Trust Me... He's Not That Kind of Dealer

Blink and you missed her!

Aristocratic interior designer, Lady Caroline Percy, daughter of the Duke of Northumberland, appeared on the new BBC "lifestyle"...or "entertainment"...program, TRUST ME, I'M A DEALER last night (August 25, 2009). She didn't deal with the kind of dealer the Honourable Nicholas Knatchbull is use to, but the sort you'd find at Sotheby's or Christie's. Lady Caroline bought the bust of a Roman emperor from the show host, Paul Martin, which she will most likely sell on to one of her aristocratic interior design clients.

To catch her brief appearance, check out the BBC iPlayer. If you don't live in the UK, you're not missing much...

Why, Oh Why?

The Telegraph is reporting that Lady Kitty Spencer, the daughter of the 8th Earl Spencer, wants to be known as a political Carrie Bradshaw. She wants to talk about serious "things". Lucky us. Maybe she'll write a column for the Spectator about the current state of socioeconomic matters between the different class structures within the United Kingdom. It looks like we've given her her first topic.

Just remember, Carrie Bradshaw was a fictional character, Kitty...

The Talented Nat Rothschild

Our aristo bachelor of August, the Honourable Nathaniel Rothschild, is the topic of a great article in the Independent. He's a true man of many colors with unlimited wealth, power and privilege. He's also rumored to be dating Princess Florence von Preussen. Very nice.

To read the story, click here.

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Pay Up or Move On...

West Lothian County is in a tizzy over a building owned by Malcolm Harry Erskine, 17th Earl of Buchan. Apparently, a building that has been sitting empty of nearly a decade after once housing a primary school. The local council want to sell the building for ₤140,000 to be used as a leisure center and nursery. However, when the earl's family allowed the land to be built upon more than one hundred years ago, there was a stipulation that it could only be used for educational purposes. In order to change this condition, the earl wants ₤70,000. The council is furious, but it is his land. Either pay up or forget it. Such is life, right?

Note: The picture is not the building in question. Always, The Aristo News.

A Fairy Tale Wedding...On a Budget?

The Aristo News has been following the exploits of Lord Frederick Windsor, who we consider the ultimate aristo: He's a the son of the Prince of Kent & well known amongst his aristocratic peers. Despite being in line for the British throne, the lord isn't immune to the many opinions concerning his upcoming wedding to actress Sophie Winkleman. Rumor has it that the couple will have a "budget" reception at Hampton Court Palace's Great Hall, although senior members of the royal family want it to be a "mature" affair.

It seems the wedding guests will consists of young people and it isn't thrilling the royal family. If Lord Frederick were styled as a member of the royal family, we would understand if they might have some say. However, he's styled as an aristocrat who's an extended member of the regal family. Lord Frederick is already quitting the UK to work full time & be supportive of his soon-to-be-wife's acting career. Upon their marriage, Sophie will be known as Lady Frederick Windsor.

Let's just hope he doesn't sell pictures of his wedding to a tacky magazine. We all know which extended member of the royal family has already done that...

Brother, Can You Spare a Liver Snap?

Some people donate to charity, others leave millions of pounds to their pets.

Gunther, III, an Alsatian, who recently died left ₤224.9 million to his heir, Gunther, IV. Oh, the two Gunther's are dogs. Gunther, III inherited his wealth from the German aristocrat, Countess Carlotta Liebenstein upon her death in 1991. Gunther, IV has it good: He has his own personal maid, custom built swimming pool, and chauffeur driven limousine.

Not to be outdone, Kalu, a chimpanzee, inherited ₤53 million from Patricia O'Neill, daughter of the Countess of Kenmore.

We're not one to judge, but seriously?

To read the full story, click here.

The Fabulous Misadventures of Earl Spencer

To read a great piece on the 9th Earl Spencer (better known as Diana's bitter brother), click here.

Just in! Aristo Caught in Drug Scandal

How we love a scandal...

The Honourable Nicholas Knatchbull (right), the godson of Prince Charles, has been caught on tape smoking a crack pipe. Classy.

The great-grandson of Earl Mountbatten is an extended member of the British royal family, but addiction knows no social divisions. Nicholas' parents, the 8th Baron Brabourne and Lady Brabourne, are close friends of Prince Charles. It'll be interesting to see how this story develops.

Nicholas stands to inherit ₤100 million. Let's just hope he doesn't blow it on crack and heroin. Now that would be a waste.

To read the full story, click here.

The Right to Bear Titles

Should women be allowed to inherit aristocrat titles? The Aristo News discussed this topic on July 10 in an article entitled The Aristocracy in the 21st Century. We've just learned that the same debate is alive within the hallowed halls of the Spanish aristocracy.

There has been a change to Spanish law that will now allow elder sisters to inherit the family title, in place of her younger brothers. However, some people within this Spanish aristocracy fear that this will allow older sisters to retroactively claim titles already held by their younger brothers, uncles, etc. According to The Irish Times more than 1,000 families are worried about the repercussions of retroactive claims on noble titles held by the younger men in these aristocratic families, which is why they're demanding a change to the law.

But why is this an issue now? Spain has had absolute and equal cognatic primogeniture since 2006.

