Carter/Gillingham marriage

HRH The Duchess of Cambridge was present at the marriage in Wingfield, Suffolk, 28 April, 2012, of Mr Robert E.R. Carter, elder son of Mr & Mrs Robert Carter, of Langham, Norfolk, and Miss Hannah Rose Gillingham (b 1982), elder daughter of Mr Timothy M. Gillingham, of Brundish, Suffolk, by his wife the former Helen Stanton.

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Baroness Ritchie of Brompton (1945-2012)

The Baroness Ritchie of Brompton, holder of a life peerage sometime mother-in-law of Madonna, died 24 Apr, 2012, aged 66.

She was born Shireen Olive Folkard, 22 June, 1945, and married firstly (div), John Williams, by whom she had a son; married secondly, 1982, John Ritchie, father of the film director Guy Ritchie.

A deputy chairman of Kensington & Chelsea Conservative Assoc, she was awarded a life peerage in 2010.

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Ella Jane Ashfield

Anna Ashfield ( (née de Halpert)), wife of Nigel Ashfield, gave birth to a daughter, Ella Jane, 20 Apr 2012, a sister for Evie Anne, who was b 4 Jun 2010. Anna Mary (b 1976) is a dau of Rear-Adml Sir Jeremy Michael DE HALPERT KCVO CB (b 1947), scion of the WHITE Bts of Boulge Hall, and Jane (b 1948, reg December, Yorkshire) d of Joseph FATTORINI of Ilkley and Mary COLLINGWOOD.

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Madison Jemima Bessie Rhodes

Sarah Elizabeth Rhodes (nee Elson) wife of Samuel Lawrence Dixon Rhodes (b 12 Jan 1984) gave birth to a daughter, Madison Jemima Bessie, 25 April, 2012, at Harrogate, North Yorkshire, a sister for Arabel Florence Maisie, who was born 11 September, 2010.

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Viscount Bridport's heir to wed

The engagement was announced 21 April, 2012, between the Hon Peregrine Alexander Nelson Hood (b 30 Aug 1974), son and heir of the 4th Viscount Bridport (b 17 Mar, 1948), by his former wife the former Linda Jacqueline Paravicini (now Countess of Suffolk & Berkshire) (b 1950, descended from the Swinnerton-Dyer Baronets) &amp);   &  Serena Nikkhah, eldest daughter of Mr & Mrs Shahrokh Nikkhah, of London.

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Tara Harriet Whyte-Melville Skeffington

Olga Skeffington (nee Dixon-Brown), wife of the Hon Charles John Foster Clotworthy Whyte-Melville Foster Skeffington (b 7 Feb 1973), scion of the Viscounts Massereene & Ferrard, gave birth to a daughter, Tara Harriet Whyte-Melville, 7 February, 2012. Charles is the son and heir of the 14th Viscount Massereene & Ferrard (b 3 Jun 1940), of Chilham Castle, Canterbury, Kent, by his wife the former Anne Denise Rowlandson, and Olga is the eldest daughter of Capt Cecil Lewis Dixon-Brown, RM, and Mrs Dixon-Brown, of Chepstow Villas, Kensington. 

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Death of Leopold de Rothschild, CBE

Leopold David de Rothschild, CBE, scion of the great banking dynasty, died 19 April, 2012. He was 85.

He was born 12 May, 1927, a son of Maj Lionel Nathan de Rothschild, OBE (1882-1942) by his wife the former Marie-Louise Eugenie Beer (d 1975), dau of Edmund Beer, of Paris.

Mr De Rothschild was a partner, N.M. Rothschild and Sons, &c. He was appointed CBE in 1985.

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Death of Priscilla, Lady Jardine, 87

Lady Jardine, who died 13 Apr, 2012, at the age of 87, was the widow of Brigadier Sir Ian Liddell Jardine, 4th Baronet, OBE, MC. (Jardine of Godalming Baronetcy, cr UK 1916).

She was the former Priscilla Daphne Scott-Phillips, daughter of Douglas Middleton Parnham Scott-Phillips, of Halkshill, Largs, Ayrshire, and married Coldstream Guards officer Sir Ian in 1948. He served as ADC to HM The Queen, 1976-78. He died in 1982. She leaves issue, including Sir Andrew, the 5th Baronet.

