The Baroness Glenarthur 1945-2026

The Baroness Glenarthur, wife of the 4th Baron, has died aged 81. Susan Barry was born 5 May, 1945, a scion of the Barry baronets, daughter of Commander Hubert Wyndham Barry, and his wife Violet Agatha Ruggles-Brise, scion of that family of baronets, and married 12 Nov, 1969, the then Hon Simon Mark Arthur, who succeeded as 4th Baron Glenarthur, in 1976. Lady Glenarthur is survived by her husband and a son, Edward, and daughter, Emily. -~-

Penelope Anne Greenwood (nee Burrell) 1932-2026

Penelope Anne Greenwood, who died 25 May, 2026, aged 94, was a scion of the Burrell baronets.

She was born 21 March, 1932, the elder daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Walter Raymond Burrell, 8th Baronet (1903-1985), and his wife the former Hon Anne Judith Denman (1907-1987), daughter of the 3rd Baron Denman (1874-1954); and married 25 July, 1953, John Richard Greenwood (1926-2014), head of that landed gentry family, son of John Eric Greenwood (1891-1975), and his wife the former Doris Mary Radford (1897-1973), by whom she had issue, two sons, John and James, and two daughters, Anne and Fiona.

-=-

Humphrey/Antony engagement

 The engagement was announced 13 June, 2026, between Rory D.M. Humphrey, eldest son of Edward Charles Marcus Humphrey (born 1965), of Dinnet, Aboyne, and his former wife the former Serena Jean Wolfe-Murray (born 25 June, 1964, now Mrs Serena McIvor, of Edinburgh), & Samantha D. Antony, daughter of Mr and Mrs Ronald Antony, of Canby, Minnesota.

Rory Humphrey is descended from the Murray of Blackbarony baronets.

-=-

Anthony David Gibson-Watt 1975-2026

 Anthony David Gibson-Watt, who died 2 June, 2026, was a grandson of the life peer the Baron Gibson-Watt, and descended from the Hambro banking dynasty.

He was born in 1975, the eldest son of the Hon Robin Gibson-Watt (born 1949), and his wife the former Marcia Susan Cary (born 12 Sept, 1949), daughter of Sir Roger Cary, 2nd Baronet (1926-2011); and was twice married, firstly, in 2005, Alice Amaryllis Montagu Douglas Scott (1978-2013), a scion of the Dukes of Buccleuch & Queensberry (Duke, Peerage of Scot, cr 1684), the only child of Thomas Walter Montagu Douglas Scott (born 1 July, 1943), by his former wife the Hon Marion Miranda Phillimore (b 9 May, 1946), a daughter of the 4th Baron Phillimore (1911-94) (Peerage of the UK, cr 1918). He married 2ndly, Charlotte Lucy Tyson (born 1972), a daughter of Graham B.M. Tyson [born 1948], by his wife the former Sarah T. Bailey [b.1945].

Anthony Gibson-Watt leaves a daughter from his first marriage, Chiara Charlotte (born 11 Oct, 2012), and a daughter from his second marriage, Kitty Eliza (born 2 May, 2019).

-=-

Verena Elizabeth Anne Hanbury, MBE, DL 1933-2026

 Verena Elizabeth Anne Hanbury (nee Kimmins), MBE, DL, died 30 May, 2026, aged 93. 

She was born in March, 1933, a daughter of Capt Anthony Martin Kimmins, OBE, RN (1901-64), of the family of Kimmins of Marks Barn, by his wife the former Elizabeth Hodges; and married 8 May, 1962, Benjamin John Hanbury, a scion of the landed family, of Hanbury of Hitcham & Melgate; who was born 19 Jan 1934, and educated at Eton and Oxford, son of Christopher Lionel Hanbury, MBE, DL, by his wife the former Lettice Charrington, scion of that landed family. Her husband died 27 September, 2012.

Verena was a president of the Chailey Heritage Foundation, the granddaughter of the Founder, Dame Grace Kimmins, and was involved with the charity as a child when she visited her grandmother on site.  She became a Governor in 1962 and was Chair of Governors from 1968 to 2004 when she became a Trustee. Verena remained a Trustee until she retired in 2018.  Chailey Heritage was always very close to Verena’s heart, and she kept up with everything going on there, even when she moved from the family home in Piltdown to Gloucestershire.  

She leaves four sons, Marcus, Simon, James and Timothy, and a daughter, Lucinda.

-=-

Garthwaite/Bunting engagement

 The engagement was announced 13 June, 2026, between Philip William Roger Garthwaite (born 1997), scion of the Garthwaite baronets, son of Andrew William David Garthwaite (born 1 April, 1962), of Fairstead, Essex, and his wife the former Georgina Barrington Hadlee, and Imogen Tessa Bunting (born 1998), daughter of Timothy B. Bunting, of Rotherwick, Hampshire, and his wife the former Sarah S. Hunt.