We at The Aristo News are strong supporters of equality. We think that the current holders should be allowed to retain their titles, but on the death of present holder, the eldest child (or living relative) should inherit the title. Simple, right?

Yet it's interesting to note that the Spanish monarchy still practices male preference primogeniture. How can the King of Spain have one set of rules for the noble families and another for himself? If change is supposed to start at the top, maybe this situation wouldn't be such a mess now.

August's Eligible Aristo Bachelor

Our eligible aristo bachelor is:

The Honourable Nathaniel Rothschild.

Quick fact:
He is heir to the 4th Baron Rothschild & a member of the storied Rothschild banking dynasty.
Nathaniel is better known as "Nat".
The Sunday Times Rich List places his net worth at ₤330 million.
The thirty-eight year old is the co-chairman of Atticus Capital, a New York based hedge fund.
Nat has homes in New York, London, Moscow, Switzerland, and Corfu.

Highclere Castle is Falling Down

...and the trend continues...

The Daily Mail is reporting that Highclere Castle (right), the ancestral home of the Earl's of Carnarvon, is in a dilapidated, uninhabitable state. Apparently, it will cost ₤1.8 million to immediately repair the 50 downtrodden rotting rooms, and a further ₤12 million to repair outbuildings, grounds, and the like. The 8th Earl, George Reginald Oliver Molyneux Herbert, blames his ancestors for not keeping up the castle prior to his inheritance.

Recently, the 8th Earl (who lives in a cottage on the estate with his wife and children) applied for permission to build a housing estate on the 5,000 acre estate. Needless to say, the decision has caused horror in some circles.

As The Aristo News has reported before, these problems are not unique to any one aristocrat. Everyone is feeling the pinch in these economic times...

However, if he can't afford to keep up the estate, maybe he should ask the Queen for a loan. After all, she and the late 7th Earl were close friends. If you don't ask, you don't get, right?

Earl of Southesk Adds Gun to Museum Collection

The 13th Earl of Southesk, David Carnegie, has auctioned off family heirlooms from the 9th Earl of Southesk in order to buy back a significant portion of his ancestral home, Kinnaird Castle (right) in Scotland. Apparently, the Royal Alberta Museum in Edmonton, Canada, has purchased aboriginal artifacts from the earl for ₤1.1 million at a Sotheby's auction. Recently, the earl donated a 1852 Purdey and Sons black powder rifle to the museum's Southesk Collection.

The 13th Earl is currently the heir to the current Duke of Fife.

The Glorious Earl of March

Since The Aristo News is committed to bringing you all of the latest news of the aristocrats of today, we thought you might like this great profile on the current Earl of March.

This is a guy who clearly knows the real financial demands of running his family home as a business and has bucked the financial woes that plague his colleagues. Maybe the earl should give seminars on fiscal responsibility amongst the aristocracy. It only goes to show that sometimes it's better to go against the conventional way of thinking...

We've found it quite interesting to learn that it costs ₤2 million to run the Earl of March's ancestral seat, Goodwood House. No wonder so many aristocrats are feeling the pinch in these tough economic times.

To read the full story, click here.

Money Can't Retain Your Title

The Aristo News has always stated for a while that financial woes are permeating all aspects of aristocratic life. The 11th Baronet of Wolseley has been forced out of his ancestral seat, the Earl of Devon is selling everything he can & the Marquees of Devonshire just raised ₤35,000 at a Sotheby's sale.

Well, now Chris Eubank's, the boxer who purchased the Lordship of the Manor of Brighton, is being forced to sell his title. Why? He's bankrupt. Actually, he's been bankrupt since 2005, but now he's being forced to sell property, assets and the title he purchased for ₤45,000. It is now on sale for ₤35,000. Ouch. If the title can't be sold, it will be auctioned to the highest bidder by the Manorial Society of Great Britain.

If you have the cash, click here to learn more about the sale of the title.

Have You Paid for that Sandwich?

Neil Corall, the owner of a sandwich shop, has been forced to change the name of his shop from Earl of Sandwich to E.A.R.L on the Green. Why? The 11th Earl of Sandwich (right) balked after learning that the small shop was named after his growing chain of sandwich shops located in the USA. It seems that 11th Earl didn't want there to be any confusion between his chain and Mr. Corall's, thus the legal action. Mr. Corall did change the name of his shop, but now the 11th Earl wants him to pay his legal fees (which total ₤2,000), along with a ₤1,500 goodwill payment. Needless to say, Mr. Corall has said he will not pay the goodwill payment & has yet to pay the legal fees.

The Aristo News is a bit surprised by the 11th Earl's legal proceedings, although the Earl's representatives did note that he intends to open shops in the UK and Europe. Fair enough, but is bullying a shop owner the way to create goodwill for your brand? We think not.

To check out the 11th Earl's shop, click here. (Ironically, this story isn't in the press section of the website...)
To contact Neil Corall's shop, call 01224 587259.

Just In! Lord Milo Douglas Found Dead

The Aristo News has just learned that Lord Milo Douglas, second in line to the Marquess of Queensberry, has been found dead. It is said that his body was found on the pavement outside of a nine-story council block building. His father, the 12th Marquees of Queenberry has said that his son suffered from bi-polar disorder. Our thoughts are with the Marquees and his family during this time.

To read the full story, click here.