Elizabeth Alice Wise (nee Abel Smith) 1936-2026

Elizabeth Alice Wise, who died at Northallerton, North Yorkshire, 2 August, 2026, aged 89, was born a scion of the Smith of Wilford House landed gentry family, and was a granddaughter of Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone.

A third cousin, once removed, of King Charles III, her home was at Leyburn, North Yorkshire.

She was born at Kensington Palace, 5 September, 1936, the younger daughter of Colonel Sir Henry Abel Smith, KCMG, KCVO, DSO (1909-1993), and his wife the Lady May Helen Emma Cambridge (1906-1994), and was a granddaughter of the 1st Earl of Athlone KG GCB GCMG GCVO DSO KStJ PC FRS (1874-1957), and his wife HRH Princess Alice Mary Victoria Augusta Pauline of Albany, GBE, GCVO, GCStJ, VA (1883-1981), the only daughter of HRH The Prince Leopold George Duncan Albert, Duke of Albany, KG, KT, GCSI, GCMG, PC (1853-1884), and his wife Princess Helen Frederica Augusta of Waldeck & Pyrmont (1861-1922).

She was a great-great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria. The Duchess of York (later Queen Elizabeth) stood sponsor at her christening.

She married at St Paul's Church, Knightsbridge,  29 April, 1965 (div 1975), Peter Ronald Wise (1929-2021), son of Capt Anthony Foster Wise (1885-1976), and his wife the former Eva Elizabeth Glentworth Baillie (1904-1976), by whom she had issue, an only child, Emma Charlotte Abel Wise (1973-1974), who died in tragic circumstances.

She is survived by a sister, Anne Liddell-Grainger (born 28 July, 1932).

For a detailed history see this from my old friend Marlene Eilers Koenig:-

Royal Musings: QVD death: Elizabeth Wise (1936-2026)

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Aeneas Hugh Alexander Robertson (born 2026)

   Helen Matilda Wyld (born Dec 1980), wife of Calum G. Robertson (born 2 February, 1990), gave birth to a son, Aeneas Hugh Alexander, in Edinburgh, 17 July, 2026.

Calum Robertson is a son of Gavin and Pauline Robertson, of Fife.

Helen is a daughter of Martin Hugh Wyld, CBE (born 14 September, 1944), and his wife the former Katherine M. Cusack.

Helen Wyld is a granddaughter of John Hugh Gilbert Wyld (1915-1999), and his wife Helen Selina Leslie-Melville (1921-1946), scion of the Earld Leven & Melville.

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Hon Nicholas Valoynes Bermingham Wallop 1946-2026

 The Hon Nicholas Valoynes Bermingham Wallop, who died 27 July, 2026, aged 80, was a scion of the Earls of Portsmouth.

He was born 14 July, 1946, a son of the 9th Earl of Portsmouth (1898-1984), and his second wife the former Bridget Cory Crohan, CStJ (1911-1979), and had sisters Lady Philippa Wallop (1937-1984) , wife of the 8th Earl Cadogan, & Lady Jane Wallop (1939-2021), and an older half-brother, Oliver, styled Viscount Lymington (1923-84), and a half-sister, Lady Camilla (Mickey) Wallop (1925-2023), wife of Lord Rupert Nevill. He was uncle of Quentin, 10th Earl of Portsmouth (born 25 July, 1954).

He married 1 October, 1969, Lavinia N.J. Karmel (born 1948), daughter of David Carmel, CBE, QC, (1907-1982) by his wife the former Barbara Jessie Burton (1910-93), daughter of Sir Montague Maurice Burton (1885-1952), by whom he had issue, a son Harry (born 22 Nov, 1974), and a daughter, Victoria (born 1 Feb, 1972).

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Son and heir for the Marquis and Marchioness of Blandford

   The Marchioness of Blandford (nee Camilla Elizabeth Antonia Thorp, born 7 April, 1987), wife of George John Godolphin Spencer-Churchill, styled Marquis of Blandford (born 28 July, 1992), son and heir of the 12th Duke of Marlborough (born 24 Nov, 1955), of Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire, by his former first wife Rebecca Mary Few Brown (born July, 1962), gave birth to a son and heir, Orlando Charles Godolphin Spencer-Churchill, styled Earl of Sunderland, 15 April, 2026, a brother for Lady Olympia Arabella Kitty Spencer-Churchill, who was born 10 September, 2020, and for Lady Leonora Eliza Cressida Spencer-Churchill, who was born 7 December, 2024.