Philip Garthwaite is a grandson of Sir William Garthwaite 2nd Baronet (1906-1993).

-=-

Squadron Leader Michael Vansittart Bowater 1928-2026

 Michael Vansittart Bowater, who died 8 May, 2026, aged 97. was a scion of the Bowater family of baronets.

He was born 7 October, 1928, a son of Norman Vansittart Bowater (1862-1934), and his second wife the former Jessie Faithfull Frampton (1900-1989); married 20 August, 1955,  Joan Edith Hughes (1929-2017), daughter of Joseph Hughes, of Osterley, Middlesex, by whom he had issue, three sons, David, Michael and Nigel, and a daughter, Sara.

-=-

Alison Faith Crommelin (née Eyre) 1942-2026

Alison Faith Crommelin (née Eyre), who died 2 June, 2026, aged 84, was a scion of the Eyre landed gentry family. 

She was born 8 May, 1942, the second daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel John Stewart Eyre (1909-1992), and his wife the former Patricia Marguerite Wilson(1912-1994); and married 24 April, 1965, Geoffrey Arden Crommelin (1932-1982), son of Wing Commander Henry Arden Crommelin (1899-1976), and his wife the former Emily Mona Mary Festing-Smith (1906-1986), a granddaughter of the 26th Baron Kingsale (1855-1931); by whom she had issue, a son James (born 1965, deceased), and a daughter, Sophie (1969-2000).

-=-

Seward/Groves engagement

The engagement was announced 12 June, 2026, between Alexander Nicholas Mark Seward (born 3 November, 1991), the only son of Paul Kenneth Seward (born 1956), of Walton-on-Thames, and his wife the former Susan Caroline Taylor (born 1959), & Georgina Mary Charteris Groves (born 1993), youngest daughter of Richard William Lewis Groves (born 1957), of Fontmell Parva, Dorset, and his wife the former Helen Mary Keppel Charteris (born 10 January, 1956), scion of the Earls of Wemyss & March.

-=-

 

Michael Patrick William Young 1944-2026

 Michael Patrick William Young, died 23 May, 2026, aged 81.

He was born 18 August, 1944, son of Wing Commander Michael James Beaumont Young, DFC (1916-1979), and his wife the former Nina Mary Aline Seely (1911-1981), scion of the Seely baronets; and married 1stly, 1970, Sonia M Smith; married 2ndly, 1988, Diane Hall.

-=-

Brigadier Desmond Richard Henry Longfield 1931-2026

Brigadier Desmond Richard Henry Longfield, who died 6 June, 2026, was a scion of that landed gentry family (Irish). He was 95.

He was born 24 February, 1931, the son of Colonel Richard James Longfield (1901-1987), and his wife the former Charlotte Mary Portal (1903-2002), scion of the Portal baronets; and married 8 August, 1959, Jennifer Spencer-Thomas (1940-2025), daughter of Clement William Robert Spencer-Thomas (1905-1989), and his wife the former Betty Potter (1914-2010), by whom he had issue, a son, James (born 2 March, 1964), and three daughters, Melanie (born 29 May, 1961), Harriet (b 9 Aug, 1965), and Charlotte (b 1970).

-=-

 

Nicola Cookson (née Cathcart Walker Heneage) 1939-2026

Nicola Cookson, who died 30 May, 2026, aged 87, was a scion of the Heneage landed gentry family, shs was born in 1939, daughter of Michael William Walker Heneage (1907-1946), and his wife the former Dulcibel Effie Davies; and married in 1962, Philip Francis Cookson, RN 1931-2014, by whom she had 2 sons.

-=-

Robert Peter Philip Charteris (born 2026)

  Rose Susanna Charteris (born 1992), scion of the Barons Ampthill, and wife of Michael John Samuel Charteris (born 27 July, 1990), scion of the Earls of Wemyss & March, gave birth to a son, Robert Peter Philip, 30 May, 2026, a brother for Frederick Martin Johnnie, who was born 10 November, 2023.

Rose is a daughter of the Hon John Hugo Trenchard Russell [born 13 October, 1950] , of Dorset, and Mrs Susanna Russell [nee Merriam], of London; and Michael is a son of Mr Martin Ian Charteris [born 31 May, 1960], of Harare, Zimbabwe, by his wife the former Dr Helen Heath.

-=-

Georgina Madeleine Mary Grattan-Bellew (nee Milner) 1939-2026

 Georgina Madeleine Mary Grattan-Bellew, who died 25 May, 2026, aged 86, was a scion of the Milner baronets.

