Lock Up Your Stately Homes!

The 8th Viscount Gage's (right) ancestral home, Firle Place, has been the subject of theft to the tune of ₤1 million. Meanwhile, the 7th Viscount Hampden's home, Glynde Place, has had two silver chandeliers stolen which are valued at ₤200,000. All of this, and Croome Court, the former home of the 11th Earl of Coventry, was looted of its fixtures and fittings (including the kitchen sink) to the tune of ₤200,000.

Now, we find this a little fishy...to say the least. Either there's massive fraud going on amongst England's aristocratic families (which we highly doubt) or there's a very experienced ring of thieves making off with the family silver (sorry, but that's our new favorite term). The BBC first hit upon this by stating that Firle Place and Glynde Place are only six minutes apart. Meanwhile, Croome Court is approximately three hours away from both locations. Maybe Croome (a deserted home) was the beginning for a nefarious gang of looters...

One thing that doesn't help is the fact that Firle Place and Glynde Place are both open to the public, which would allow unsavory characters to "case the joint" before striking. It's not as if these families hide their most prized, cherished, and valuable possessions. Why make it easy for the thieves to see exactly what they're stealing because it's labeled, authenticated and behind a thin sheet of glass?
Oh, and this is the third time Firle Place has been robbed in the past eight years!

We suggest that they lock their doors, close the security gates, invest in a top-notch security system and put the good stuff away when the tourists go home for the night... Preferably, in the family vault.

Brankrupt Aristo's Forced Out of Ancestral Home

Park House, the ancestral home of Sir Charles Wolseley, 11th Baronet of Wolseley and Lady Wolseley, has been sold to the Royal Bank of Scotland after Sir Wolseley's failed business venture. The couple ran into trouble after Sir Charles was unsuccessful in turning the garden into a tourist attraction; Sir Charles declared bankruptcy in 1996 with debts of ₤2.5 million The Daily Mail is reporting that the couple will have to move into a converted barn.

In these tough times, The Aristo News is surprised, but not shocked, by the news. The Park House estate has been in the family for 1,000 years after it was given to them by King Edgar. Maybe he should have sold the family silver instead...

German Prince Dating American Socialite

Casimir Wittgenstein-Sayn, a German aristocratic prince, is dating American socialite, Tinsley Mortimer. Casimir has a long, interesting relationship history (he married a Swedish divorcee nine years his senior, much to the consternation of his parents) and is quite known on the London social scene. Meanwhile, Tinsley is well known throughout the Park Avenue-set. If they marry, could this be the biggest society union since Consuelo Vandberilt married the 9th Duke of Marlborough? Probably not, but their relationship should be "entertaining" at the very least, especially because Tinsley is only seperated - not divorced - from her husband, Robert Mortimer & Casimir's ex-wife lives in Germany. Yes... Entertaining, indeed!

Swine Flu & The Aristocrat

Could it be?

The Aristo News has learned that the body of Sir Mark Sykes, 6th Baron of Sledmere may have died from an early strain of swine flu. The 6th Baron died of Spanish Flu, which is the precursor to what we know as swine flu. Although the 6th Baron died in 1919, he was buried in a lead lined coffin, which helped preserve his lungs & brain tissue. Professor John Oxford hopes that understanding the 1918 flu which killed Mark Sykes may help find a cure for swine flu.

Sir Mark Sykes is the great-grandfather of author Plum Sykes.

And We're Back!

The Aristo News has returned from a welcomed (and hot) beach break!

Updates will continue as normal on July 27, 2009!

As always, we'll keep you posted...

Aristo News in the Sunshine

The Aristo News has sought refuge in the summer sunshine of a quiet beach retreat for a much needed break. We will keep posting, so check back every now and then...look for one or two posts a day. Keep your tips coming! Always, The Aristo News

Horse Trails at Powderham Castle to Close in 2010

We're not picking on the Earl of Devon! He's just very popular today!

The Horse Trails at Powderham Castle, the Earl of Devon's home and ancestral seat, will close in 2010. Although no concrete reason has been provided, officials state that the circumstances regarding the closure are beyond their control. We would think that Lord Devon would take every pound that came his way in the light of his less than stellar sale at Sotheby's today... Riders in the past have included the Queen's granddaughter, Zara Phillips, who won (with Andrew Nicholson) the advanced section at this year's event.

We can't help but wonder if there's something rotten in Powderham Castle...

