Lady Damian Montagu Douglas Scott (née Elisabeth Powis), wife of Lord Damian Torquil Francis Charles Montagu Douglas Scott, youngest son of the late 9th Duke of Buccleuch & (11th) of Queensberry, KT, gave birth to a son, Orlando John Sebastian, 27 March, 2009, a brother for Alexander Edward James, who was b 13 Feb, 2002, and for Georgia Lucy Alice, who was b 11 Aug, 2006.
Lord Damian married at Geddington, 21 April, 2001, Elizabeth, daughter of Mr & Mrs Simon Powis.
--==--
Thursday, April 09, 2009
Edward Wells
Georgina Wells (b 1975, née Howard-Vyse), scion of that LG family, and wife of Mark J.B. Wells, gave birth to a son, Edward, 2 April, 2009, a brother for Harry, who was b 30 May 2007.
Mark is the son of Mr & Mrs Simon Wells, of Purton, Wiltshire, & Georgina is a daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel John Cecil Howard-Vyse (b. 1947), of Burneston, North Yorkshire, by his wife the former Jennifer Anne Collin. Georgina Howard-Vyse's paternal grandfather Lt- Gen. Sir Edward Howard-Vyse, KBE, CB, MC (b. 27 Nov, 1905; d. 26 Dec, 1992), married in 1940, Mary Bridget Willoughby, scion of the Barons Middleton.
--==--
Mark is the son of Mr & Mrs Simon Wells, of Purton, Wiltshire, & Georgina is a daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel John Cecil Howard-Vyse (b. 1947), of Burneston, North Yorkshire, by his wife the former Jennifer Anne Collin. Georgina Howard-Vyse's paternal grandfather Lt- Gen. Sir Edward Howard-Vyse, KBE, CB, MC (b. 27 Nov, 1905; d. 26 Dec, 1992), married in 1940, Mary Bridget Willoughby, scion of the Barons Middleton.
--==--
Lord Boston's brother engaged
_.The engagement was announced 9 April, 2009, between the Hon Jonathan Charles Timothy Irby (b. 30 May 1975), 2nd son of the late 10th Baron Boston (1939-2007) and of Rhonda, Baroness Boston, of Moelfre, Anglesey, and Amanda P. McConnel, daughter of Captain and Mrs Ian McConnel, of Brailes, Oxfordshire.
-==-
-==-
Lord Moore of Wolvercote dies aged 88
The Baron Moore of Wolvercote, GCB, GCVO, CMG, QSO, PC, who died 7 April, 2009, the day after his 88th birthday, was sometime Private Secretary to the Queen and father-in-law of Peter Gabriel.
He was born 6 April, 1921, son of Cecil Moore, ICS; educated at Cheltenham College, and Brasenose Coll, Oxford.
Career:-->Principal Private Sec to the First Lord of the Admiralty, 1957-58, British Deputy High Commissioner, Singapore, 1961-65, Director of Public Relations, Ministry of Defence, 1965-66; Assistant Private Secretary to Her Majesty The Queen 1966-72, Deputy Private Secretary to HM The Queen, 1972-77, Private Secretary to HM The Queen and Keeper of the Queen's Archives, 1977-86; Permanent Lord in Waiting to Her Majesty the Queen 1986-2009; Chairman of Trustees King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Foundation of St Catharine's since 1986; served in World War II as a Flight Lieut, Bomber Command, RAF.
Cr CMG 1966; CB (Civil) 1973; KCVO 1976; KCB 1980; GCVO 1983; GCB 1985; Cr Baron Moore of Wolvercote, of Wolvercote, City of Oxford (Life Peer) 1986.
Married 1945, Joan Ursula, dau of Capt M.E. Greenop, DCLI, and has issue: (i) the Hon Sally Jane Moore, b 1949; (ii) the Hon Jill Georgina Moore, b 1951, who married 1971 (div 1990) the rock musician Peter Gabriel.
Lord Moore of Wolvercote lived in a "Grace and Favour" apartment at Hampton Court Palace.
--==--
He was born 6 April, 1921, son of Cecil Moore, ICS; educated at Cheltenham College, and Brasenose Coll, Oxford.
