Patricia Beaumont-Nesbitt (nee McBarnet) 1929-2025

 Patricia N. Beaumont-Nesbitt (née McBarnet), who died 5 September, 2025, was the wife of Brian Beaumont-Nesbitt, scion of that Irish landed family.

She was born in 1929, the former Patricia N. McBarnet, daughter of George Gordon Kellie McBarnet (1901-1970), and his wife the former Consuelo Elena Fairlie (1895-1973), scion of that landed gentry family, she married in 1965, Brian Charles Beaumont-Nesbitt (born 1932), youngest son of Maj-Gen Frederick George Beaumont-Nesbitt, CVO, CBE, MC (1893-1971), and his wife the former Hon Ruby Hardinge, JP (1897-1977), daughter of the 3rd Viscount Hardinge, CB (1857-1924), and his wife Mary Frances Nevill (1869-1954), scion of the Earls of Abergavenny. She leaves issue, a son, Jake (born 1967), and a daughter, Lucia Clare (b 1965).

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Lady Fox, KC, CMG

 Lady Fox, KC, CMG, a lawyer and leading authority on state immunity, died 12 July, 2025, aged 96. 

 Hazel Fox was the first Law Fellow of Somerville College, Oxford, and a giant in the field of State Immunity law. Over the course of a long and distinguished legal career, Lady Fox served as Director of the British Institute of International and Comparative Law and General Editor of the International and Comparative Law Quarterly. She was also a member of the Institut de Droit International, a Bencher of Lincoln’s Inn, a Barrister at 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square and a member of the International Law Association Committees on State Immunity, Diplomatic Protection, and Reparation for Victims of War Damage.

A noted legal academic, Lady Fox was the author many books, from International Arbitration: Law and Procedure (1959) to her final work Law of State Immunity (1st ed. 2002, reprinted 2008). Her writings, especially on state immunity, are still regularly cited by leading courts around the world.

She was the widow of Sir Michael Fox, a high court judge, and Lord Justice of Appeal, and step-daughter of the Baron Denning, OM, PC, DL (1899-1999), a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary and Master of the Rolls.

She was born Hazel Mary Stuart, 22 October, 1928, daughter of John Matthew Blackwood Stuart, CIE (1882-1942), and his wife the former Joan Daria Taylor (1900-1992), daughter of John Vinings Elliott Taylor, and his wife Alessandrina Venables.  Her widowed mother married 2ndly, 1945, Alfred Thompson Denning, who was raised to the peerage in 1957, as Baron Denning, of Whitchurch, co Southampton.

She married in 1954, Michael John Fox (born 8 Oct, 1921), son of the late Michael Fox. Her husband, a High Court Judge 1975-81, and a Lord Justice of Appeal 1981-92, died 9 April, 2007.

Lady Fox was appointed CMG, 2006. 

She leaves three sons, Matthew, Patrick and Charles and a daughter, Jane.

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Ramona Beryl Darvas (nee Stracey) 1930-2025

 Ramona Beryl Darvas (nee Stracey), who died 30 August, 2025, aged 95, was a scion of the Stracey baronets.

She was born 4 February, 1930, daughter of Algernon Augustus Henry Stracey (1873-1941), and his wife the former Olive Beryl Radclyffe (1905-1972); and was a granddaughter of Sir Edward Henry Gervase Stracey, 6th Baronet, DL, JP (1838-1888).

She married 21 March, 1959, Theodore Frederic Darvas (1925-2009), son of Dr S. Darvas , of Marylebone, by whom she had issue, two daughters, Jane (born 1 Jan, 1963), and Anna (born 27 Nov, 1966).

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Emily Hope McLauchlan Menzies (born 2025)

 Adelaide Menzies (nee Knott), wife of Ruaraidh Menzies, gave birth to a daughter, Emily Hope McLauchlan, 3 September, 2025.

