, was regularly worn. Madam Morag, who kept it safely in the bank at Oban, eventually presented it, on indefinite loan, to the National Museum of Scotland, where it is displayed with other Brucian memorabilia.
Morag succeeded to the chiefship in 1990, and with pride in her family “in her bones and soul”, Madam Morag made it her mission to preserve her inheritance, much diminished by the Bruce’s ultimate victory in 1308.
The MacDougall lands had been forfeited and redistributed among assorted Campbells, Stewarts and MacDonalds; but in 1452, thanks to the generosity of his maternal uncle, the then chief had recovered a small but significant part of their former estate. It included the castle of Dunollie (founded by the original Dougal in the early 1200s) and the Isle of Kerrera, which it overlooks across the Firth of Lorn.
With a view to protecting this heritage and making it more accessible – both to the local community and to the wider clan – Madam Morag established the MacDougall of Dunollie Preservation Trust in 1996, which manages the ruined castle and grounds as a visitor attraction.
Morag Hadfield was born at Beer, Devonshire, on November 21 1939, to Dr Stephen Hadfield, the local GP, and his wife Jean, one of the three daughters of Alexander James MacDougall of MacDougall, an army surgeon. Jean’s elder sister, Coline, was to succeed him as Chief in 1953.
She married 30 July, 1966, Richard Morley, a chartered engineer, son of Dr John Edwin Morley, of Yeovil, Somerset
Madam Morag was buried among generations of MacDougall chiefs in Kilbride Cemetery. She is survived by her son, Robin MacDougall of MacDougall, and her daughter Fiona.
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The engagement was announced 21 February, 2026, between Oscar John Lewisohn (born 27 March, 1999), son of Mark Henry Lewisohn (born Sept, 1963), of Holland Park, London, and his wife the former Sophia Anne Collins (born January, 1965), & Charlotte Eily Scott (born 5 May, 2000), scion of the Earls of Eldon, daughter of Alexander John Stuart Scott (born 12 March, 1968), of Cold Aston, Cheltenham, and his wife the former Jillian Foster (born Sept, 1968).
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From the London Gazette 20 Feb 2026:
CROWN OFFICE - THE KING has been pleased by Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the Realm dated 18 February 2026 to confer the dignity of a Barony of the United Kingdom for life upon Dominic Bryce Baron Addington, by the name, style and title of BARON HUBBARD, of Lambourne in the Royal County of Berkshire.
Baron Hubbard is the 6th Baron Addngton (born 24 August, 1963), who succeeded to his hereditary peerage, 26 June, 1982.
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