Career:-->Principal Private Sec to the First Lord of the Admiralty, 1957-58, British Deputy High Commissioner, Singapore, 1961-65, Director of Public Relations, Ministry of Defence, 1965-66; Assistant Private Secretary to Her Majesty The Queen 1966-72, Deputy Private Secretary to HM The Queen, 1972-77, Private Secretary to HM The Queen and Keeper of the Queen's Archives, 1977-86; Permanent Lord in Waiting to Her Majesty the Queen 1986-2009; Chairman of Trustees King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Foundation of St Catharine's since 1986; served in World War II as a Flight Lieut, Bomber Command, RAF.
Cr CMG 1966; CB (Civil) 1973; KCVO 1976; KCB 1980; GCVO 1983; GCB 1985; Cr Baron Moore of Wolvercote, of Wolvercote, City of Oxford (Life Peer) 1986.
Married 1945, Joan Ursula, dau of Capt M.E. Greenop, DCLI, and has issue: (i) the Hon Sally Jane Moore, b 1949; (ii) the Hon Jill Georgina Moore, b 1951, who married 1971 (div 1990) the rock musician Peter Gabriel.
Lord Moore of Wolvercote lived in a "Grace and Favour" apartment at Hampton Court Palace.
--==--
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
Maj Sir John Griffin, KCVO 1924-2009
Major Sir (Arthur) John Stewart Griffin, KCVO, Press Secretary to HM Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, 1956-91, died 1 April, 2009, aged 85. He married 1962, Henrietta Montagu Douglas Scott (1934-2008), scion of the Dukes of Buccleuch & Queensberry, dau of Brigadier (Claud) Andrew Montagu Douglas Scott, DSO (1906-71) by his 1st wife the former Lady Victoria Doris Rachel Haig, dau of Field Marshal the 1st Earl Haig; his wife died 20 Feb, 2008. He is survived by sons, (i) Andrew Michael Stewart Griffin b 27 April 1963, & (ii) Philip Anthony Stewart Griffin, b 23 May 1965. Private family funeral on Tuesday 14th April. Memorial Service in London to be announced later.
--==--
--==--
4th Baron Amherst of Hackney (1940-2009)
The 4th Baron Amherst of Hackney died 2 April, 2009. He was aged 68. William Hugh Amherst Cecil was born 28 Dec, 1940, son of the 3rd Baron Amherst of Hackney (1912-80), by his wife the former Eirene Margaret Clifton Brown, 3rd dau. of Brig Gen Howard Clifton Brown MP, of Holmbush, Fay Gate, co. Sussex, by his wife Mary Eirene Hodges, 1st dau. of Sir Henry E A Hodges, Judge of the High Court, Melbourne, Australia; succeeded to the peerage (created 1892), on the demise of his father, 22 July, 1980; married 30 Mar 1965, Elizabeth Merriman, dau. of Hugh Humphrey Merriman DSO, MC, of Hazel Hall, Peaslake, co. Surrey, by whom he had issue, a son, the Hon (Hugh) William Amherst Cecil (b. 17 Jul 1968), mar. 1996 Nicola Jane Michels, dau. of Maj Timothy Michels, and has issue; & a dau, the Hon Aurelia Margaret Amherst Cecil (b. 19 Jul 1966), mar. (1) 1990 (div. 1993) Giles Wilson Mervyn Crewdson, 1st son of Wilson Peregrine Nicholas Crewdson by his wife Hon Lucy Clare Beckett, 1st dau. by his first wife of Ralph William Ernest [Beckett], 3rd Baron Grimthorpe, and (2) 1 Sep 2000 Rupert Nicholas Stephenson, yst. son of Charles Stephenson, and has issue by her second husband; A Service of Thanksgiving will be held at the Holy Trinity Church, Cowes, Isle of Wight, Friday 29th May 2009.
--==--
--==--
Monday, April 06, 2009
Head/Fetiveau engagement
_.The engagement was announced 2 Apr 2009, between the Hon George Richard Head (b 1982), the younger son of the 2nd Viscount Head (b 27 Feb 1937), of Bishopstone, Salisbury, by his wife the former Alicia Brigid Salmond (descended from the Barons Lucas of Crudwell) and Charlotte Fetiveau, daughter of Mr and Mrs Alain Fetiveau, of Kensington, London.