Jamie is the elder son of Duncan Adam Young Menzies, Lord Menzies, PC (born 28 August 1953) a judge of the Supreme Courts of Scotland. He was appointed to the Outer House of the Court of Session in 2001, and the Inner House (Scotland's main appellate court) in 2012, and his wife the former Hilary Elizabeth McLauchlan.

Adelaide is a daughter of the late James Knott Jr, and Mrs Andrew Jardine Paterson, of Gask House, Perthshire.

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Rafferty Douglas Thomas Menzies (born 2025)

 Sophie Amanda Menzies (nee Huckfield, born 1983), wife of Jamie D.A. Menzies, gave birth to a son, Rafferty Douglas Thomas, 6 August, 2025.

Jamie is the elder son of Duncan Adam Young Menzies, Lord Menzies, PC (born 28 August 1953) a judge of the Supreme Courts of Scotland. He was appointed to the Outer House of the Court of Session in 2001, and the Inner House (Scotland's main appellate court) in 2012, and his wife the former Hilary Elizabeth McLauchlan.

 Sophie is the younger daughter of Mr Andrew T. Huckfield (born 1952), of Cheltenham, and the late former Glynis M. Thomas. 

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Hiley/Holland-Bosworth engagement

 The engagement was announced 10 September, 2025, between Hugo Alexander T. Hiley (born 1995), the elder son of Nicholas George Patrick Hiley (born 8 May, 1961), of Fulham, by his wife the former Lisa Mary Loudon (born 6 May, 1963), descended from the Doughty-Tichborne baronets, & Lily Grace Holland-Bosworth (born 1997), daughter of Guy Timothy Holland-Bosworth (born Dec, 1969), of Ousden, Suffolk, and his wife the former Susannah Louise Creagh-Coen (born 1971).

Hugo Hiley's descent from the Doughty-Tichborne baronets:-

Sir Anthony Joseph Henry Doughty-Tichborne, 14th Baronet (1914-1968) > (Anne) Denise Doughty-Tichborne (1938-95) = Jonkheer John Loudon > Lisa Marie Loudon (b 1963) > Hugo Hiley (b 1995)

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Diana Sherwood (née Barry) 1927-2025

 Diana Sherwood (née Barry), who died 8 September, 2025, aged 97, was a scion of the Barry baronets.

She was born 30 October, 1927, the second daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel Gerald Barry, MC (1896-1977), and his wife the former Lady Margaret Pleydell-Bouverie (1903-2002), daughter of the 6th Earl of Radnor, CIE, CBE (1868-1930); her elder sister, Anne (1924-2007), was Marchioness of Aberdeen & Temair, wife of the 6th Marquess.

Diana married firstly, 17 Oct, 1951 (div 1959), Kenneth Robin Motion (1923-2008), scion of that landed gentry family, a younger son of Andrew Kenneth Motion (1894-1980), and his wife the former Enid Elizabeth Kerrison (1898-1968), scion of that landed gentry family; & married 2ndly, 11 June, 1959 (div 1984), Nathaniel Edward Cawardine Sherwood (1924-1998), head of that landed gentry family, son of John Edward Newman Sherwood (1879-1939), and his wife the former Florence Sybil Keeling (1895-1987); and leaves issue from both marriages, a son and a daughter from her first marriage, Richard and Sarah Motion, and a son from her second marriage, David Sherwood.

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Elizabeth Georgia Arnold Hamilton (née Jones) 1933-2025

 Elizabeth Hamilton (née Jones), died 2 September, 2025. She was 92.

Born in 1933, the daughter of Alfred George Nelson Jones, and married in 1957, Guy Tancred Hamilton (1931-2003), scion of that landed gentry family, son of the Rev Crewe Chetwode Hamilton (1886-1969), and his wife the former Margaret Selby Tancred (1900-1989), scion of the Tancred baronets, by whom he had issue, two sons, Simon & Thomas, and two daughters, Julia and Sarah.