The Marchioness of Blandford is the eldest daughter of James Nicholas Thorp (born Feb, 1960), of Kern Farm, Alverstone, Isle of Wight, by his wife the former Philippa Clare Thomas (born March, 1959), and is a great niece of the actor, Richard Thorp [1932-2013], who appeared for many years as Alan Turner in the long running soap, Emmerdale.

 George Blandford is heir to the following peerages: Baron Churchill of Sandridge, co. Hertford [E., 1685], the Marquess of Blandford [E., 1702], Duke of Marlborough [E., 1702] , the Earl of Sunderland [E., 1643], Baron Spencer of Wormleighton [E., 1603], & Earl of Marlborough, co. Wilts [E., 1689].

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The Hon Lady Storey 1936-2026

 The Hon Lady Storey died 24 July, 2026. She was a scion of the Cayley baronets.

She was born Virginia Anne Cayley, born 1 July, 1936, third of the seven daughters of Maj Sir Kenelm Henry Ernest Cayley, 10th Baronet (1896-1967), of Malpas House, Brompton, Scarborough, and his wife the former Frances Elizabeth Edwyna Brewis (1908-1974); and married 30 September, 1961, the then Richard Storey (born 23 January, 1937), son and heir of Samuel Storey, MP for Stretford 1950-66 (born 18 January, 1896), and his wife the former Elisabeth Woodcock (who died 1951).

Her husband's father was created a baronet, 30 January, 1960, and raised to the peerage of life, 16 June, 1966, taking the title Baron Buckton, of Settrington in the East Riding of Yorkshire.

Richard Storey became the Hon Richard Storey in 1966, and succeeded his father in the baronetcy, 17 January, 1978.

She is survived by her husband and son, Kenelm (born 4 Jan, 1963), and two daughters, Elisabeth (born 27 Dec, 1964), and Melissa (born 6 July, 1968).

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Jackson/Dodds engagement

 The engagement was announced 31 July, 2026, between Thomas Sebastian Esmé Jackson (born 1993), scion of the Jackson baronets, of the Manor House, Birkenhead [Bt, UK, 1869], son of Brigadier Jolyon Thomas Jackson (born 12 October, 1957), of Corton, Wiltshire, and his wife the former Serena Howell, & Brittany C. [Bee] Dodds, daughter of Mr and Mrs Ian Dodds, of Johannesburg, South Africa.

Thomas Jackson is a grandson of Sir William Thomas Jackson, 8th Baronet (1927-2004)

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Lady Elizabeth Maria Mays-Smith (nee Guinness) 1939-2026

 Lady Elizabeth Maria (Eliza) Mays-Smith, who died 24 July, 2026, aged 86, was a Guinness heiress, a scion of the Earls of Iveagh.

She was born 31 October, 1939, the elder daughter of Major Arthur Onslow Edward Guinness, styled Viscount Elveden (1912-1945), and his wife Lady Elizabeth Cecilia Hare (1914-1990), daughter of the 4th Earl of Listowel (1866-1931), and was a granddaughter paternally of Rupert Guinness, 2nd Earl of Iveagh, KG CB CMG VD ADC FRS DL (1874-1967), politician, philanthropist, and head of the eponymous brewing dynasty.

She was a sister of Arthur Guinness, 3rd Earl of Iveagh (1937-1992), and Lady Henrietta Guinness (1942-1978). Lady Henrietta died by suicide jumping from a bridge in Italy.

Lady Eliza is an aunt of the 4th Earl of Iveagh (born 10 Aug, 1969).

Lady Eliza was raised to the rank of an earl's daughter on her brother's succession to the Earldom of Iveagh following their grandfather's death in 1967. She married 1stly, 28 September, 1960 (div 1990), David Hugh Lavallin Nugent (1935-2003), second son of Sir Hugh Charles Nugent, 6th Baronet (1904-1983), and his wife Margaret Mary Lavallin Puxley (who died 8 Aug, 2004), scion of that landed gentry family, & married 2ndly, 7 February, 1992, Robert Martin Mays-Smith (1930-2014), son of Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Shankland Mays-Smith, MBE (1902-1980), and his wife the former Brenda Mary Hilda Rickett (1905-1990).