If you have any tips, e-mail us at aristotips@gmail.com.

Just in! Marquess of Downshire Scores at Sotheby's Sale!

Unlike the Earl of Devon, the Marquess of Downshire did very well at today's Sotheby's sale. As we previously reported, he was selling a document called "Engineering - The Draining of the Fens". The item had a guide price of ₤20,000-₤30,000, but it sold for a remarkable ₤35,000.

Well done!

It must be said that most items at today's sale went unsold, while others barely reached their minimum guide price. The market seems to be skewed towards buyers, so our aristo's would be advised to keep the family silver at home until the market recovers in their favor. But when you need the money, you need the money...

Just in!!! Results of Earl of Devon's Sotheby's Sale!

The Aristo News has just returned from the Sotheby's sale in London. It was a wonderful affair! Were you there?

As we've reported before, the Earl of Devon was set to sell his "family silver" to help cope with the loss of wedding revenue at his ancestral seat, Powderham Castle. We dug a bit deeper to find that Lord Devon had already sold two pieces at Sotheby's for ₤938,750, which makes us believe that his financial woes may very well be for castle repairs or other financial problems.

Anyway, Lord Devon had eight lots for sale, three of which did not sell. Only one lot (Theological Traits - A Collection of 155 Works) came in over its guide price. The item with the largest guide price, Vindication of the Character and Conduct of Sir William Waller by Sir William Waller, was ₤10,000-₤15,000. This lot was unsold; the highest bid was ₤8,500.

All in all, Lord Devon raised ₤19,600 through the Sotheby's Sale. Coupled with today's sale, Lord Devon has raised ₤958,350 for his castle repairs...or whatever the money's really for... Good luck, Lord Devon!

LOTS SOLD:
₤3,500 for The Elements of Architecture by Henry Wotton (Guide Price: ₤4,000-₤6,000)
₤7,500 for Mahomet the Second, or the Generous Sultan: A Tragedy by John Boevery (Guide Price ₤8,000-₤12,000)
₤800 for The Entertainment of His Most Excellent Majestie Charles II, in His Passage through the City of London to his Coronation (Guide Price: ₤1,000-₤1,500)
₤7,000 for Theological Trairs - A Collection of 155 Works in 9 Volumes (Guide Price: ₤3,000-₤4,000)
₤800 for Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe in 2 Volumes (Guide Price: ₤1,000-₤1,500)
Total of Lots Sold: ₤19,600

UNSOLD LOTS:
Highest Bid: ₤8,500 for Vindication of the Character and Conduct of Sir William Waller by Sir William Waller (Guide Price: ₤10,000-₤15,000 with a ₤10,000 Reserve)
Highest Bid: ₤7,000 for a 17th Century Bible (Guide Price: ₤8,000-₤12,000 with a ₤8,000 Reserve)
Highest Bid: ₤750 for The Mourtray Family by Elizabeth Hervey (Guide Price: ₤1,000-₤1,500 with a ₤1,000 Reserve)
Potential Revenue of Unsold Lots Based on Reserves: ₤19,000


If anything arises, we'll keep you posted.
Click here for today's Sotheby's sale.

Jacobites to Regain Aristo Titles?

The Scotsman is reporting that certain Scottish noble families could regain their noble titles after losing them during the Jacobite uprisings in the 18th century. Certain noble lines lost their estates, titles and lives because they were seen as having "corrupt blood". This campaign to alleviate these families of centuries of ill will has support in the Scottish Parliament, so we'll see how this turns out. If this campaign is successful, it could restore ancient titles to descendants of earls of Panmure, Southesk and Kellie, as well as the Duke of Berwick. It's also interesting to note that on July 24 the heads of Scotland's noble families will meet in the Scottish Parliament for the very first time. Will this be a subject of conversation? Oh, if only we were a fly on that wall.

Viscount Rothermere Named 6th Most Powerful Person in Newspapers

The Guardian has named Viscount Rothermere, the chairman of Daily Mail & General Trust, has been named the sixth most powerful person in newspapers and the thirty-fourth most powerful person in overall media. Viscount Rothermere, also known as Jonathan Harmsworth, fell from the twenty-ninth most powerful person in overall media in 2008.

Click here and here to read the full story.