--==--
--==--
Haddo/Coaten engagement
_. The engagement was announced 3 Apr 2009 between George Ian Alastair Gordon, styled Earl of Haddo (b 4 May 1983), eldest son of the 7th Marquess of Aberdeen & Temair (b 31 Mar 1955), of House of Formartine, Aberdeenshire, b y his wife the former Joanna Clodagh Houldsworth (descended from the Earls of Morton), and Isabelle Coaten, younger daughter of Mr David Coaten, of London, W8, and Mrs Sacha Coaten, of London, SW1.
--==--
--==--
Lady Maude Cavendish
Laura Ann Cavendish (nee Roundell, b 1972) styled Countess of Burlington, wife of William Cavendish, styled Earl of Burlington (b. 6 June 1969), only son and heir of the 12th Duke of Devonshire, gave birth to a 1st child, a daughter, Lady Maude Cavendish, in London, in March, 2009.
--==--
--==--
Thursday, April 02, 2009
Lord Dean of Harptree, PC , dies
The Lord Dean of Harptree, PC, died 1 April, 2009. He was aged 84.
As Sir (Arthur) Paul Dean, MP, he served as Tory Member of Parliament for Somerset North from 1964 to 1983, and after boundary changes, for Woodspring from 1983 until his retirement at the 1992 General Election (Apr 9).
He was educated at Ellesmere College and Exeter College, Oxford. He was Member of Parliament for Somerset North from 1964 to 1983, and after boundary changes, for Woodspring from 1983 until his retirement at the 1992 - preceding Dr Liam Fox. Sir Paul was a junior minister for Health and Social Security during the Heath administration 1970-1974 . From 1982 onwards, he was a Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons firstly under George Thomas and then Bernard Weatherill.
In 1993 he was made a life peer as Baron Dean of Harptree, of Wedmore in the County of Somerset.
--==--
As Sir (Arthur) Paul Dean, MP, he served as Tory Member of Parliament for Somerset North from 1964 to 1983, and after boundary changes, for Woodspring from 1983 until his retirement at the 1992 General Election (Apr 9).
He was educated at Ellesmere College and Exeter College, Oxford. He was Member of Parliament for Somerset North from 1964 to 1983, and after boundary changes, for Woodspring from 1983 until his retirement at the 1992 - preceding Dr Liam Fox. Sir Paul was a junior minister for Health and Social Security during the Heath administration 1970-1974 . From 1982 onwards, he was a Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons firstly under George Thomas and then Bernard Weatherill.
In 1993 he was made a life peer as Baron Dean of Harptree, of Wedmore in the County of Somerset.
--==--
9th Earl Nelson (1941-2009)
The 9th Earl Nelson, who died 28 March, 2009, aged 67, inherited the title created to honour the celebrated naval hero Horatio Nelson, and served his country in a more modest capacity as a policeman; the story of the title is one that does not reflect much credit on successive British governments, which begrudged doing their duty by Nelson's descendants.
Peter John Horatio Nelson was born 9 Oct 1941; succeeded to the earldom in 1981 (Guardian 24 Sept 1981); Pres R Naval Commando Assoc and Nelson Soc.
Succeeded by his son Simon John Horatio Nelson, born September 21, 1971.
--==--
Peter John Horatio Nelson was born 9 Oct 1941; succeeded to the earldom in 1981 (Guardian 24 Sept 1981); Pres R Naval Commando Assoc and Nelson Soc.
Succeeded by his son Simon John Horatio Nelson, born September 21, 1971.
--==--
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
Olive Mary Windsor-Clive
Olive Mary Windsor Clive (née Longueville), died at her home, 28 March 2009, aged 86. She was born in 1922 as Olive Mary Longueville, dau of Lt-Col Francis Longueville, DSO, MC (b 1892), by his wife the former Gertrude Venables, 2nd dau. of Rowland Vemables, of Oakhurst, Oswestry, Shropshire. Her siblings are Reginald Francis Longueville, b 1922, killed in action in Holland 1944; Peter Longueville, of Ayton Castle, Eyemouth, Berwickshire, b 1925; and Anne Gertrude Longueville, b 1921, who m. 1945, Capt. Francis Arthur Windsor-Clive, (b 1922), scion of the Earls of Plymouth; she married 29 Dec 1949, Brig Robert Charles Windsor Clive (b 1919. d.) scion of the Earls of Plymouth, and elder brother of the abovementioned Francis; she had issue, (i) George Francis, b 26 Jan 1954; & (i) Annabel Mary, b 29 Mar 1951. She also leaves grandchildren, Gabriel, Victoria, Thomas and Johnny. Funeral St Peter's RC Church, Ludlow, 6th April 2009.