She was born 3 September, 1939, daughter of Sir George Edward Mordaunt Milner, 9th Baronet (1911-1995), and his 1st wife the former Barbara Audrey Belsham (who died 17 January, 1951); and she married 20 June, 1961, Arthur Henry Bertram (Bertie) Grattan-Bellew (1937-2011), scion of the Grattan-Bellew baronets, and a great-grandson of the 7th Earl of Granard, son of Sir Arthur John Grattan-Bellew, Knt, CMG (1903-1985), and his wife the former Winifred Mary Mahony, by whom she had issue, a son, Charles (born 11 Nov, 1964), and a daughter, Sophie (born 14 December, 1962).

-=-

Barrioseta/Philipps engagement

 The engagement was announced 10 June, 2026, between Valentino Barrioseta, son of Mr Valentin Barrioseta and Mrs Elsa Fassbender, of Alicante, Spain, and Emma Philipps, scion of the Barons Milford, daughter of Charles Edward Laurence Philipps (born 20 January, 1959), of Dalham, Suffolk, and his former wife the former Fiona Land, now Mrs Fiona Langley, of Birdbrook, Essex.

1st Baron Milford (1874-1961) > Hon James Philipps (1905-84) > Peter Philipps (1933-2018) > Charles Philipps (b 1959) > Emma Philipps

-=-

The funeral of Lady Pamela Hicks

 The funeral of Lady Pamela Hicks, a cousin of the King, is to take place on Saturday 13 June, 2026, at Brightwell Baldwin Church, Oxfordshire, close to her home.

From The Times.

The funeral takes place on the King's official birthday when he will preside over his Birthday Parade (Trooping the Colour) at London's Horse Guards Parade.

It is not known whether the King will attend his cousin's funeral. His Buckingham Palace balcony appearance is usually at about 1pm, and Lady Pamela's funeral is to be held at 3pm.

Last week the King attended his nephew's wedding in Gloucestershire, and several hours later was at Epsom for the running of the Derby, and so logistically the happy and mournful occasions could be combined. We shall see.

Lady Pamela Hicks, who died 5 June, 2026, aged 97, was the younger daughter of Admiral of the Fleet the 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, KG, GCB, OM, GCSI, GCIE, GCVO, DSO, PC, FRS (1900-1979).

She was a great-great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria, thus related to all the crowned heads of Europe, and served Queen Elizabeth II as a Lady-in-Waiting, and was with the then Princess Elizabeth in Kenya in 1952 when Her Majesty ascended the throne.

In late 1953 and early 1954, she accompanied the Queen as lady-in-waiting on the royal tour to Jamaica, Panama, Fiji, Tonga, New Zealand, Australia, Ceylon, Aden, Libya, Malta and Gibraltar. 

Lady Pamela was the Corps Commandant of the Girls' Nautical Training Corps from around 1952 to around 1959.

Lady Pamela was a bridesmaid to the then Princess Elizabeth, her third cousin, on her marriage to the Duke of Edinburgh, 20 November, 1947.

Pamela Carmen Louise Mountbatten was born in Barcelona, 19 April, 1929, second daughter of the then Lord Louis Mountbatten, who was second son of Admiral of the Fleet the 1st Marquess of Milford Haven, GCB, GCVO, PC (1854-1921), and his wife Princess Victoria Alberta Elisabeth Mathilde Marie of Hesse (1863-1950).

Her mother was the heiress the Hon Edwina Ashley, GBE, DCVO, CI (1901-1960), younger daughter of the 1st and last Baron Mount Temple (1867-1939), and his wife Amalia Mary Maud Cassel (1881-1911), the only child of the multi-millionaire, Sir Ernest Cassel, GCB, GCMG, GCVO, PC (1852-1921).

Pamela was christened 12 July, 1929, at the Chapel Royal, St. James's Palace. Her godparents were:  Alfonso XIII, King of Spain; Prince George, Duke of Kent; Nadejda Mountbatten, Marchioness of Milford Haven; Marjorie, Countess of Brecknock (Edwina Mountbatten's first cousin); and the Duchess of Peñaranda (María del Carmen Saavedra y Collado, Marqués de Villaviciosa). She was given the middle name Carmen in honour of the Duchess of Peñaranda.

 Through her father, Lady Pamela was a first cousin of The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (1921-2021), and a grandniece of the last Tsarina of Russia, Alexandra Feodorovna (1872-1918),  and, at the time of her death was Queen Victoria's oldest living descendant.

