Sewell/Hobden engagement

_. The engagement was announced 24 January, 2020, between Benjamin Leopold Sewell [born 15 July, 1990], a descendant of Queen Victoria, son of [Charles] Percy Sewell [born 22 December, 1958], of Tysoe, co Warwick, by his wife the former Alice Louise Esther Margot Huntington-Whiteley [born 22 July, 1961], & Alice Sarah Hobden [born 1989], daughter of Michael C. Hobden, of Chelsea, London, by his wife, the former Deborah Gillian Blakeney.

Benjamin Sewell is a grandson of Lieutenant-Commander Sir John Huntington-Whiteley, 4th Baronet [1929-2019], by his wife the former Viktoria Adelheid Clementine Luise Grafin zu Castell-Rudenhausen [born 26 Feb, 1935], daughter of Friedrich Wolfgang Graf zu Castell-Rudenhausen [1906-40], by his first wife Princess Caroline Matilde Ludwige Eleanor Auguste Beatrice of Saxe-Coburg & Gotha [1912-83], daughter of HRH Prince Charles Edward George Albert, Duke of Albany and Duke of Saxe-Coburg & Gotha [1884-1954], son of HRH Prince Leopold George Duncan Albert, 1st Duke of Albany [1853-84], son of HM Queen Victoria [1819-1901], &c.

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Lane/Crawshay engagement

_. The engagement was announced 23 January, 2020, between Benjamin T.D. Lane, son of Mr & Mrs Martin Lane, of Yealmton, co Devon, and Louise C. Crawshay [born 1984], scion of that landed gentry family, daughter of [Howard] Huw Crawshay [born 1952], of Llanfair, Kilgeddin, Monmouthshire, by his wife the former Philippa Alexandra Gibbs [born 1954].

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Eleanor Vivian Naesmyth of Posso [born 2020]

_. Sarah G. Naesmyth of Posso [nee MacNeil], wife of Alexander Creswell Benedict Naesmyth, younger of Posso [born 3 April, 1983], gave birth to a daughter, Eleanor Vivian, 17 January, 2020, in Sydney, a sister for Maxwell Xavier, who was born in Sydney, NSW, 31 March, 2018.

Alexander is the son and heir of Major [Richard] William Naesmyth, 16th of Posso [born 1938], by his wife the former Xenia Angela Mary Henderson-Howat.

Sarah Naesmyth is a daughter of Thomas MacNeil, of Kingston, Nova Scotia.

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Hamilton/Johnson engagement

_. The engagement was announced 22 January, 2020, between William Richard Hamilton [born 30 December, 1982], scion of the Lords Belhaven & Stenton, son and heir of the Hon Frederick Arthur Carmichael Hamilton, Master of Belhaven [born 27 September, 1953], of Drinkstone, by his late former first wife the former [Elizabeth] Anne Tredinnick ~ [later Mrs Annie Cockram, CBE] and Mary C. Johnson, eldest daughter of Dr and Mrs Terrance Johnson, of Bemidji, Minnesota, United States.

William Hamilton’s father is heir apparent to the 13th Lord Belhaven & Stenton [born 27 February, 1927.

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The 2nd Baron Ironside 1924-2020

_. The 2nd Baron Ironside died 13 January, 2020, aged 95.

Edmund Oslac Ironside was born 21 September, 1924, son of Field Marshal the 1st Baron Ironside, GCB, CMG, DSO [1880-1959], by his wife the former Mariot Ysobel Cheyne [who died 1984].

He married 29 April, 1950, Audrey Marigold Morgan-Grenville [1931-2015], a scion of the Lords Kinloss, daughter of Col the Hon Thomas George Breadalbane Morgan-Grenville, by whom he had issue, a son, Charles and a daughter, Fiona.

He succeeded his father in the barony, 23 September, 1959.

Lord Ironside is succeeded by his son, the Hon Charles Edmund Grenville Ironside, who was born 1 July, 1956.

A Memorial Service is to take place at St Peter's Church, Boxted, Essex, 13 February, 2020.

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Sheila Murray Kayll [died 2020]

_. Sheila Murray Kayll [nee Morrison], who died 9 January, 2020, aged 96, was the wife of Maj. David Kayll, of Briantspuddle, co Dorset, and was mother of Murray, Serena and Tessa.

Her daughter, Tessa Fiona Kayll, married in 1998, as her second husband, the 6th Baron Fermoy [born 11 Oct, 1967], a second cousin of the Dukes of Cambridge and Sussex, etc.

A Service of Thanksgiving will take place at St James', Milton Abbas, 24 Apr, 2020.

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Simon Rollo Frisby 1933-2020

_. Simon Rollo Frisby, who died 13 January, 2020, aged 86, was a descendant of the Hervey Marquesses of Bristol.

He was born 23 Oct, 1933, a son of Lieutenant-Colonel Lionel Claud Frisby [1889-1936], by his wife the former Angela Beryl Hoare [died 1990]. His mother was a daughter of Henry Hoare [1866-1956], by his wife the former Lady Geraldine Mariana Hervey [died 1955], a sister of the 4th Marquess of Bristol [1863-1951].

