Veronica Henderson (nee Pain) (died 2026)

 Veronica Henderson (nee Pain), died 15 May, 2026, aged 85.

She was the daughter of Ralph Pain, and married 28 June, 1961, Ian Brodie Henderson (born 25 October, 1930), son of Neil Brodie Henderson (1904-1982), and his wife the former Conn Madden (1908-1979), daughter of Admiral Sir Charles Edward Madden, 1st Baronet, GCB, OM, GCVO, KCMG (1862-1935), who served as the First Sea Lord in the 1920s.

She leaves issue, two sons, Nicholas (born 3 May, 1963), and James (born 30 Dec, 1964), and a daughter, Lavinia (born 9 May, 1962), wife of James Newman Gilbey (born 4 October, 1956), scion of the Gilbey baronets.

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Leigh/Peat engagement

 The engagement was announced 20 May, 2026, between the Hon Rupert Dudley Leigh (born 21 February, 1994), son and heir of the 6th Baron Leigh (born 20 October, 1960), of Gloucestershire, and Sophy, Baroness Leigh (nee Sophy-Ann Burrows, born 1963), of Wiltshire, & Freya Ann K. Peat (born 1998), daughter of Simon Peat, of Derbyshire, and Mrs Lara Peat-Dixon (nee Ignatieff), of North Yorkshire.

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Earl Spencer marries Catrine Jarman

 The marriage took place Friday 15 May, 2026, in Arizona, United States, between Charles Edward Maurice [Spencer], 9th Earl Spencer (b 20 May 1964), only surviving son of the late 8th Earl Spencer, MVO (1924-1992), by his 1st wife, the Hon Frances Ruth Burke Roche (1936-2004), scion of the Barons Fermoy, & Mrs Catrine Lie Jarman (born in Norway, 1982), an archaeologist.

It is Earl Spencer's fourth matrimonial adventure. He married firstly, 16 September, 1989 (div.1997), Catherine Victoria Lockwood; married 2ndly, 15 December, 2001 (div. 2007), Caroline Victoria Hutton; and married 3rdly, 18 June, 2011 (div.), Karen Villeneuve.

Earl Spencer has a son and three daughters with his first wife, a son and a daughter with his second wife, and a daughter with his third wife.

The new countess studied archaeology at the University of Bristol where she received her doctorate degree in 2017, per her bio on her literary agency’s website. Her research focused on the late 9th century Viking Great Army in Derbyshire, England, which she learned about through studying a mass Viking grave site of over 300 people. Her findings later informed the 2019 documentary Britain’s Viking Graveyard and PBS’ The Lost Viking Army. Countess Spencer is an honorary senior research associate at the Department of Anthropology and Archaeology at the school and the director of the archaeological research unit.

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Lakin/Mactaggart marriage

 The marriage has taken place between Henry Lyon Lakin (born 1991), scion of the Lakin baronets, younger son of Mark Philip Lakin (1941-2025), of Over Worton, Oxfordshire, and his wife the former Christina Lisa Josephine Dolan (born 1950); and Kinvara Mary Mactaggart (born 1992), daughter of Sir John Auld Mactaggart, 4th Baronet (born 1951), of Ardmore, Islay, and his second wife the former Caroline Emma Williams (born 1963).

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Hepburn/Merriam engagement

The engagement was announced 19 May, 2026, between Patrick Frankland Hepburn (born 1989), eldest son of Stuart Frankland Hepburn (born 1954), of Great Canfield, Essex, and his wife the former Alison Bayne, & Georgina Clare Merriam (born 4 February, 1990), daughter of Richard Henry Faber Merriam (born 1957), of Faygate, West Sussex, and his wife the former Penelope J. Gidley-Kitchin (born 1958).

Georgina Merriam is descended from the Marquesses of Ailsa:-

3rd Marquess of Ailsa (1847-1938) > Lady Marjory Kennedy (1898-1988) > Peter Merriam (1922-2004) > Richard Merriam (b 1957) > Georgina Merriam (b 1990)

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Christopher George Peake 1951-2026

 Christopher George Peake died 2 April, 2026, aged 74, scion of the Peake family (later Viscounts Ingleby).

He was born 20 May, 1951, third son of Edward Charles Peake (1911-1999), and his wife the former Baroness Maria Santina Franziska Gabriella von Henikstein (1911-1999); and married 1993, Ann Marie O'Rourke, by whom he had a son, Matthew (born 25 September, 2002), and a daughter, Rebecca (born 8 June, 2000).