She was "Miss Mountbatten" from birth and until her father was created a Viscount in 1946, when she became the Hon Pamela Mountbatten, and from 28 October, 1947, she was styled Lady Pamela Mountbatten, following her father's creation as the 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma.

Lady Pamela served as a Lady-in-Waiting (Temp.) to HM Queen Elizabeth II.

She married at Romsey Abbey, 13 January, 1960, David Nightingale Hicks (1929-1998), son of Herbert Hicks (1863-1940), of The Hamlet, Coggeshall, Essex, by his wife Irene Elsie Platten (1886-1966), by whom she had issue, a son, Ashley Louis David (born 18 July, 1963), and two daughters, Edwina Victoria Louise (born 24 December, 1961), and India Amanda Caroline (born 5 September, 1967).

-=-

Georgiana Elizabeth Mary Frazer (born 2026)

Anna Mary Frazer (nee Coreth born 1993), wife of William Frazer, gave birth to a daughter, Georgiana Elizabeth Mary, 3 June, 2026, a sister for Alice Iona Sophia, who was born 9 April, 2024.

Anna Frazer is a daughter of Major Mark Rudolph Coreth (born 1958), of Tisbury, Wiltshire, late The Blues & Royals, the sculptor, and his wife the former Seonaid Mary Goodbody (born 1961), scion of that Irish landed gentry family.

William D. Frazer is a son of the Rev Dr Richard and Mrs Frazer, of Edinburgh.

-=-

Order of the Thistle for Sir Jim McDonald and Sir James MacMillan

His Majesty the King has made two appointments to the the Order of the Thistle. 

Professor Sir James Rufus (Jim) McDonald (born 1957) and Sir James MacMillan (born 16 July, 1959), were both appointed by the King to Scotland highest order of chivalry for their notable contributions to engineering and music, respectively.

The Thistle is in the gift of the King, who is sovereign of the order and appoints whom he deems fit entirely through his own accord, without advice from third parties such as the government.

Additionally, Baroness Grainger, DBE (born 12 November, 1975), was appointed the Usher of the Green Rod, marking her as an officer of the order.

The order is comprised of 16 knights and ladies, as well as members of the royal family - Her Majesty The Queen (2023), The Princess Royal (2000), the Duke of Rothesay (2012), and The Duke of Edinburgh (2024).

McDonald is known for his work in engineering and university leadership.

He was appointed as the Rolls-Royce chairman in electrical power systems at the University of Strathclyde in 1993, later becoming head of the electronic and electrical engineering department in 2003, and then principal and vice-chancellor in March 2009, where he remained until he retired in 2025.

He served as president of the Royal Academy of Engineering from 2019 to 2024, the first Scot to hold the position.

He was knighted in 2012 for services to education, engineering and the economy, and was appointed Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE) in 2024.

MacMillan, a highly renowned Ayrshire-born composer, is known not only for his music, but for achievements including the establishment of the Cumnock Tryst festival.

He was awarded a knighthood during the Queen’s Birthday honours of 2015, with his anthem Who Shall Separate Us? commissioned for her funeral in 2022.

Earlier this year, Charles approved the award of the King’s Medal for Music for Sir James MacMillan.

Baroness Grainger, a Glaswegian, is known for her achievements in both sport and law.

She won Olympic rowing gold in the double sculls at London 2012 with team-mate Anna Watkins.

Regarded as Britain’s most successful female rower, she is the only woman across any sport to win medals in four consecutive Olympic Games.

After years of studying law and medical ethics, she completed a PhD in the sentencing of homicide at King’s College London.

List of Knights of the Thistle:-

(1) The 11th Earl of Elgin and Kincardine

(2) Baron Mackay of Clashfern

(3) Baron Wilson of Tillyorn

(4) Baron Steel of Aikwood

(5) Baron Robertson of Port Ellen

(6) Baron Cullen of Whitekirk

(7) Baron Hope of Craighead

(8) Baron Patel

(9) Baron Smith of Kelvin

(10) The 10th Duke of Buccleuch & Queensberry

(11) Sir Ian Wood

(12) Lady Elish Angiolini

(13) Baroness Black of Strome

(14) Baroness Kennedy of The Shaws

(15) Sir James McDonald

(16) Sir James MacMillan

-=-

-=-

Williams/Ritblat engagement

 The engagement was announced 8 June, 2026, between Oscar B. Williams, eldest son of Mr & Mrs David Williams, of Henley, Oxfordshire, and Daisy Paja Silver Ritblat (born 1998), the eldest daughter of James William Jeremy Ritblat (born 18 February, 1967), the Old Etonian businessman, of Guiting Power, Gloucestershire, and his wife the former Joanna Henrietta Jackson (born 11 February, 1966), scion of the Jackson baronets.

-=-