Lady Eliza leaves issue from her first marriage, three sons, Charles Hugo, and Rory, and was predeceased by a daughter, Sheelin.

Hon Orlando George Alexander Bridgeman (born 2026)

   Eliza Bridgeman, styled Viscountess Newport, wife of Alexander Michael Orlando Bridgeman, styled Viscount Newport [born 6 September, 1980], has given birth to a second son, the Hon Orlando George Alexander Bridgeman, 28 July, 2026 a brother for Archibald Henry Orlando (Archie), who was born 19 March, 2024.

Viscountess Newport (born 1991, nee Eliza Liepina), was educated at Auckland University, New Zealand. Lord and Lady Newport married at Weston Park, Shropshire, 14 May, 2022.

Viscount Newport is the eldest of the four children of the 7th Earl of Bradford [born 3 Oct, 1947], of Weston-under-Lizard, Shifnal, Shropshire, and his former 1st wife the former Joanna Elizabeth Miller [now Mrs Philip Porter, of Hungerford, Berkshire].

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Vanessa Margaret Connolly (née St John) 1944-2026

Vanessa Margaret Connolly, who died 25 July, 2026, aged 82, was a scion of the Barons St John of Bletso.

She was born 26 February, 1944, third daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel Oliver Charles Beauchamp St John (1907-1976), and his wife the former Elizabeth Mary Lambton (1911-1957), scion of the Earls of Durham; and married 2 March, 1964, Nicholas John Connolly, son, a son,  of Wilfrid John Connolly, of Wimbledon, London, by whom she had issue, a son, Rupert, and two daughters, Philippa and Victoria.

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Susanna Diana Georgina Peter-Hoblyn (nee FitzRoy) 1937-2026

 Susanna Diana Georgina Peter-Hoblyn, who died 24 July, 2026, aged 89, was a scion of the Dukes of Grafton and a direct descendant of King Charles II.

She was born 18 June, 1937, daughter of Nigel Horatio Trevor FitzRoy (1889-1953), and his wife the former Diana Frances Pery-Knox-Gore (1914-1995), scion of the Earls of Limerick; and married twice, firstly, 22 September, 1964 (annulled 1966), William Anthony Coleridge (1934-2025), son of Guy Coleridge; married 2ndly, 13 March, 1967, George Henry Peter-Hoblyn (born 1943), son of Lieutenant-Colonel John Bampfylde Peter-Hoblyn (1909-1984), head of that landed gentry family, and his wife the former Dorothy Barbara Philipson-Stow, daughter of Sir Elliot Philipson-Stow, 2nd Baronet (1876-1954).

She leaves issue, a son, John FitzRoy Peter-Hoblyn (born 23 Feb, 1968), and Emma Frances (born 15 July, 1970).

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Peirson/Greenacre engagement

 The engagement was announced 27 July, 2026, between George A. Peirson, younger son of Mr and Mrs Richard Peirson, of Richmond, Surrey, and Georgia Lucy Greenacre (born 2 July, 1995), elder daughter of Philip Laurence Greenacre (born 6 August, 1961), of Charney Bassett, Oxfordshire, and his wife the former Anna Katharine Simpson.

Georgia Greenacre is descended from the Earls of Lindsay:-

William Lindesay-Bethune, 14th Earl of Lindsay (1901-1985) > Lady Elizabeth Lindesay-Bethune (1932-1996) > Philip Greenacre (b 1961) > Georgia Greenacre (b 1995)

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James Duff/Chick engagement

 The engagement was announced 27 July, 2026, between Gardie William Beauchamp James Duff (born 1993), son of David Robin Millais James Duff, 13th of Hatton (Scottish landed gentry) (born 1945), of Kirton, Montrose, Angus, and his 2nd wife the late former Jayne Elizabeth Bryce (1958-2021), & Florence A. Chick, elder daughter of Major John Chick, of Hasketon, Woodbridge, Suffolk, and Mrs Chick.

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