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Lily Alexandra Hopkins

The Hon Selina Hopkins (b 1973, nee Tollemache), scion of the Barons Tollemache and wife of James Hopkins, gave birth to a daughter, Lily Alexandra, 2 Apr, 2012.


James is a son of Dr and Mrs Christopher Hopkins, and the Selina is the daughter of the 5th Baron Tollemache (b 13 Dec 1939), of Helmingham Hall, Suffolk, by his wife the former Alexandra Dorothy Jean Meynell, scion of the Earls of Halifax.


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Lord Lauderdale's cousin to wed

The engagement was announced 19 Apr, 2012 between Lt-Col (Andrew) James Maitland-Makgill-Crichton (b 10 Sept, 1953), scion of the Earls of Lauderdale, son of Maj-Gen Edward Maitland-Makgill-Crichton (1916-2009), by his wife the former Sheila Margaret Hibbins, & Tamsin D. Skinner, eldest daughter of Mr & Mrs David Skinner, of Barton Turf, Norfolk.

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The Lord Great Chamberlain agreement of 1912

 TO ALL TO WHOM these presents shall come The Right Honourable Gilbert Heathcote Drummond Willoughby Earl of Ancaster Baron Willoughby de Eresby and Baron Aveland (hereinafter called Lord Ancaster) The Most Honourable Charles Robert Marquess of Lincolnshire a Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter (hereinafter called Lord Lincolnshire) and the Most Honourable George Henry Hugh Marquess of Cholmondeley (hereinafter called Lord Cholmondeley) send Greeting WHEREAS on the sixth day of May One thousand nine hundred and two the Committee of Privileges of the House of Lords resolved that in the opinion of the Committee the rights of the co-heiresses who had inherited the office of Lord Great Chamberlain of England were in Lord Ancaster Lord Cholmondeley and Lord Lincolnshire (then known and in the said Resolution described as the Earl Carrington) in whom therefore the rights of selection of a Deputy vested subject to His Majesty's approval that in the event of the said Lords not all agreeing His Majesty might appoint whom he would  for the performance of the duties of the office until they should agree and that according to the precedents the person appointed must not be of inferior degree to a knight AND whereas Lord Ancaster derives the rights in him as aforesaid as the heir of The Right Honourable Clementina Elizabeth Baroness Willoughby de Eresby the elder sister of the Right Honourable Charlotte Augusta Annabella Baroness Carrington and co-heiress with her of the Right Honourable Alberic Baron Willoughby de Eresby and of the Right Honourable Peter Robert Baron Willoughby de Eresby who was the eldest son and heir of the Right Honourable Priscilla Barbara Elizabeth Baroness Willoughby de Eresby the elder sister of the Most Honourable Georgiana Charlotte Marchioness of Cholmondeley and co-heiress with her of the Most Noble Robert Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven and of the Most Noble Peregrine Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven hereditary Lord Great Chamberlain of England AND whereas Lord Lincolnshire derives the rights in him as aforesaid as the eldest son and heir of the said Charlotte Augusta Annabella Baroness Carrington the younger sister of the said Clementina Elizabeth Baroness Willoughby de Eresby and co-heiress with her of the said Peter Robert Baron Willoughby de Eresby AND whereas Lord Cholmondeley derives the rights in him as aforesaid as the great grandson and heir of the said Georgiana Charlotte Marchioness of Cholmondeley the younger sister of the said Priscilla Barbara Elizabeth Baroness Willoughby de Eresby  and co-heiress with her of the said Robert Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven and of the said Peregrine Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven AND whereas by Deep Poll dated twenty first day of January One thousand nine hundred and eleven and under their hands and seals Lord Ancaster Lord Lincolnshire and Lord Cholmondeley nominated subsituted and appointed Lord Lincolnshire to be in the reign of his present Majesty King George V their sufficient Deputy to perform and execute the said Office and such appointment was approved by His Majesty King George V AND whereas Lord Ancaster, Lord Lincolnshire and Lord Cholmondeley made the appointment by the said Deed Poll of the twenty first of January in the year One thousand nine hundred and eleven of Lord Lincolnshire as Deputy to perform and execute the said Office in the reign of His present Majesty King George V in pursuance of an agreement and understanding with a view to the avoidance of differences and disputes in the future that the said Office should be performed and executed by Lord Ancaster Lord Lincolnshire and Lord Cholmondeley (or their respective heirs) successively as Deputy of all of them during successive reigns as hereinafter provided NOW THESE PRESENTS WITNESS and Lord Ancaster Lord Lincolnshire and Lord Cholmondeley do hereby record and declare as follows (1) THE said Office of the hereditary Great Chamberlain of England with the rank dignity honour duties privileges and profits thereto appertaining shall and may be held exercised and enjoyed (either in person or by a deputy) by Lord Ancaster, Lord Lincolnshire and Lord Cholmondeley respectively or their respective heirs as deputy of all of them jointly in the order and in the periods hereinafter expressed that is to say