--==--
--==--
6th Baron Feversham (1945-2009)
The 6th Baron Feversham, of Duncombe Park, Helmsley, North Yorkshire, died at the Castle Hill Hospital, Hull, 29 March, 2009. He was aged 64.
Charles Antony Peter Duncombe was born 3 Jan 1945, son of Colonel Antony John Duncombe-Anderson (1907-49), by his wife the former Gioranna Georgina Valerie McNalty (who on behalf of herself and her children abandoned by deed poll the surname of Duncombe-Anderson & assumed the surname of Duncombe only, 12 Mar 1954).
He succeeded to the barony (cr 1826) on the demise of his kinsman, the 3rd (and last) Earl of Feversham in 1963. He also inherited the Duncombe Park estate, and its 13,000 acres.
Educated at Eton he became a journalist and author and took a keen interest in the arts which resulted in him being appointed to several key positions, including President of the Yorkshire Arts Association from 1987 to 1991, chairman of the trustees of the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, and also of the Standing Conference of Regional Arts Associations.
He was also a member of various committees of the Arts Council of Great Britain from 1969- 1980, the Arts and Education Committee of the Calouste Gulbenkian UK and Commonwealth branch. Lord Feversham was also an honorary fellow of Bretton Hall College, West Yorks.
For some 36 years he was a member of Helmsley Town Council and was three times its chairman. He also became President of the National Local Councils Association (NALC) and president of the Yorkshire and Cleveland LCA, and was also president of the Society of Yorkshiremen in London.
His many other public office appointments included being a governor of Leeds Polytechnic and the York Theatre Royal. For 30 years he sat as a crossbencher in the House of Lords.
His ancestor, the wealthy goldsmith Sir Charles Duncombe who became Lord Mayor of London, after a brief sojurn in the Tower on a charge – later dropped – of falsifying Exchequer bills, then bought the Helmsley estate in 1695.
Lord Feversham was twice wed - firstly, in 1966 to Shannon Foy (died 1976), dau of Sir Thomas Arthur Wyness Foy, CSI; secondly in 1979, to Pauline M. Aldridge, dau of John Aldridge, of Newark, Notts. He leaves issue, two sons and a daughter from the first marriage, viz: the Hon Jasper Orlando Slingsby Duncombe born 14 March 1968, and the Hon Jake Barnaby born in 1972, and the Hon Melissa Rose born in 1973; and one son from the second union, the Hon Patrick Charles Kildare Duncombe, born in 1981. The eldest son, Jasper, inherits the title.
The funeral is to be held in private at the chapel at Duncombe Park. A memorial service is to be later, but the date and place have yet to be arranged.
--==--
Charles Antony Peter Duncombe was born 3 Jan 1945, son of Colonel Antony John Duncombe-Anderson (1907-49), by his wife the former Gioranna Georgina Valerie McNalty (who on behalf of herself and her children abandoned by deed poll the surname of Duncombe-Anderson & assumed the surname of Duncombe only, 12 Mar 1954).
He succeeded to the barony (cr 1826) on the demise of his kinsman, the 3rd (and last) Earl of Feversham in 1963. He also inherited the Duncombe Park estate, and its 13,000 acres.
Educated at Eton he became a journalist and author and took a keen interest in the arts which resulted in him being appointed to several key positions, including President of the Yorkshire Arts Association from 1987 to 1991, chairman of the trustees of the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, and also of the Standing Conference of Regional Arts Associations.
He was also a member of various committees of the Arts Council of Great Britain from 1969- 1980, the Arts and Education Committee of the Calouste Gulbenkian UK and Commonwealth branch. Lord Feversham was also an honorary fellow of Bretton Hall College, West Yorks.
For some 36 years he was a member of Helmsley Town Council and was three times its chairman. He also became President of the National Local Councils Association (NALC) and president of the Yorkshire and Cleveland LCA, and was also president of the Society of Yorkshiremen in London.
His many other public office appointments included being a governor of Leeds Polytechnic and the York Theatre Royal. For 30 years he sat as a crossbencher in the House of Lords.
His ancestor, the wealthy goldsmith Sir Charles Duncombe who became Lord Mayor of London, after a brief sojurn in the Tower on a charge – later dropped – of falsifying Exchequer bills, then bought the Helmsley estate in 1695.