Christopher Peake descends from the 1st Earl of Zetland:-

1st Earl of Zetland (1766-1839) > Hon John Charles Dundas (1808-66) > John Charles Dundas (1845-92) > Evelyn Mary Dundas (1873-1945) > Edward Peake (1911-99) (brother of the 1st Viscount Ingleby) > Christopher Peake (1951-2026)

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Assheton/Frusher engagement

The engagement was announced 19 May, 2026, between James Charles Assheton (born 19 March, 1999), scion of the Barons Clitheroe, second son of the Hon John Hotham Assheton (born 12 July, 1964), of Milton, Oxfordshire, and his wife the former Amanda Ellen Freeman (born 1965), & Héloïse Sarah H. Frusher (born 1999), the only daughter of David Michael Frusher (born 1959), of Aston le Walls, Northamptonshire, and his wife the former Julia Mary Russell Allen (born 1961).

James Assheton is a grandson of the 2nd Baron Clitheroe (1929-2026).

Héloïse Frusher is descended from the Lords Borthwick:-

19th Lord Borthwick (1813-85) > Hon Mary Frances Harriet Borthwick (1876-1939) > James Borthwick Dowdall (1910-1962) > Anne Pauline Borthwick Dowdall (1933-2024) > Julia Mary Russell Allen (b 1961) > Héloïse Frusher (b 1999)

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Siegfried Phoenix Hector Salt-Strickland (born 2026)

Freya Salt, wife (or partner?) of Francis Richard Hornyold-Strickland (born 18 September, 1986), barrister, scion of that landed gentry family, of Sizergh Castle, gave birth to a son, Siegfried Phoenix Hector, at home in Athens, 2 May, 2026, a brother for Cosima and Isolde.

Francis is the son of Robert Francis Michael Hornyold-Strickland (born 31 October, 1954), and his first wife Teresa Mary Fawcett, and a grandson of Thomas Henry Hornyold-Strickland, 7th Count della Catena, DSC (1921-1983).

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Robert Gwynn Cottam 1934-2026

 Robert Gwynne Cottam died 11 May, 2026. 

He was born in 1934, son of Major-General Algernon Edward Cottam, CB, CBE, MC (1894-1964), of Bodiam, Sussex, and his wife the former Margaret Eileen Haselden (1901-1990); and married 7 October, 1967, Morella Cumberland Walker (born 13 April, 1942), scion of the Walker baronets of Sand Hutton, daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel Anthony Gerald Bartholomew Walker (1912-1999), and his wife the former Margaret Cumberland Templeton (1913-1987), by whom he had issue, two sons, Charles (born 1 June, 1969), and Henry (born 4 Oct, 1973), and a daughter, Rosemary (born 22 July, 1971).

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Baroness Lamont of Lerwick 1946-2026

Baroness Lamont of Kerwick, who died 6 May, 2026, aged 79, was the former wife of the Baron Lamont of Lerwick, who as Norman Lamont, MP, PC, was Chancellor of the Exchequer in the administration of John Major.

She was Alice Rosemary White, born in 1946, a daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel Peter Conrad White (1915-1993), of Hall Farm House, Thorp Arch, Wetherby, West Yorkshire, by his wife the former Marion Winter; and married 1971 (div. 1999), Norman Stewart Hughson Lamont (born 8 May, 1942), son of Daniel Lamont, OBE, of Lerwick, and his wife Helen Irene, by whom she had issue, a son, Hilaire James Lamont (born 1974), and a daughter, Sophie Caroline (born 1978).

Her former husband was Conservative MP for Kingston-upon-Thames 1972 to 1997, served as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Energy 1979-81, Minister of State for Trade and Industry, 1981-1985, Minister of State for Defence Procurement 1985-1986, Financial Secretary to the Treasury 1986-1989, Chief Secretary to the Treasury 1989-90, and Chancellor of the Exchequer 1990-1993, and was raised to the peerage for life in 1998, as Baron Lamont of Lerwick, of Lerwick in the Shetland Islands.

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Major Peter Keith-Murray 1935-2026

Major Peter Keith-Murray, who died 12 April, 2026, aged 90, was a scion of the Murray baronets of Ochtertyre, and heir presumptive to that baronetcy, held by his kinsman, Sir Patrick Murray, 12th Baronet.

He was born 12 July, 1935, son of David Keith-Murray (1900-1968), and his wife the former Nancy May Gautschi (1908-2008); & married in 1960, Judith Anne Tinsley (1935-2018), daughter of Wiliam Andrew Tinsley, of Sarnia, Ontatio, Canada, by whom he had issue, a son, David Andrew Keith-Murray (born 7 December, 1965), and a daughter, Leslie Anne (born in 1961).