Person 

1. Lord Lincolnshire or his heir ~  Period: During the reign of His present Majesty King George V

2. Lord Cholmondeley or his heir ~ Period: During the reign of the next immediate successor to His          Majesty King George V

3. Lord Ancaster or his heir ~ Period: During the reign of the second in succession to His Majesty King George V

4. Lord Cholmondeley or his heir ~ Period: During the reign of the third in succession to His Majesty King George V

5. Lord Lincolnshire or his heir ~ Period: During the reign of the fourth in succession to His Majesty King George V

and so on in the same order of succession in the succeeding reigns the intention being that the Deputyship of the said Office shall be held exercised and enjoyed by each of them Lord Ancaster or his heir (or his deputy as aforesaid) Lord Lincolnshire or his heir (or his deputy as aforesaid) one in every four reigns and Lord Cholmondeley or his heir (or his deputy as aforesaid) in each alternate reign

NOTHING in these presents contained shall prejudice or affect the right of Lord Ancaster Lord Lincolnshire or Lord Cholmondeley or their respective heirs to the entirety or any part or share of our interest in the said Office if such right exists or can either now or at any date be substantiated

IN WITNESS whereof Lord Ancaster Lord Lincolnshire and Lord Cholmondeley have hereunto set their hands and seals the fifteenth day of April One thousand nine hundred and twelve

SIGNED SEALED AND DELIVERED by the above named Gilbert Heathcore Drummond Willoughby Earl of Ancaster in the presence of George Henry Ansell, Wissenthorpe, Oakham, Valet signed 'Ancaster'

SIGNED SEALED AND DELIVERED by the above named Charles Robert Marquess of Lincolnshire in the presence of J. Fred. Jennings, 13 John St, Berkeley Square, W. Physician signed 'Lincolnshire' 'Cholmondeley'

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Twins for cousin of the Queen

Amelia May Murray (nee Beaumont, b 1983), wife of Simon Peregrine Gauvain Murray, gave birth to twins, a daughter, Matilda Alice Beaumont and a son, Archibald Peregrine Arbuthnot, 11 April, 2012. Simon Murray is the only son of the late Ormiston Gauvain Nigel Murray (1944-2002), by his wife, née Shirley Arbuthnot (b. 1949), scion of the Arbuthnot Baronets (now Mrs Peter Rountree, of Myrtle Grove, Co. Cork, Ireland) , and Amelia, a scion of the Viscounts Allendale, is daughter of Hon Hubert Wentworth Beaumont (b. 1956), of Harristown House, Co. Kildare, Ireland, by his former wife the former Katharine Emma (Kate) Abel Smith (b. 1961), daughter of Richard Francis Abel Smith (1933-2004), son of Colonel Sir Henry Abel Smith, KCMG (descended from the Dukes of Somerset), by his wife Lady May Cambridge, ony daughter of the 1st (and last) Earl of Athlone, KG, GCB, GCMG, GCVO, GBE, by his wife HRH Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone, VA, GCVO, GBE, only daughter of HRH The Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany, son of H.M. Queen Victoria. 