Lord Feversham was twice wed - firstly, in 1966 to Shannon Foy (died 1976), dau of Sir Thomas Arthur Wyness Foy, CSI; secondly in 1979, to Pauline M. Aldridge, dau of John Aldridge, of Newark, Notts. He leaves issue, two sons and a daughter from the first marriage, viz: the Hon Jasper Orlando Slingsby Duncombe born 14 March 1968, and the Hon Jake Barnaby born in 1972, and the Hon Melissa Rose born in 1973; and one son from the second union, the Hon Patrick Charles Kildare Duncombe, born in 1981. The eldest son, Jasper, inherits the title.
The funeral is to be held in private at the chapel at Duncombe Park. A memorial service is to be later, but the date and place have yet to be arranged.
--==--
Sir Reresby Sitwell, Bt, dies
Sir (Sacheverell) Reresby Sitwell, 7th Baronet, who has died aged 81, was scion of the great literary dynasty, and owner of Renishaw Hall, Derbyshire.
He was born 15 April, 1927, son of Sir Sacheverell Sitwell, CH, 6th Bt, by his wife Georgia Louise (died 1980), dau of Arthur Doble; & educated at Eton and King's College, Cambridge.
Served as Lieutenant, Grenadier Guards, BAOR, 1946-48; advertising and PR executive, 1948-60; vending machine operator 1960-70; wine merchant 1960-75; High Sheriff of Derbyshire, 1983; Freeman of the City of London, 1984; a DL for Derbyshire since 1984; Lord of the Manor of Eckington and Barlborough, Derbyshire and of Whiston and Barmpton-en- le-Morthen, Yorkshire. Succeeded to the baronetcy (cr 1808) on the demise of his father, 1988.
Sir Reresby married in 1952, Penelope Forbes (b 1923), scion of the Earls of Granard, younger daughter of Colonel the Hon Donald Alexander Forbes, DSO, MVO (1880-1938), by his wife Mary Doreen Lawson (d 1987), descended from the Viscounts Mountgarret; by whom he had one daughter, Alexandra Isobel Susanna Edith, born in 1958 (wife of a son of millionaire businessman Sir Jack Hayward).
The baronetcy now devolves upon his nephew, George Reresby Sacheverell Sitwell, born in 1967, son of the late Francis Trajan Sacheverell Sitwell (1935-2004), of Weston Hall, Towcester, by his wife Susanna Carolyn Cross. The new baronet announced his engagement a couple of years ago to one Martha L. de Blank, second daughter of Mr & Mrs Justin de Blank, of London.
The nephew gets the title, but his daughter inherits Renishaw.
--==--
He was born 15 April, 1927, son of Sir Sacheverell Sitwell, CH, 6th Bt, by his wife Georgia Louise (died 1980), dau of Arthur Doble; & educated at Eton and King's College, Cambridge.
Served as Lieutenant, Grenadier Guards, BAOR, 1946-48; advertising and PR executive, 1948-60; vending machine operator 1960-70; wine merchant 1960-75; High Sheriff of Derbyshire, 1983; Freeman of the City of London, 1984; a DL for Derbyshire since 1984; Lord of the Manor of Eckington and Barlborough, Derbyshire and of Whiston and Barmpton-en- le-Morthen, Yorkshire. Succeeded to the baronetcy (cr 1808) on the demise of his father, 1988.
Sir Reresby married in 1952, Penelope Forbes (b 1923), scion of the Earls of Granard, younger daughter of Colonel the Hon Donald Alexander Forbes, DSO, MVO (1880-1938), by his wife Mary Doreen Lawson (d 1987), descended from the Viscounts Mountgarret; by whom he had one daughter, Alexandra Isobel Susanna Edith, born in 1958 (wife of a son of millionaire businessman Sir Jack Hayward).
The baronetcy now devolves upon his nephew, George Reresby Sacheverell Sitwell, born in 1967, son of the late Francis Trajan Sacheverell Sitwell (1935-2004), of Weston Hall, Towcester, by his wife Susanna Carolyn Cross. The new baronet announced his engagement a couple of years ago to one Martha L. de Blank, second daughter of Mr & Mrs Justin de Blank, of London.
The nephew gets the title, but his daughter inherits Renishaw.