He married 1959, [Sara] Belinda Fox, daughter of Capt William Herbert Fox, by whom he had issue, a son Richard [born 1961], and a daughter, Angela [born 1963], wife of Charles Iain Robert Wolridge Gordon [b 1961], scion of that landed family, and a daughter Caroline [born 1963].

A Thanksgiving service takes place at St Martin's Church, Ellisfield, 3 February, 2020.

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Bethell/Thatcher engagement

_. The engagement has been announced between Edward Alexander Bethell [born 1987], scion of that landed gentry family, second son of Hugh Adrian Bethell [born 23 April, 1952], of Rise, East Yorkshire, by his wife the former Sarah Elizabeth St Aubyn [born 28 June, 1955], scion of the Barons St Levan, & Laura G. Thatcher, daughter of Mr & Mrs Alan  Thatcher, of Weavering, Kent.

Edward Bethell is a direct descendant of Prince William, Duke of Gloucester, KG, PC, FRS [1743-1805], a younger brother of King George III.

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Hon Ruth Isabel Adorian 1932-2020

_. The Hon Ruth Isabel Adorian [née Wakefield], who has died aged 87, was a scion of the Barons Wakefield of Kendal, a daughter of the 1st Baron Wakefield of Kendal [1898-1983], by his wife the former Rowena Doris Lewis [1895-1981]; she married firstly, 1955, Major Nigel James Clarkson Webb [1925-87], by whom she had a son, James, and two daughters, Georgina and Carolyn; married secondly, 1992, Paul Anthony Adorian.

A Service of Thanksgiving will take place, 3 March, 2020 in the Sedbergh School Chapel.

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Dorothy, Baroness Ashtown [died 2019]

_. Dorothy, Baroness Ashtown, who died 20 December, 2019, was the second wife, and widow of the 7th Baron Ashtown, KCMG [1916-2010].

She was the former Dorothy Mary Elizabeth Minchin, daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel Richard Edward George Minchin, and married firstly, 1958 [divorced 1971], Hans Heinrich XVII Fürst von Pless; married secondly, 17 December, 1997, Nigel Clive Cosby Trench, 7th Lord Ashtown, who died 6 March, 2010.

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Agnew of Lochnaw/Forsyth engagement

_. The engagement has been announced between Mark Douglas Noel Agnew, younger of Lochnaw [born 1991], only son and heir of Maj Sir Crispin Agnew of Lochnaw, 11th Baronet [born 1944], of Edinburgh, by his wife the former Susan Rachel Strang Steel [born 1952], & Sophie Rebecca Forsyth [born 1991], daughter Mr Stuart Forsyth and Mrs Anne Forsyth, of East Lothian.

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Buxton/Currey engagement

_. The engagement has been announced between Robert Alexander Buxton [born 1984], scion of the Buxton baronets, son of Joseph William Henry [Joe] Buxton [born 1943], of Sopworth, Wiltshire, by his second wife the former Ann Boggis-Rolfe [born 1952], scion of that landed family, & Alice Catarina Mary Currey [born 1988], scion of the Barons Howard De Walden, daughter of [Charles] Alistair Currey [born 1947], of Fulham, London, by his former wife the former Henrietta Mary Rosario Czernin [born 1960], of Bosham, West Sussex, second daughter of Baroness Howard De Walden [born 1935].

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Allhusen/Hubert engagement

_. The engagement was announced 18 January, 2020, between Benjamin Christian Thomas Allhusen [born 1989], scion of that landed family, eldest son of Christian Henry Allhusen [born 1956], of Bradenham, Norfolk, by his wife the former Penelope Amanda Champion [born 1959], & Sophie Hubert, eldest daughter of Mr & Mrs Alain Hubert, of La Forêt-Fouesnant, France.

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The Baron Maclennan of Rogart, PC 1936-2020

_. The Baron Maclennan of Rogart, PC, died 18 January, 2020. He was 83.

Robert Adam Ross Maclennan was a Liberal Democrat politician and the last leader of the SDP, and was an MP from 1966 to 2001, in which year he was created a life peer.

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Kain/Mansel engagement

_. The engagement has been announced between Tom A. Kain, elder son of Mr & Mrs Trevor Kain, of Rye, East Sussex, and Isabella Maria Mansel [born 1985], daughter of the late Hugh Clavell Mansel, by his wife the former Diana Theresa Violet Scrope [born 2 Feb, 1951], scion of that ancient landed gentry family [now Mrs Diana Mansel, of Wareham, Dorset].

The bride-to-be is a great-granddaughter of the 4th Earl of Ellesmere.