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Legard/Walker engagement

 The engagement was announced 8 September, 2025, between Alexander Thomas Legard (born 25 January, 1999), scion of the Legard baronets, second son of Edward Thomas Legard (born 9 November, 1966), of Charlcot, near Masham, North Yorkshire, by his wife the former Lucy Frances Kirkpatrick (born 30 January, 1967), & Sophie Juanita D. Walker (born 14 May, 1999), daughter of General Sir (Charles) Roland Vincent (Roly) Walker, KCB, DSO (born 14 May, 1970), Chief of the General Staff and ADC to HM The King, of Castle Frome, Herefordshire, and his wife the former Kate Leonore White-Thomson (born 1970), scion of that landed gentry family, and descended from the Barons Clinton.

Alexander Legard is a grandson of Sir Charles Legard, 15th Baronet (1938-2025).

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Goldsmith of Richmond Park/Fleming marriage

 The marriage took place 6 September, 2025, at St James's Church, Longborough, Gloucestershire, between Frank Zacharias Robin (Zac) Goldsmith, The Baron Goldsmith of Richmond Park, PC (born 20 January, 1975), the politician and life peer, son of the late Sir James Goldsmith (1933-1997), and his third wife the Lady Annabel Vane-Tempest-Stewart (born 13 June, 1934), scion of the Marquesses of Londonderry, & Hermione Kirsty Fleming (born 1989), scion of that landed gentry family, of Nettlefold, daughter of Roderick John Fleming (born 12 November, 1953), and his wife Diana Julia Wake (born 20 March, 1955), daughter of Maj Sir Hereward Wake, 14th Baronet (1916-2017).

It was Lord Goldsmith of Richmond's third marriage. His first marriage, 5 June, 1999, was to socialite Sheherazade Ventura-Bentley (born 14 March, 1974), from whom he was divorced in 2010. He married 2ndly, 15 March, 2013, Alice Miranda Rothschild (born 29 Nov, 1983), scion of the Barons Rothschild, daughter of the late Hon Amschel Mayor James Rothschild (1955-1996), and his wife the former Anita Patience Guinness (born 7 December, 1957), scion of the banking branch of the Guinness dynasty. Lord Goldsmith is the father of six (three offspring from each of his first two marriages).

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Funeral of HRH The Duchess of Kent

 The funeral of HRH The Duchess of Kent will take place at Westminster Cathedral on 16 September, 2025, at 2pm, it has been announced. Ahead of the funeral, The Duchess of Kent’s coffin will rest in the private chapel at Kensington Palace.

A statement released by Buckingham Palace read: "Her Royal Highness’s coffin will be taken by hearse to Westminster Cathedral on September 15 where the Rite of Reception and Vespers will take place, on the eve of the Requiem Mass. Thereafter it will rest overnight in the Lady Chapel."

It further added that funeral attendees would include "Their Majesties The King and Queen and Members of the Royal Family" joining The The Duke of Kent and members of The Duchess’s family at the Requiem Mass for The Duchess of Kent.

Afterwards, the coffin will be taken by hearse to the Royal Burial Ground at Frogmore in Windsor.

The King will become the first monarch in over 400 years to officially attend a Catholic funeral in Britain, following the death of the Duchess of Kent.

The Duchess of Kent, who died on Thursday September 4, aged 92, converted to Catholicism in 1994 - and was the first senior member of the Royal Family to convert to Roman Catholicism in many years. Several granddaughters of Queen Victoria were received into the Roman Catholic faith, including Princess Ena of Battenberg, who converted in 1906 to marry Alfonso XIII, King of Spain, and she became Queen Victoria Eugenie.

King Charles II converted to Rome on his deathbed in 1685.

The Duke of Kent, Queen Elizabeth II’s first cousin and now the oldest member of the Royal family at 89. He will celebrate his 90th birthday in October.