He served in the Canadian military for 36 years in the RCAF as a Fighter Cop (Scope dope)and then as an Air Weapons Controller which took him and his family all over Canada, USA and while serving with NATO in Germany. He was an avid golfer, who won Super Senior club champion on multiple occasions at Glen Meadows Golf and Country Club and had two holes in one, his first was in Mexico and his last one being just a week before his 90th birthday at Ardmore Golf Course. He volunteered for decades with the Victoria Information Centre and British Columbia Aviation Museum (BCAM) in Sidney. He was a long time member of Probus and the Army, Navy, Air Force Unit 302 in Sidney.

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Timothy Rupert De Zoete 1942-2026

Timothy Rupert De Zoete died 27 April, 2026, aged 83.

He was born 8 May, 1942, son of Rupert Edward De Zoete (1913-1998), descended from Courage LG, and his wife the former Anna Patricia Gibbs (1915-2004), scion of the Barons Aldenham; & married 2 July, 1969, Moyra Jane Dawnay (born 8 April, 1946), scion of the Viscounts Downe, daughter of Vice-Admiral Sir Peter Dawnay, KCVO, CB, DSC, OStJ (1904-1989), and his wife Lady Angela Christine Rose Montagu Douglas Scott (1906-2000), 5th daughter of the 7th Duke of Buccleuch & Queensberry (1864-1935).

He leaves a daughter, Alexandra Margot (born 18 April, 1973).

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Martin Hugh Pym, MBE 1927-2026

Martin Hugh Pym, MBE, who died 16 May, 2026, aged 99, was a scion of that landed gentry family.

He was born 28 February, 1927, the third son of Major Alexander Ruthven Pym (1891-1971), and his wife the former Violet Helen Marie Warrender (1896-1983), daughter of Sir George Warrender, 7th Baronet (1869-1917); and married 3 December, 1960, Phillada Hilary Nunneley (1939-2025), scion of that landed gentry family, daughter of Robin Michael Charles Nunneley (1911-2005), and his wife the former Patricia May Roylance (1911-1999), by whom he had issue, a son, William (born 17 April, 1968), and three daughters, Lucy (born 24 Sept, 1961), wife of Maj-Gen Sir William Cubitt; Emma (born 25 June, 1963), an Serena (born 26 Feb, 1965), wife of James Jamieson, nephew of the 17th Duke of Norfolk.

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Richard Henry Persse 1937-2026

 Richard Henry Persse, who died 12 May, 2026, aged 88, was a scion of that Irish landed gentry family.

He was born 22 October, 1937, son of Brigadier (Reginald Barry) Lovaine Persse (1896-1985), and his wife the former Sheelah Patricia Batterby (1897-1979); and married 3 May, 1969, Susan Royle Kennett (born 10 March, 1942), daughter of Commander Anthony Kennett, RN (1909-1994), of Tanners, Wrington, Somerset, & his wife the former Patience Vera Plowden (1915-1998), scion of that landed gentry family, and had issue, two sons, Edward Henry Michael (born 19 March, 1971), and James Alexander Jocelyn (born 1972).

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Comtesse Richard de Pelet (nee Cazenove) 1942-2026

 Comtesse Richard de Pelet, who died 9 May, 2026, aged 84, was a scion of the Cazenove landed gentry family of Cottesbrooke.

Isabel de Lérisson Cazenove was born in 1942, daughter of Brigadier Arnold de Lérisson Cazenove, CBE, MVO, DSO, DL, ADC (1898-1969), and his wife the former Elizabeth Laura Gurney (1914-1994), scion of that landed gentry family; and married 1966, Comte Richard de Pelet, son of Comte and Comtesse Guy de Pelet, by whom she had issue, a son, Charles (born 1970), and a daughter, Sophie (born 1973).

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White/Trower engagement

 The engagement was announced 16 May, 2026, between Henry Richard White (born 1998), eldest son of Myles Bernard White (born 1963), of Wadhurst, East Sussex, and his wife the former Jo-Anne Day (born 1967), and Zara Rose Catherine Trower (born 27 April, 1998), second daughter of Christopher James Walter Trower (born 1965), of Elmdon, Essex, and his wife the former Charlotte Lavinia Frances Salt (born 13 January, 1967), fourth daughter of Sir Anthony Houlton Salt, 6th Baronet (1931-1991).

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Lewis/Whittaker engagement

The engagement was announced 16 May, 2026, between Tobias Robin C. Lewis (born 1993), a son of Beryn Charles Martin Lewis [born 1958], of Laugharne, Carmarthenshire, by his wife the former Tamzin Marjorie Soames [born 1958], scion of that landed gentry family, &  Claudia Anne Whittaker (born 1999), daughter of Mr Neil Whittaker, of Holt, North Wales, and Miss Caroline Platt, of Rossett, North Wales.