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Tobias Alexander Vincent March Phillipps de Lisle

.Caroline L.G. March Phillipps de Lisle (née Budge), wife of Thomas R.H. March Phillipps de Lisle, scion of that LG family, gave birth to a son, Tobias Alexander Vincent, 27 March, 2012, a brother for Maximilian Lancelot Hubert, who was b 8 November, 2009. Thomas is a son of Lieut-Col and Mrs Hubert March Phillipps de Lisle, of La Roche Posay, France, & Caroline is the eld dau of Maj and Mrs David Budge, of Hindon, Wilts.  

Flora Antoinette Haig-Thomas

Sophie Anne Rose Haig-Thomas (nee Hughes-Onslow, b 1974), wife of Edward David Haig-Thomas (b 1972), gave birth to a daughter, Flora Antoinette, 2 April, 2012. Edward is the youngest son of Anthony Haig-Thomas, of Kirby-le-Soken, Essex, by his wife ____nee Wilkinson, and Sophie, a scion of the Earls of Onslow (cr UK 1801), is the only daughter of Denzil Jamie Hughes-Onslow (b 1939), of Culworth,cOxfordshire, by his wife Chloe Elizabeth. 

Cobbe / Moreau engagement

The engagement was announced 13 April, 2012, between Thomas Alexander Michael Cobbe (b 1973),  elder son of Richard Alexander Charles Cobbe, of Hatchlands Park, East Clandon, Surrey, by his wife the former Hon Isabel Anne Marie Henrietta Dillon (b 1942), and Mlle Emmanuele M.J. Moreau, second daughter of  M and Mme Jean-Francois Moreau, of Taormina, Sicily.

Thomas Cobbe is a grandson maternally of the late 20th Viscount Dillon (Peerage of Ireland, cr 1622).

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Death of Patricia Merriel, Lady Garthwaite

Patricia Merriel, Lady Garthwaite, who died 9 April, 2012, aged 88, was the third wife, and widow of Sir William Garthwaite, 2nd Baronet.

She was the former Patricia Merriel d'Ambrumenil, only daughter of Sir Philip d'Ambrumenil, sometime chairman of Lloyd's, of St James's Court, SW1, by his wife the former Gertrude Merriel Bailey, and married Sir William in 1957. Her husband died in 1993. She is survived by her three sons (inc twins). Her step-son os the current Bart.

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Burnett Armstrong / Arthur engagement

The engagement was announced 12 Apr, 2012, between (John) George William Rous Burnett Armstrong (b 1982), second son of the late John Francis Burnett Armstrong by his wife the former Lady (Christine) Caroline Catherine Rous (now Lady Caroline Cox-Johnson) (b 1946), scion of the Earls of Stradbroke, and Jessica Mary Arthur (b 1979), scion of the Barons Glenarthur, daughter of the Hon Matthew Richard Arthur (b 1948), of Bingfield, Northumberland, by his wife the former Veronica Rosemary Hall.

George Burnett Armstrong is a grandson of the 5th Earl of Stradbroke and his bride-to-be is a granddaughter of the 3rd Baron Glenarthur.


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Verney/Munro Ferguson engagement

The engagement was announced 12 April, 2012, between Nicholas Verney (b 9 Jul 1983), son and heir of Sir Edmund Ralph Verney, 6th Baronet, of Claydon House, Buckinghamshire, by his wife the former Daphne Fausset-Farquhar, & Alexandra E.L. Munro Ferguson, scion of that Scots landed family, daughter of Ronald Munro Ferguson, of Novar, Ross-shire, by his former wife Marianne (now Marianne Broadhead, of Downton Fields, Hants).

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Lord Vestey's heir to marry

The engagement was announced 12 April, 2012 between the Hon William Guy Vestey, born 23 August, 1983, elder son and heir of the 3rd Baron Vestey (b 19 March, 1941) , of Stowell Park, Gloucestershire, by his second wife, the former Celia Elizabeth Knight, and Violet Gweneth Henderson (b 1985), scion of the Barons Faringdon, daughter of the late Gavin Adrian Alexander Henderson (1944-1991) by his wife the former Juliet Victoria Baring (b 1953), scion of the Earls of Cromer, daughter of Maj Sir Mark Baring, KCVO (1916-88), &c.

