Eco-Friendly Viscount Arrested!

Which viscount was arrested at an Oxford airport?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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