Tobias Lewis is descended from the Cayley baronets, and the Marquesses of Conyngham, &c.

3rd Marquess Conyngham > Lady Constance Conyngham > Marjorie Combe > Robert Soames > Tamzin Soames > Tobias Lewis

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Blue Orlando Benjamin Dodd-Noble (born 2026)

  Emily Kate L. Dodd-Noble [nee Rowlinson, born 1984], wife of Harry Thomas B. Dodd-Noble [born 1985], gave birth to a son, Blue Orlando Benjamin, 22 April, 2026, a brother for Bertie-Fox Burlington Leo, born 14 August, 2021, and for Cosmo Balthazar Patrick, born 6 April, 2023.

Harry Dodd-Noble, a descendant of the Merrie Monarch Charles II, is a son of (Simon) Thomas Antony (Tom) Dodd-Noble (b 17 Feb, 1955), of Oxfordshire,  by his former wife the former Carolyn A. Botting (now Mrs Carrie Stewart, of London), and is a grandson of Adrian Dodd-Noble (1922-2013) (a grandson maternally of the Baron Kirkley). by his 1st wife the former Lady Elizabeth Theresa Boyle (1920-81), sister of the 13th & 14th Earls of Cork & Orrery.

Emily Dodd-Noble is a daughter of Mr Stephen R. Rowlinson, of East Sussex, by his wife the former Kathleen A. McGowan.

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Harry Basil Broadway Hudson (born 2026)

 Rosanna Sophie Hudson [nee Littleton, born 1989], wife of Toby V. Hudson, gave birth to a second son, Harry Basil Broadway, 25 April, 2026, a brother for Benjamin Westby Vavasour, who was born 8 October, 2022.

Toby is a son of Mr Andrew Hudson, of Bedale, Yorkshire, by his former wife the former Georgina Ticey [now Lady Horlick, of Newbury, Berkshire, wife of Sir James Horlick, 6th Baronet].

Rosanna is a daughter of Antony Robin Welhouse Westby Littleton [previously Percevall descended from the Barons Hatherton], of Hannington, Hampshire, by his wife the former Hon Aileen Mary Fitzherbert [born 29 March, 1953], daughter of the 14th Baron Stafford [1926-1986].

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Michael Richard Sefi, LVO 1943-2026

 Michael Richard Sefi, LVO, who died 9 May, 2026, aged 82, was a philatelist, Keeper of the Royal Stamp Collection to HM Queen Elizabeth II, from 2003 until his retirement in 2018.

He was born 11 December, 1943, son of Antony Sefi and his wife the former Judith Hull; and married 29 June, 1968, Harriet Mary Davidson (born 28 November, 1942), daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel Colin Keppel Davidson, CIE, OBE (1895-1943), and his wife Lady Mary Rachel Fitzalan Howard (1905-1992), daughter of the 15th Duke of Norfolk, KG, GCVO (1847-1917).

Sefi was appointed LVO in 2013.

He is survived by his wife and son, Charles (born 23 Aug, 1974), and two daughters, Clare (born 9 Feb, 1970), and Laura (born 31 Mar, 1972)

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Dr Peter Cannon-Brookes 1938-2026

Dr Peter Cannon-Brookes, who died 3 May, 2026, aged 87, was a Fellow, Royal Society of Arts, & co-authored the book Baroque Churches, with his wife Caroline. 

He was born in 1938, son of Victor Montgomery Cannon-Brookes (1911-2004), and his wife the former Nancy Margaret Markham Carter (1913-1994); and married 13 April, 1966, Caroline Aylmer Christie-Miller (born 4 February, 1942), scion of that landed gentry family, daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel John Aylmer Christie-Miller, CBE, TD (1911-2007), and his wife the former Bridget Wilbraham Dixon (1918-1992), scion of the Dixon baronets, by whom he had a son, Stephen (born 12 Aug, 1966), and a daughter, Emma (born 16 February, 1968).

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Michael Anthony Hanbury-Williams 1961-2026

 Michael Anthony Hanbury-Williams, who died 8 May, 2026, aged 64. He was a scion of that landed gentry family.

He was born 28 June, 1961, the third son of John Michael Anthony Hanbury-Williams (born 7 July, 1933), and his wife the former Diane Hartley (born 28 August, 1936); and married September, 1987, Alexandra Marjorie Ringrose-Voase (born 13 August, 1962), scion of that landed gentry family, second daughter of Lt-Cdr Christopher John Ringrose-Voase, RN (1929-1990), and his his wife the former Patricia Anne Bushe (who died 2025), by whom he had issue, a son, Christopher John (born May, 1991), and a daughter, Katya Alexandra (born 5 January, 1994).

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