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Ursula Jane Compton (1920-2012)

Ursula Jane (Janey) Compton, who died 7 April, 2012, aged 92, was chatelaine of Newby Hall, near Ripon, North Yorkshire

She was born 15 January, 1920 as Jane Kenyon-Slaney, a scion of the Barons Kenyon, daughter of Maj Robert Orlando Rodolph Kenyon-Slaney (1892-1965) by his first wife the former Lady Mary Cecilia Rhodesia Hamilton (d 1984), daughter of the 3rd Duke of Abercorn.

She was thrice wed, firstly in 1940 (divorced 1946) to Lt-Col David Ludovic Peter Lindsay, DSO (1900-71), scion of the Earls of Crawford & Balcarres; secondly, in 1946, as his 2nd wife (div 1950), Group Capt Max Aitken, DSO (afterwards Sir Max Aitken, the disclaimed 2nd Baron Beaverbrook, who d 1985); and thirdly,  in 1951, to Robert Edward John (Robin) Compton (1922-2009), scion of the Marquesses of Northampton. She leaves two daughters from her marriage to Sir Max Aitken, and two sons from her marriage to Robin Compton. The elder son James is heir to the Farquharson of Invercauld clan chieftainship, and the younger Richard, is squire of Newby Hall.

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The Earl of Leven & Melville (1924-2012)

The Earl of Leven and Melville died 7 April, 2012 aged 87. He was the 16th Earl of Leven (Peerage of Scotland), created in 1641, and the 13th Earl of Melville (also Peerage of Scotland) created in 1690.

Alexander Robert Leslie-Melville was born 13 May 1924, son of the 15th Earl, a Knight of the Thistle, by his wife, and kinswoman, the former Lady Rosamund Foljambe, daughter of the 1st Earl of Liverpool.

He succeeded to his father's peerages, 15 Jan 1947; married 1953, Susan Steuart-Menzies, by whom he had issue, 2 sons and 1 daughter.

He was predeceased in 2007 by his elder son, David, styled Lord Balgonie, and the earldoms and other peerages now devolve upon his grandson, Alexander Ian Leslie-Melville, styled Lord Balgonie, who was born 29 Nov, 1984.

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5th Baron Hemphill (1928-2012)

The Baron Hemphill who died in Galway, 6 April, 2012, aged 83, was the fifth holder of the peerage (cr UK, 1906). Peter Fitzroy Martyn, afterwards Martyn-Hemphill was born 5 Sept 1928, son of the 4th Baron by his wife Emily Sears (d 1990), and succeeded to the peerage on his father's demise, 19 March, 1957. He married in 1952, Olivia Anne Ruttledge, by whom he had issue. The barony now devolves upon his Lordship's son, the Hon Charles Andrew Martyn Martyn-Hemphill, who was born 8 Oct, 1954.

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GCVO for Camilla

HM The Queen has appointed HRH The Duchess of Cornwall to be GCVO on this the seventh anniversary of the marriage of HRH The Prince of Wales and HRH The Duchess of Cornwall.

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Isla Elizabeth Phillips

Autumn Patricia Phillips (nee Kelly, b 3 May 1978), wife of Peter Mark Andrew Phillips (b 15 Nov, 1977), gave birth to a second daughter, Isla Elizabeth, 29 March, 2012, in Gloucestershire, a sister for Savannah, who was b 29 Dec, 2010.

The infant is a second great-granddaughter for HM Queen Elizabeth II.

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Grania Lady Duff Gordon (1941-2012)

Grania Mary, Lady Duff Gordon, who died 2 April, 2012, aged 71, was the first wife of Sir Andrew Cosmo Lewis Duff Gordon, 8th Baronet (cr Baronet, UK, 1813).

She was the former Grania Mary Villiers-Stuart, daughter of Fitzgerald Villiers-Stuart, of Dromana, Villierstown, Co Waterford, and married Sir Andrew in 1967. They divorced in 1975. She leaves a son from the union, Cosmo Henry Villiers, heir to the baronetcy, who was born 18 Jun 1968.

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