UK's Richest Aristo Lends Priceless Pieces of Art

The UK's richest aristocrat, the Duke of Westminster, has lent several priceless masterpieces to the Chester Grosvenor Museum in Chester. The four pieces: two Rembrandts and two David Teniers the Younger's, will be on display until September 30, 2009. The Teniers pieces are entitled "Saying Grace before a Meal" and "Interior of a Tavern", while the Rembrandt pieces include "A Man with a Hawk" and "Lady with a Fan".

For more information, click here.

Longines Royal International Horse Show

Aristocrats do frequent the Longines Royal International Horse Show at Hickstead before, so there's a good chance you'll run into one.

The show lasts from July 22-26, 2009. Unfortunately, The Aristo News will be abroad during this period, so if you have any tips or pictures, send them to us at aristotips@gmail.com.

For more information about the Longines Royal International Horse Show, click here or call 01273 834315.

Lady Elizabeth Crawshay Fined for Car Accident

Aristocrat Lady Elizabeth Crawshay was fined ₤750 for "driving below that of a reasonable driver" the BBC and WalesOnline are reporting. Apparently, Lady Crawshay's Rover car was involved in a glancing blow with a Subaru Impreza, which crashed into a Saab and killed two people. The driver of the Subaru, Samantha Mead, was found not guilty of causing death by dangerous driving. Lady Crawshay was fined an additional ₤15 victim surcharge, the ₤750 fine and ₤600 in costs; five points were added to her license.

The 2nd Earl Haig Has Passed Away

Yesterday, the 2nd Earl Haig passed away. He was 91. The Earl was best known as a painter, who was admired by the late Queen Mother. Earl Haig is survived by his wife, Donna Geroloma Lopez y Royo di Taurisano, two daughters and his heir, Viscount Dawick.

The Aristo News' thoughts are with his family at this time.

To read his full obituary, click here.

The Aristocracy in the 21st Century

Each month, The Aristo News will write our version of a "Letter from the Editor" based on the news surrounding the aristocracy. We hope you enjoy it! Always, The Aristo News

Last week, Burke’s Peerage announced that they would include illegitimate children of peers in their bible to the aristocracy. While this news may shake some families to the core, others may see it as Burke’s way of entering the twenty-first century. Illegitimate children are nothing new to the titled classes.

Charles, II acknowledged his illegitimate children and even bestowed aristocratic titles upon them. Their descendants include the Duke of Buccleuch, Earl of Plymouth, and the Duke of Richmond, Lennox and Gordon. It’s also interesting that while the illegitimate children will finally be recognized by Burke’s, it remains to be seen if the families of these children will be as welcoming? One can only imagine Christmas morning or the reading of the recently deceased duke’s last will and testament.

Will Burke’s new additions give credence to long whispered rumors that were never substantiated by the men and women who were the source of such scurrilous gossip? Debrett’s, the main competitor to Burke’s, has listed illegitimate children since 1990 (Los Angeles Times). Needless to say, illegitimate children still cannot inherit their parents’ title even if they are the oldest of the peer’s children. It’s unlikely that this will affect the aristocracy in any great way, but it may finally allow those children who were thrust into the shadows to have their own moment in the sun.

Burke’s also announced that they will list children in their birth order, regardless of sex. This is great news for the women of aristocratic families who have long been pushed to the bottom of their parents’ birth order in favor of their brothers. However, the eldest daughter still cannot inherit the family title. No, that’s still reserved for the oldest son or eldest male relative to outlive the current title holder.

History has shown us that upon the 1st Duke of Marlborough’s death in 1722, his eldest daughter, Henrietta, became the 2nd Duchess of Marlborough since her father had no male relative to carry on the title. It wasn’t as easy as Henrietta simply inheriting the title; a special act of Parliament had to be passed for Henrietta to become the duchess. Interestingly enough, the Dukedom of Marlborough is the only one in the United Kingdom that can still pass to the female line.

The Barony of de Walden fell into abeyance after the death of the 9th Baron de Walden in 1999. It wasn’t until 2004 that Queen Elizabeth; II took the barony out of abeyance in order for the 9th Baron’s eldest daughter, Mary, to become to the 10th Baroness Howard de Walden. Mary is also the third richest aristocrat on The Aristo News’ “Ten Richest Aristocrats in the UK” list.