--==--
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Nicholas Emanuel Stafford Howard
Dr Anna F. Howard (née Parsons), wife of Dr Henry James Stafford Howard (b. 1972), of Johnby Hall, Cumbria, scion of the Dukes of Norfolk, gave birth to a son, Nicholas Emanuel Stafford, 16 March, 2009.
Dr Howard is the son of the late Mr Nicholas Stafford Howard (1937-2008), of Johnby Hall, Cumbria, by his wife the former Phyllis Bethan Duckett, and Anna is the elder daughter of the Rev. Stephen and Mrs Parsons, of Edinburgh.
On 16th March 2009, to Anna (née Parsons) and Henry, of Johnby Hall, Cumbria, a son Nicholas Emanuel Stafford.
--==--
Dr Howard is the son of the late Mr Nicholas Stafford Howard (1937-2008), of Johnby Hall, Cumbria, by his wife the former Phyllis Bethan Duckett, and Anna is the elder daughter of the Rev. Stephen and Mrs Parsons, of Edinburgh.
On 16th March 2009, to Anna (née Parsons) and Henry, of Johnby Hall, Cumbria, a son Nicholas Emanuel Stafford.
--==--
Eliza Honor Vaughan
The Hon Georgina Isabel Vaughan (b 1980, nee Byng) scion of the Viscounts Torrington, wife of John F. Vaughan, scion of the Vaughan of Courtfield LG family, gave birth to a daughter, Eliza Honor, 23 March, 2009.
John is the son of Mr and Mrs Patrick Vaughan, of Courtfield, Herefordshire, and Georgina is the 2nd daughter of the 11th Viscount Torrington (b 13 Jul 1943), of Mere, Wits, by his wife the former Susan Webster (descended from the Marquesses of Conyngham).
=====
John is the son of Mr and Mrs Patrick Vaughan, of Courtfield, Herefordshire, and Georgina is the 2nd daughter of the 11th Viscount Torrington (b 13 Jul 1943), of Mere, Wits, by his wife the former Susan Webster (descended from the Marquesses of Conyngham).
=====
Dowager Lady Torphichen dies
The Dowager Lady Torphichen, who died 20 March, 2009, was the 3rd wife, and widow of the 14th Lord Torphichen. She was the former Pamela Mary Howard-Snow, dau of John Howard-Snow, and married (i) Thomas Hodson-Pressinger; married (ii) 1973, as his 3rd spouse, the 14th Lord Torphichen (Lordship of Scotland, 1564), who died in 1975. She leaves 2 children Anne and Selwyn Hodson-Pressinger. Funeral at Brompton Oratory SW7 on 8th April, 2009.
-==--
-==--
Cameron/Maclay engagement
_.The engagement was announced 31 March, 2009, between Donald Andrew John Cameron, younger of Lochiel (b 1976), son of.— Donald Cameron, Chief of the Clan Cameron, of Achnacarry, by his wife the former Lady Cecil Nennella Therese Kerr (b 1948), & Sarah Elizabeth Maclay (b 1977), scion of the Barons Maclay, daughter of the Hon Angus Grenfell Maclay (b 1945), of St Boswells, by his late wife the former Hon (Elizabeth) Victoria Baillie (d 1986), dau of the 3rd Baron Burton.
Donald Cameron, yr of Lochiel is a grandson maternally of the 12 Marquis of Lothian, KCVO (1922-2004)
-==--
Donald Cameron, yr of Lochiel is a grandson maternally of the 12 Marquis of Lothian, KCVO (1922-2004)
-==--
Friday, March 27, 2009
Gordon Brown and Queen in talks about lifting Catholic ban
Gordon Brown has opened talks with Buckingham Palace on removing the 308-year-old law which bars members of the Royal Family from marrying Roman Catholics.
The Princess Royal would jump ahead of the Duke of York if the law on succession are overhauled
Discrimination against female heirs to the throne would also be scrapped under the proposals expected to be introduced next year, if the law were to be made retrospective the Princess Royal would move ahead of the Duke of York in the line of succession.
At present, members of the Royal Family are forbidden by the Act of Settlement from converting to Roman Catholicism or marrying someone from the Catholic faith unless they agree to being removed from the order of succession.
Male members of the Royal family take precedent over their female relatives, meaning that the Princess is further down the line of succession than her younger brothers and their children.