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Lord Thomas Fitzalan Howard marries Helen Bowen Wright

 The marriage took place, 5 September, 2025, between Lord Thomas Jack Fitzalan Howard (born 14 March, 1992), second of the three sons of the 18th Duke of Norfolk, KCVO (born 2 December, 1956), of Arundel Castle, Sussex, by his former wife Georgina, Duchess of Norfolk, nee Georgina Susan Gore (born 30 January, 1962), scion of the Earls Temple of Stowe, & Helen Anna Bowen Wright (born 27 October, 1992), daughter of the late Dr Martin Bowen Wright (1946-1994), and his wife the former Annie Richmond (now Mrs Annie Bowen Wright, of Stowupland, Suffolk.)

The bride-to-be has siblings, brothers Matthew (b 1977), Thomas (b 1978), and sister, Philippa (b 1985).

Lord Thomas has an older brother, Henry, Earl of Arundel (born 1987), and a younger brother, Lord Philip (born 1996), and two sisters, Lady Rachel (born 1989), and Lady Isobelle (born 1994).

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Charlotte Alexandra Dido Martelli (born 2025)

 Lady Amabel Mary Antonella Martelli (born 5 January, 1995), wife of Bartholomew Michael Augustus Martelli (born 1989), and scion of the Marquesses of Lothian, gave birth to a daughter, Charlotte Alexandra Dido, 23 August, 2025.

Lady Amabel is the elder daughter of the 14th Marquess of Lothian (born 7 Nov, 1957), of Ferniehurst Castle, Jedburgh, & Melbourne Hall, Derbyshire, and the Marchioness of Lothian (the former Marie-Claire Black). Her father, the former Lord Ralph Kerr succeeded his brother 1 Oct, 2024, as the 14th Marquess of Lothian.

Bartholomew Martelli is the third son of Amyas Michael George Martelli, of Netherbury, Dorset, and his wife the former Gabrielle Mary Frances Weld (born 6 Oct, 1950), scion of that landed gentry family. He is descended from the 13th Lord Lovat, the 3rd Earl of Verulam, and the 12th Duke of Somerset. 

The Countess of St Andrews and her daughters Lady Marina Charlotte Windsor and Lady Amelia Windsor were present at the Martelli/Kerr marriage in 2024.

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Julian Russell Sturgis 1938-2025

Julian Russell Sturgis, of Dauntsey Park, Wiltshire, died 2 September, 2025. He was 87.

He was born in 1938, son of Major Peter Sturgis (1914-1986), and his wife the former Rachel Sybil Borthwick (1914-1998), scion of the Borthwick baronets; and married firstly, 1970, Patience Baker; & married 2ndly, 1981, Christine Butler-Henderson (born 25 March, 1944), scion of the Barons Faringdon, daughter of Patrick Butler-Henderson (1913-1979), and his wife the former Kathleen Rebe Curtis, by whom he had a son, Hugh Russell Sturgis (born 1983).

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Richard Michael Fearon Gold 1949-2025

Richard Michael Fearon Gold, died 17 August, 2025, aged 76.

He was born in 1949, son of Rev Guy Alastair Whitmore Gold (1916-2013), of Great Bealings, Suffolk, by his wife the former Elizabeth Weldon Maytham (1922-2009); and was a paternal grandson of Maj. Guy Gilbey Gold (1877-1968), and his wife the former Maud Mary Brunner (1879-1965), daughter of Sir John Brunner, 1st Baronet (1842-1919).

He was a second cousin of HRH The Duchess of Kent, GCVO.

He married 1984, Jennifer Richardson (born 31 December, 1947), daughter of Sir Leslie Lewis Richardson, 2nd Baronet (1915-1985), and his wife the former Joy Patricia Rillstone, by whom he had issue, two sons, Alexander (born 1985), and Edward (born 1986).

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Hugh William Auriol Murray-Gourlay 1960-2025

 Hugh William Auriol Murray-Gourlay, died tragically, 20 August, 2025. He was 65, and a scion of the Dukes of Atholl, a descendant of the 3rd Duke, and head of a landed gentry family.