Could Parliament call an end to male preference lineages in favor of a full primogeniture (or birth order preference)? There have been rumblings that the UK monarchy should adopt this system, which is already in use in Sweden, Netherlands, Norway, Belgium, and Denmark. If women were to inherit the title, one could simply state that the title of peerage could not change, no matter what the children are called. For example, if the woman is Mary Hart, 3rd Duchess of Holm and she marries John Draper, her son would be known as the John Draper, 4th Duke of Holm. Maybe we’re oversimplifying the issue, but it’s something to think about.

Thanks for the tips

We would like to thank everyone who has sent us news tips over the past week! The Aristo News is only a week old, but we're growing! We've already dug inside the Earl of Devon's financial woes in such depth that hasn't been touched upon by the mainstream press. We've even broken the story of the 2nd Baron Hesketh's trustees selling a priceless painting at Sotheby's. Bet you didn't read about that in the Daily Mail.

This is all thanks to you, our readers.

Please keep those great tips coming and we'll keep doing what we do best: Being the only site online that delves deep into the world of the aristocracy.



Always,
The Aristo News

Germany's New Economics Minister is an Aristocrat

Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg is Germany's new economics minister, despite his aristocratic background. The Irish Times reports that he's the second most popular politician in Germany after Angela Merkel, the current chancellor.

Karl-Theodor is a baron from Franconia, which is in northern Bavaria. His full title is: Karl-Theordor Maria Nikolaus Johann Jacob Philipp Franz Joseph Sylvester, Baron from and to Guttenberg. Try saying that three times fast.

The 37 year old baron is a married father of two and it seems that the German society (or gossip) press cannot get enough of him. His approval rating is an astounding 61%. The Irish Times even alludes to the fact that his vast family wealth (which is rumored to stand between ₤600 million-₤800 million) allows the baron to think independently, without worrying about his own financial well being.

The baron lives in his family's castle in Bavaria and a mansion in Berlin. He is also a member of the distinguished noble House of Guttenberg. The House of Guttenberg dates back to 1149. His wife is Stephanie, Countess of Bismark-Schönhausen and the great-great-granddaughter of Otto von Bismark, Prince of Bismarck and Duke of Lauenburg.

Germany abolished all royal and aristocratic titles & privileges in 1919.

We'll keep you posted on Karl-Theodor.

Belvoir Castle to Host CLA Game Fair

From July 24-26, Belvoir Castle will host the CLA Game Fair. The fair is the world's biggest and greatest country sport and country show, according to the NNFCC. Guests will have the chance to experience all that country life has to offer, which will be an ideal day out for families and country enthusiasts. Maybe you'll even run into the Duke and Duchess of Rutland.

Belvoir Castle is owned by is the home and ancestral seat of the 11th Duke of Rutland and his family.

For more information about the castle, click here.

For more information on the CLA Game Fair, click here.

Dowager Duchess of Devonshire's New Book

In the Dowager Duchess of Devonshire's new book, Home to Roost: And Other Peckings, she recounts her first meeting with future United States president, Jack Kennedy, along with his inauguration and sudden death. The book is taken from the diaries the duchess kept at the time of all three events. It's a wonderful read for anyone who wants a ringside seat to some of the most pivotal points of the last hundred years. And the Dowager Duchess was right there...

Click here to buy the book.

Earl Compton To Sell Tandridge and Chelsham Estates

Is The Aristo News turning into a real estate blog? We hope not!

Well, Earl Compton, the heir to the 7th Marquess of Northampton, is selling the Tandridge and Chelsham Estate in Surrey. The estate, which is listed by Savills, has a sale price of ₤25 million.

The estate is only half an hour from London and fourteen miles from Gatwick Airport. Not bad. Rent from the various farming enterprises on the estate stood at ₤350,000 for last year. The income from residential, commercial and farming property stands at ₤450,000 per year. There are 9 farmhouses, 25 cottages, woodland and many more features on this vast ₤25 million estate.

This may be a nice payday for the Earl in this environment and you do get a lot for your money. However, we can't help but wonder if the aristo's are starting to feel the credit crunch. Let's not forget that the 2nd Baron Hesketh's trustees just sold a painting for ₤1,161,250, which was ₤38,750 under the ₤1.2 million guide price.
If our aristo's continue to sell their prized works of arts and homes, what will be next? Their titles? Only time will tell...


For more information on Earl Compton's ₤25 million estate, click here and here.

Viscount Thurso's Plane Struck By Lightning!