The Prime Minister is understood to be in favour of overhauling the laws on succession, and Buckingham Palace is also thought to be ``open'' to the plans.
Two of the main impediments to reform - the need to secure the consent of the Commonwealth, and concerns about the monarch's status as head of the Church of England - have both been discussed.
Monarchs and members of their family in the order of succession have been banned from marrying Roman Catholics since the Glorious Revolution of 1688, when the Catholic James II was overthrown in favour of the Protestant William of Orange. The prohibition is enshrined in the Bill of Rights passed that year, and the 1701 Act of Settlement.
Rewriting the Act of Settlement requires the consent of all 53 Commonwealth countries, and Mr Brown hopes to discuss the proposal at the Commonwealth summit in November. He has already held private talks about his plans with some Commonwealth leaders.
Sources close to the Prime Minister stressed that the plans would not undermine the Establishment of the Church of England, and that the monarch would retain the role of head of the Church.
If the law was changed and it is made retrospective, the Princess would move from 10th to fourth in line to the throne, behind her older brother, the Prince of Wales, and his sons, Princes William and Harry.
Her children, Peter and Zara Phillips, would also be lifted up the line of succession, ahead of the Duke and his daughters Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, and the Earl of Wessex and his children, Lady Louise Windsor and Viscount Severn, who would move after his older sister.
During the current Queen's reign, two members of the Royal Family - Prince Michael of Kent and the Earl of St Andrews - renounced heir rights of succession after marrying Roman Catholics. Last year, it was announced that Autumn Kelly had renounced her Catholic faith before she was able to marry Mr Phillips.
Over the past decade, Labour has pursued a number of policies which have angered Catholics, such as equality laws which forced adoption agencies to consider homosexuals as potential parents and the creation of hybrid human-animal embryos.
Mr Brown's bid to rewrite the Act of Settlement is thought to be part of a new attempt to win over Catholics and pave the way for a state visit to Britain by Pope Benedict XVI.
The Prime Minister is also said to be considering offering a peerage to Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, the head of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, which would make him the first Roman Catholic bishop to sit in the House of Lords since the Reformation.
Speaking about the Act of Settlement yesterday during an event at the House of Commons, the Cardinal said: "It's discriminatory. I think it will disappear, but I don't want to cause a great fuss over it."
In Sweden, the law was changed in 1980 to allow the succession to pass to the eldest child of the monarch regardless of gender, while similar moves were made to the royal families of Belgium, the Netherlands and Sweden.
MPs will today[Friday] be given the opportunity to vote on reforming laws proposed by a backbench MP to allow Roman Catholic succession.
The Private Member's Bill is being introduced by Evan Harris, a Liberal Democrat, and enjoys cross-party support. As well as the backing of senior Catholics in the Commons, including Edward Leigh, the Tory chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, and Andrew MacKinlay, Labour MP for Thurrock, it is also supported by a number of women members.
The Prime Minister will not support this legislation himself as he has concerns about some technical aspects of the way it has been drawn up, however, Labour MPs are free to vote in favour if they wish. Instead, the Prime Minister will wait until after negotiations are concluded before introducing his own legislation next year.
A Number 10 aide said last night: ``In principle this is an area where we want to see progress. We are not going to support today's Bill but we won't oppose it. It is not possible to simply change legislation as it's a very complex area.''
Dr Harris said of his Bill: "The Bill will remove the uniquely discriminatory stipulation which currently exists - that an individual in the line of succession to the throne can have a civil partnership with a Catholic, can marry a Muslim or atheist, but can not marry a Catholic.
"It will also end the rule of primogeniture, whereby women in the line of succession to the throne is automatically superseded by a younger male sibling - if your current monarch had a young brother, we would never had had a Queen Elizabeth II."
The Bill would also repeal the Royal Marriages Act of 1772, which requires the descendants of George II to seek the consent of the monarch before marrying if they are under the age of 25.
--==--
The Princess Royal would jump ahead of the Duke of York if the law on succession are overhauled
Discrimination against female heirs to the throne would also be scrapped under the proposals expected to be introduced next year, if the law were to be made retrospective the Princess Royal would move ahead of the Duke of York in the line of succession.
At present, members of the Royal Family are forbidden by the Act of Settlement from converting to Roman Catholicism or marrying someone from the Catholic faith unless they agree to being removed from the order of succession.