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Fetherstonhaugh/Smith engagement

_. The engagement has been announced between Hugh Fergus Fetherstonhaugh [born 1990], scion of that landed family, son of Hugh Simon Fetherstonhaugh [born 1949], of Corwen, Denbighshire, by his wife the late former Louise Philipps [1946-2013], & Susan Smith, elder daughter of Mr & Mrs Stuart Smith, of Higher Kinnerton, Flintshire,

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Ludo Arthur Edward Crichton-Stuart [born 2019]

_. Euan-Hee Isobella Gage [Izzie] Crichton-Stuart [born 1977, nee Heygate], scion of the Heygate baronets, and wife of [Niall] Rollo Robert Crichton-Stuart [born 1977], scion of the Marquesses of Bute, gave birth to a son, Ludo Arthur Edward, 17 December, 2019, a brother for Henry Richard Niall, who was born in 2010.

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Speke/Lascelles engagement

_. The engagement has been announced between Toby Benjamin Fenwick Speke [born 1989], scion of that landed gentry family, son of Mr [Ian] Benjamin Speke [born 1950], of Corbridge, Northumberland, by his wife the former Ailsa Fenwick [born 1957], & Camilla Mary Lascelles [born 1991], scion of the Earls of Harewood, daughter of Hugo Giles Lascelles [born 1958], of Elmdon, Essex, by his wife the former Joanna Catherine Philipson [born 1961], descended from from extinct barons Woolavington.

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Broxham/Hadden-Paton engagement

_. The engagement has been announced between Blaze Broxham, eldest son of Mr & Mrs George Broxham, of Marondera, Zimbabwe, and Clementine Sarah Hadden-Paton [born 1992], daughter of Capt Nigel Hadden-Paton [born 1952], of Dorset, scion of that landed gentry family, and Mrs Hadden-Paton [nee Sarah A.J. Mellor, [born 1954].

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Can Harry lose his styles and titles?

With The bombshell that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are to ‘step down’ as senior members of the Royal Family let’s look at the styles and titles enjoyed by the couple.

Many members of the public and on social media are demanding that the renegade Harry be ‘stripped’ of his styles, titles and peerages, following his shock announcement.

Harry, as a male line grandson of the monarch, was born HRH Prince Henry Charles Albert David of Wales on September 15, 1984. The HRH handle or the title Prince were not conferred by the Queen, but came at birth under the terms of the 1917 Letters Patent of Harry’s great-great grandfather, King George V.

On his father’s accession Harry would be upgraded to HRH ‘The’ Prince Harry. All children and male line grandchildren of the monarch are princes and princesses of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

The Queen, as fountain of all honour, can remove the style of Royal Highness. The issuing of Letters Patent or a Royal Warrant could strip both Harry and Meghan of the rank, style and title of HRH.

On Harry and Meghan’s wedding day in 2018 the prince was created Baron Kilkeel, Earl of Dumbarton and Duke of Sussex, all in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. The three peerages were created by the issuing of Letters Patent under the Great Seal. 

The recipient of a peerage cannot afterwards go on an disclaim that peerage or peerages. He or she is a peer for life. 

The 1963 Peerage Act made provision for a new peer, having succeeded to a peerage, to then go on and disclaim that peerage with 12 months of succession. The Peerage Act made no provision for a newly created peer to disclaim. 

A peer can be deprived of his peerage by an Act of Parliament. No peer has been so stripped of his title since the days of the First World War when several peers who supported or fought on the side of Germany had peerages removed under the terms of the Titles Deprivations Act 1917. 

For Harry to relinquish or be deprived of his peerages then another act of Parliament would be required. 

The Duchess of Sussex possesses no titles in her own right. No styles or titles were specifically created for her on her marriage. Her rank and precedence come as the wife of Prince Harry. Meghan’s styles and titles mirror those held by her husband. She is HRH Princess Henry, Baroness Kilkeel, Countess of Dumbarton, Duchess of Sussex.

In the event of the Sussex marriage ending in divorce then under the terms of the Letters Patent of 1996 Meghan would cease to be Her Royal Highness, following the precedent of Diana, Princess of Wales and Sarah Duchess of York.

A divorced Meghan would be styled in the same way as the ex-wife of any other duke, and would be ‘Meghan, Duchess of Sussex’, but only for as long as she remained in the divorced state. On any subsequent marriage she would lose the Sussex title.

And so Harry is destined to be Duke of Sussex for the remainder of his life, and on his death his son, Archie, will automatically succeed as 2nd Duke of Sussex.

Of course Harry could drop the use of rank, styles and titles unofficially. The late Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester, widow of the Queen’s uncle, was known as ‘Princess Alice’ for thirty years of widowhood without being formally so styled by Letters Patent or Royal Warrant.

Similarly, when the Prince of Wales announced his engagement to Mrs Camilla Parker Bowles in 2005 it was announced that his wife would not be styled Princess of Wales but be known as HRH The Duchess of Cornwall. It was also stated that Camilla, on Charles’s accession, would not be known as Queen but instead be styled HRH The Princess Consort.

Harry and Meghan have already gone down this road by declaring that their son will not use a courtesy title as son of a Duke. Young Archie Mountbatten-Windsor would traditionally have been styled Earl of Dumbarton from birth.

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