The 3rd Viscount Thurso, better known as John Thurso, a Liberal Democrat MP, was on an airplane that was struck by lightning. Thankfully, the flight landed safely. The Flybe flight left from London Gatwick and was headed to Inverness Airport. Lightning struck the aircraft during the summer storms that plagued the UK yesterday evening. On board were two pilots, three cabin crew and sixty-six passengers. To read the full story, click here.

Just in! 2nd Baron Hesketh's Trustees Sell Painting!

Just in!

No less than an hour ago, the trustees of the 2nd Baron Hesketh sold Gabriel Metsu's painting "A Woman Selling Game From A Stall" for ₤1,161,250 at Sotheby's in London. The guide price on this item was ₤1,200,000. With all of the talk surrounding a "recovery" in the art market, this comes as a bit of a surprise.

To see the item, click here.

Lady Victoria Hervey Steps Out

Lady Victoria, the older sister of the current 8th Marquess of Bristol, steps out at P. Diddy's annual White Party. To see her...interesting...ensemble, click here.

Just in! Croome Court Looted!

Just in!

The former ancestral seat of the Earl's of Coventry has been looted by thieves. Until the death of the 11th Earl in 2002, Croome Court was the family home. However, after the 11th Earl's death, his wife, the Countess of Coventry (now known as Rachel Coventry) sold the estate in 2007 a for rumored ₤3.5 million.

It seems that the new owners were unable to keep up the mortgage payments on the home. The new owners did try to sell the house for a ₤1.95 million, but eventually slashed the price to ₤1.65 million. Despite the desperate attempts to sell the pile, it was repossessed by the bank in January of this year.

The thieves, who are thought to have raided Croome Court between June 16 and July 3 stole over ₤200,000 worth of fittings, including the kitchen sink.

Some of the stolen items include: 11 oak doors, a chandelier, a stainless steel sink and the rear wrought-iron gates.

Croome Court consists of:
A 10,000 square foot main house
A cottage
Bird house
Pond
Tennis court
...and many more features...

We'll keep you posted on this story.

What's it like to be homeless? Don't ask the Marquis of Blandford.

People are still talking about the fact that the Marquess of Blandford (and heir to the current Duke of Marlborough) quit the BBC show FAMOUS, RICH AND HOMELESS. We think he should've have toughed it out, but we don't know if we could last three days and nights on the streets. Then again, that was the point of the program.

Don't worry, we'll keep you posted on the comings and goings of the Marquess of Blandford.

If you live in the UK and want to watch the program, click here.

Book Deal for the Duchess of Northumberland

Jane Northumberland, the wife of the current Duke of Northumberland,has signed a three book deal with the publishing house, Harper Collins. The trilogy is called The Poison Diaries. It should be noted the while the concept for the books originated with the duchess, who was inspired by the Poison Garden at Alnwick Castle, the Northumberland ancestral seat, the books will be written by Maryrose Wood. It is said that the series will be aimed at young adults. The first tale is to be published in 2010.

In 2007, the Duchess of Northumberland and Colin Stimpson collaborated on a book called THE POISON DIARIES.

To learn more about the upcoming series, click here and here.

To learn more about Maryrose Wood, click here.

Aristo Facts

Did you know that the game of badminton is named after the 11th Duke of Beaufort, David Somerset's (right), country home, Badminton?

Aristo Facts

Twenty-five years ago today, the 8th Duke of Westminster, opened Guilden Sutton Village Hall. To read the full story, click here.

Aristocrats Sell Items at Sotheby's

It seems the Earl of Devon isn't the only aristo with apparent financial woes...

As we've stated before, the Earl of Devon is parting with family treasures at Sotheby's July 14, 2009 sale. The Marquess of Downshire is also selling an engineering document entitled THE DRAINING OF THE FENS at this auction.
THE DRAINING OF THE FENS has a minimum guide price of ₤20,000. To see the item, click here.

Tomorrow (July 7, 2009), the trustees of the 2nd Baron Hesketh are selling Gabriel Metsu's painting entitled "A Woman Selling Game From A Stall". The minimum guide price is ₤1,200,000. Click here to see the item.

With these current sales, it makes us wonder if our aristo's are being beaten by the current financial crisis. We've heard that the art market it picking up, so maybe the aristo's are selling these items at the perfect time. We'll see.

The Aristo News won't be able to attend tomorrow's auction, but we'll keep you posted on the final sale price.

As for the July 14th auction, we'll keep you posted.