Male members of the Royal family take precedent over their female relatives, meaning that the Princess is further down the line of succession than her younger brothers and their children.
The Prime Minister is understood to be in favour of overhauling the laws on succession, and Buckingham Palace is also thought to be ``open'' to the plans.
Two of the main impediments to reform - the need to secure the consent of the Commonwealth, and concerns about the monarch's status as head of the Church of England - have both been discussed.
Monarchs and members of their family in the order of succession have been banned from marrying Roman Catholics since the Glorious Revolution of 1688, when the Catholic James II was overthrown in favour of the Protestant William of Orange. The prohibition is enshrined in the Bill of Rights passed that year, and the 1701 Act of Settlement.
Rewriting the Act of Settlement requires the consent of all 53 Commonwealth countries, and Mr Brown hopes to discuss the proposal at the Commonwealth summit in November. He has already held private talks about his plans with some Commonwealth leaders.
Sources close to the Prime Minister stressed that the plans would not undermine the Establishment of the Church of England, and that the monarch would retain the role of head of the Church.
If the law was changed and it is made retrospective, the Princess would move from 10th to fourth in line to the throne, behind her older brother, the Prince of Wales, and his sons, Princes William and Harry.
Her children, Peter and Zara Phillips, would also be lifted up the line of succession, ahead of the Duke and his daughters Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, and the Earl of Wessex and his children, Lady Louise Windsor and Viscount Severn, who would move after his older sister.
During the current Queen's reign, two members of the Royal Family - Prince Michael of Kent and the Earl of St Andrews - renounced heir rights of succession after marrying Roman Catholics. Last year, it was announced that Autumn Kelly had renounced her Catholic faith before she was able to marry Mr Phillips.
Over the past decade, Labour has pursued a number of policies which have angered Catholics, such as equality laws which forced adoption agencies to consider homosexuals as potential parents and the creation of hybrid human-animal embryos.
Mr Brown's bid to rewrite the Act of Settlement is thought to be part of a new attempt to win over Catholics and pave the way for a state visit to Britain by Pope Benedict XVI.
The Prime Minister is also said to be considering offering a peerage to Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, the head of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, which would make him the first Roman Catholic bishop to sit in the House of Lords since the Reformation.
Speaking about the Act of Settlement yesterday during an event at the House of Commons, the Cardinal said: "It's discriminatory. I think it will disappear, but I don't want to cause a great fuss over it."
In Sweden, the law was changed in 1980 to allow the succession to pass to the eldest child of the monarch regardless of gender, while similar moves were made to the royal families of Belgium, the Netherlands and Sweden.
MPs will today[Friday] be given the opportunity to vote on reforming laws proposed by a backbench MP to allow Roman Catholic succession.
The Private Member's Bill is being introduced by Evan Harris, a Liberal Democrat, and enjoys cross-party support. As well as the backing of senior Catholics in the Commons, including Edward Leigh, the Tory chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, and Andrew MacKinlay, Labour MP for Thurrock, it is also supported by a number of women members.
The Prime Minister will not support this legislation himself as he has concerns about some technical aspects of the way it has been drawn up, however, Labour MPs are free to vote in favour if they wish. Instead, the Prime Minister will wait until after negotiations are concluded before introducing his own legislation next year.
A Number 10 aide said last night: ``In principle this is an area where we want to see progress. We are not going to support today's Bill but we won't oppose it. It is not possible to simply change legislation as it's a very complex area.''
Dr Harris said of his Bill: "The Bill will remove the uniquely discriminatory stipulation which currently exists - that an individual in the line of succession to the throne can have a civil partnership with a Catholic, can marry a Muslim or atheist, but can not marry a Catholic.
"It will also end the rule of primogeniture, whereby women in the line of succession to the throne is automatically superseded by a younger male sibling - if your current monarch had a young brother, we would never had had a Queen Elizabeth II."
The Bill would also repeal the Royal Marriages Act of 1772, which requires the descendants of George II to seek the consent of the monarch before marrying if they are under the age of 25.
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Guest/Burbury engagement
_.The engagement was announced 26 March, 2009, between Henry Charles Guest (b 1978), scion of the Viscounts Wimborne, elder son of the Hon Charles James Guest (b 1950), of Somerset, by his wife the former Simone Whinney, and Nova J. Burbury, elder daughter of Mr and Mrs Christopher Burbury, of Perth, Western Australia.
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