He was born 27 May, 1960, son of Brian Austin Walter Murray-Gourlay, 27th of Kincraig (1927-1996), and his wife the former Margaret Bryant (who died 22 December, 2016); and married 1987, Fiona Joan Rumble, daughter of Capt John Rumble, of Lymington, Hampshire, by whom he had issue, two daughters, Alice and Georgina.

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Gillian Barbara Devas (nee Hewett) (died 2025)

 Gillian Barbara (Gilly) Devas died 3 September, 2025.

She was a daughter of Colonel Henry Micklem Prescott Hewett (1891-1962), and his wife the former Mary Nina Catherine Beatrice Atwood, and married 1stly, 1956 (div.), and his first wife, Charles Arthur Smith-Bingham (1931-2003), scion of that landed gentry family, son of Arthur Turberville Smith-Bingham, and his wife the former Jean Garland (later wife of the 3rd Baron Ashcombe. She died 1973); and married 2ndly, 1967, as his second wife, Michael Campbell Devas, MC (who died 4 May, 2007), head of that landed gentry family, son of Geoffrey Charles Devas, of Hunton Court, Maidstone, Kent, by his wife the former Joan Campbell Bannerman (1885-1975). She leaves a son from her first marriage, Kim Smith-Bingham (born 1957).

Her son, a former ski-wear businessman, was the first love of Sarah Ferguson (later Duchess of York). Kim first met the then 17-year-old Fergie while he was working as a ranch hand on her mother Susie Barrantes' estate in Argentina. Three years later, they began dating when he moved to Switzerland. Fergie, then working in public relations in London, would stay in his flat in Verbier for a month at a time. And when their romance fizzled out, Kim introduced Sarah to Formula One advertising tycoon Paddy McNally - her last boyfriend before she met Prince Andrew.

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Richard Antony Fitzgerald Uniacke 1930-2025

 Richard Antony Fitzgerald Uniacke, who died 26 August, 2025. He was 95. He was a scion of an Irish landed gentry family.

He was born in 1930, son of Richard Heygate Fitzgerald Uniacke (1898-1972), and his wife the former Constance Alice Riley (1902-1988); and married 18 September, 1965, Gale Duffy, daughter of Gordon Duffy, by whom he had issue, two sons, Richard (1968-2001), Christopher (b 15 March, 1970), and a daughter, Sarah Jane (b 11 Oct, 1973).

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Robert Alexander Neon Reynolds 1937-2025

(Robert Alexander) Neon Reynolds died 27 August, 2025. He was 88.

He was born in 1937, son of Frank Neon Reynolds, FRCSE (1895-1952), of Mellow, Loxwood, Sussex, and Harley St, London & his wife the former Freda Mary Wilson (1904-1989); and married firstly, 28 September, 1966 (div 1974), Penelope Jane Seymour (born 17 April, 1944), scion of the Marquesses of Hertford, daughter of Major Christopher George Seymour (1913-1983), and his wife the former Honor Catherine Leatham (1912-2000), scion of that landed gentry family, by whom he had issue, a son, Alexander Seymour Reynolds (born 1969).

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Gillian Audrey Hoult 1938-2025

Gillian Audrey Hoult, who died 29 August, 2025, aged 86, was a scion of the Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes baronets.

Gillian Audrey Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes was born 6 December, 1938, the third daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Ralulph Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes, 2nd Baronet (1902-1943), and his wife the former Audrey Joan Newson (who died 1995), daughter of Sir Percy Wilson Newson, 1st Baronet (1874-1950); and she married 18 June, 1960, Timothy George Hoult (19310-2020), son of Lieutenant-Colonel Joseph Murray Hoult, of Tokai, Cape Province, South Africa, by whom she had issue, a son, Andrew, and two daughters, Rosalind and Rachel.

She was widowed 12 June, 2020.

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