Aristo Facts

According to the Financial Times, Longleat, the ancestral of the Marquess of Bath, opened to the public for the first time on April 1, 1949. This was the first time an English country home was opened to the public. During the first year of operation, Longleat attracted 135,000 visitors.

To read the full article, click here.

July's Eligible Aristo Bachelor

Once a month, we'll list the most eligible aristo bachelor or bachelorette.

Our eligible aristo of July is:

Ceawiln Thynn, Viscount Weymouth.

Quick facts:
He divides his time between London and Moscow.
He works in the finance sector.
He tells the Daily Mirror (July 2, 2009) that he is seeing someone in Moscow, however, he isn't tied down...yet.
Viscount Weymouth is the heir of the current Marquess of Bath.

The Aristo News at Sotheby's Sale

The Aristo News will attend the Sotheby's Auction of the Earl of Devon's "family silver" on July 14, 2009. It should be very interesting!

We'll keep you posted on the auction.

Click here and here to follow our coverage of the Earl of Devon's financial woes.

Just in! Inside the Earl of Devon's Financial Woes

As previously stated, the Earl of Devon is set to sell some of the "family silver" in order to pay for repairs at Powderham Castle. The Earl has been in the news because of his refusal to allow civil unions at his ancestral seat, which prompted the local council to pull the castle's marriage license.

The Aristo News has just learned that Lord Devon sold THE COURTENAY COMPENDIUM through Sotheby's for the price of ₤937,250 on December 3, 2008. A description of the item which is a collection of English and Far-Eastern accounts that includes Marco Polo's Description of the World has been in the Earl's family since 1536.

More recently, on June 10, 2009, Lord Devon sold a copy of Dante Alighieri's LE TERZE RIME for a meager ₤1,500 through Sotheby's.

In less than a year, Lord Devon has raised ₤938,750 through the sale of priceless manuscripts. With the pending Sotheby's sale, maybe this money is solely for repairs. Or, have there been financial woes for the Earl for some time and now they're just coming to light?

One of the lots up for sale at the July 14, 2009 Sotheby's sale is VINDICATION OF CHARACTER AND CONDUCT by Sir William Waller. This document recounts the English Civil War and came into the family through the marriage of Sir William's daughter, Margaret, to Sir William Courtenay. This document is valued between ₤10,000-₤15,000. Click here to see the item.

As always, we'll keep you posted as this story develops.

To see the items previously sold through Sotheby's click here and here.

Friends in High Places

The Daily Mail is reporting that Lady Caroline Gilmour (daughter of the Duke of Buccleuch) once asked the boss of Heathrow to divert flights away from her home during one of her garden parties. One mustn't disturb one's guests! However, that was forty years ago. Is it a coincidence that Lady Caroline's son, Christopher Gilmour, had quiet skies for one of his garden parties this week? Mr. Gilmour insists it's a coincidence, so we'll take his word for it!

Source: The Daily Mail, July 4, 2009 click here

Scottish Aristocrats Meet in Scottish Parliament

The Scotsman has just reported that Scotland's clan chiefs are to meet at the Scottish Parliament for the first time. More than 100 clan chieftans will travel from all over the world for this event. The gathering is to take place on July 24, 2009 in Edinburgh.

Lord Jamie Sempill (right) says this meeting is "a defining moment". After Scotland's bloody history, one could say that Lord Sempill is right!

Those who may be in attendance are: Earl of Elgin, the Duke of Argyll and the Duke of Buccleuch, among others.

Aristo Facts

The Duke of Buccleuth & Queensbury (right) owns more than 250,000 acres.

The Dukes of Northumberland and Westminster own more than 100,000 acres each throughout the UK.

Source: The Sunday Times, July 4, 2009

Lord Frederick Windsor to Quit UK

After his September 12, 2009 wedding to the actress Sophie Winkleman, Lord Frederick Windsor is to quit the UK for Los Angeles. The Telegraph reports that Lord Frederick has requested for his employer to transfer him, as his soon to be wife will commence filming in the movie capital.

Lord Frederick Windsor currently works for J.P. Morgan, while his cousin, Peter Phillips works for the Royal Bank of Scotland in Hong Kong.

We'll keep you posted on the wedding and move abroad.

Earl of Arundel and Surrey Second in Race

The Earl of Arundel and Surrey, Henry Arundel, is currently in second place at Snetterton. Renger van der Zande zoomed past the aristocrat by a very small margin, reports Motorsport.com.

Henry is the son of the current Duke of Norfolk.

Just in! Earl of Snowdon Speaks Out Against Prince of Wales

The Earl of Snowdon, Princess Margaret's ex-husband, has spoken out against the Prince Charles' investiture as the Prince of Wales. Lord Snowdon claims that the ceremony was "bogus as hell" and that his uniform for the event harkened to a cinema usher. Ouch.

As this is the fortieth anniversary of Prince Charles' investiture, we'll see how these revelations play out over the next few weeks.

We'll keep you posted.

The Duke and Duchess of Northumderland Want a CEO

The Duke and Duchess of Northumberland are seeking an experienced CEO with Disney experience to run their family home, Alnwick Castle. The need for a CEO who understands the strategic and profitable potential of a country home is becoming increasingly important in this very important industry.

Alnwick is also up against Woburn Abbey & Blenheim Palace, among others. If the Duke and Duchess of Northumberland are successful, will it ensure the future of Alnwick? Some may say it's true that Disney has a unique slant on customer service, but can this translate into the stately home sector?

We'll keep you posted on this story.

Lord Frederick Windsor at Wimbledon

Lord Frederick Windsor, the son of Prince Michael of Kent, attended Wimbledon along with his mother, Princess Michael of Kent and the late Princess Margaret's son, Viscount Linley. All three sat in the Royal Box.

Lord Frederick Windsor is currently 31st in line to the British throne.

Lord March Opens Goodwood Festival of Speed

Lord March, the current Earl of March and Kinrara, officially opened the Festival of Speed at Goodwood, his ancestral seat. During the course of the festival, Lord March will drive a 917 Porsche. An estimated 100,000 people are expected to attend the weekend event.

For more information, go to: http://www.goodwood.co.uk/

Twitter

Follow The Aristo News on Twitter: https://twitter.com/aristonews

Just in! The Earl and Countess of Cardigan Have Divorced!

The Daily Mail is reporting that after an eighteen month divorce battle, the Earl and Countess of Cardigan have finally parted ways.

Lord Cardigan told the Mail that the agreement was not amicable, while Lady Cardigan isn't said to be estatic with the news, but she is moving on. As per the arrangement, Lady Cardigan will move into Leigh Hill House, which is situated on the edge of the Savernake Forest Estate. Lord Cardigan will remain in Savernake Lodge, which is three miles from Leigh Hill House.

It's said that the Earl may move his American girlfriend, Joanne Hill, onto the estate, which could create a bit of drama. However, due to a shared custody agreement with her ex-husband, that may prove sticky.

The Earl and Countess of Cardigan have two children.

The Ten Richest Aristocrats in the UK

We have identified the ten richest aristocrats in the United Kingdom.

There is only one criteria for this list: They must have peerage in the UK.

Here is the list:

1. The Duke of Westminster (₤6.5 billion)
2. Earl Cadogan (₤ 2 billion)
3. Baroness Howard de Walden (₤1.07 billion)
4. Viscount Portman (₤950 million)
5. The Earl of Iveagh (₤750 million)
6. Viscount Cowdray (₤500 million)
7. The Duke of Devonshire (₤500 million)
8. The Duke of Bedford (₤489 million)
9. The Duke of Sutherland (₤480 million)
10. The 4th Baron Rothschild (₤360 million)

Source: The Sunday Times Rich List, 2009

Changes to Burke's Peerage

Burke's Peerage is set to include illegitimate children to its revered bible of blue blood breeding. Burke's already lists the children of the aristocracy, but the company says that the inclusion of illegitimate children in order to be more "inclusive".

While this sounds like a noble feat, we'll see how it plays out in the long term.

Also, the book will finally list children in their order of birth. This means that girls will have equal footing with their male counterparts.

Financial Woes for Earl of Devon?

According to The Daily Telegraph , the Earl of Devon is "selling the family silver"? Why? Due to his refusal to host gay weddings at the family seat, Powderham Castle, the castle's marriage license was revoked. The current Earl of Devon, Lord Devon, insists gay weddings are against his Christian beliefs.

A sale of priceless books and manuscripts is scheduled for July 14, 2009. However, Lord Devon insists the sale has nothing to do with the loss of his castle's marriage license, but to raise money for repair works on the castle.

We'll keep you posted on this story.

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