trenchard

Thursday, October 29, 2009

David Cameron's sister to wed general's son

_.The engagement was announced 28 Oct 2009, between Jeremy B Fawcus,
elder son of Major General Graham Ben Fawcus, CB (b 17 Dec 1937), of
Flowton, Suffolk, by his wife the former Diana Valerie Spencer-
Philips, and Clare Louise Cameron (b 1971), a descendant of King
William IV & Mrs Jordan, younger daughter of Ian Donald Cameron (b
London, 1932), of Peasemore, Berkshire, by his wife the former Mary
Fleur Mount (b 22 Oct 1934), scion of the Mount Baronets.

The bride-to-be is a sister of the Rt Hon David Cameron, Leader of the
Opposition.


--==--

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Tessa May Nicholson

_. Emily Nicholson (née Scrope, b 24 May 1972), scion of that ancient
LG dynasty, and wife of Christopher J Nicholson, gave birth to a dau,
Tessa May, 14 Oct 2009, a sister for Alice Rose, who was b 7 July
2008.

Christopher is the son of Mr Robin Nicholson and the late Mrs Pippa
Nicholson, of Wigtownshire, and Emily is the only daughter of Simon
Egerton Scrope (b 23 Dec 1934), of Danby, North Yorks, by his wife the
former
Jennifer Jane Parkinson, and granddaughter paternally of Richard
Ladislas Scrope by his wife Lady Jane Egerton, daughter of the 4th
Earl of Ellesmere (see Sutherland D).


===

Duff Gordon/Cordy-Simpson engagement

_.The engagement was announced 26 Oct 2009 between William Andrew
Lewis Duff Gordon (b 1977), elder son of Sir Andrew Cosmo Lewis Duff
Gordon, 8th Baronet (b 17 Oct 1933) of New Radnor, Powys, by his 2nd
wife the former Eveline Virginia Soames, and Zoë F. Cordy-Simpson,
only daughter of Lieutenant General Sir Roderick Alexander Cordy-
Simpson, KBE (b 29 Feb 1944), of Bishopstrow, Wiltshire, sometime
Lieutenant , HM Tower of London, by his wife the former Virginia
Rosemary Lewis.

--==--

Brown/Henniker-Major engagement

_.The engagement was announced 24 Oct 2009 between Andrew Phillip
Brown, eldest son of Mr and Mrs Keith Brown, of Matlock, Derbyshire,
and Anna Natalie Henniker-Major (b 1976), scion of th Barons Henniker,
eldest daughter of David Richard Henniker-Major (b 1949), of Hutton
Rudby, North Yorkshire, by his wife the former Valerie Ann Lanigen-
O'Keefe.

-==-

Egerton-Warburton/Speare-Cole engagement

_.The engagement was announced 24 Oct 2009 between Charles Piers
Egerton-Warburton (b 1961), scion of the Grey-Egerton Baronets (cr
1617), elder son of Peter Egerton-Warburton b 1933), of Bentworth,
Hampshire, by his 2nd wife the former Sarah Jessica Norman (b 1940),
scion of the Norman Baronets (cr 1915) (now Mrs Peter Rickett, of
Bembridge, Isle of Wight), and Julia T. Speare-Cole, daughter of the
late Commander and Mrs Michael Speare-Cole.

--==--

Death of Major General Kenneth Perkins, CB

_.Major General Kenneth Perkins, CB (1977), MBE (1955), DFC (1953),
died 23 Oct, 2009. He was Commander of the Sultan's Armed Forces, Oman
1975-77; b 15 Aug 1926, son of George Samuel Perkins by his wife
Arabella Sarah Wise; married (i) 1949 (div 1984) Anne Theresa Barry,
by whom he had 3 daughters, Mo, Jane and Nicola; married (ii) 1985,
the Hon Celia Sandys, dau of the Rt Hon Baron Duncan-Sandys, CH, PC,
life peer, by his wife the former Diana Spencer-Churchill scion of the
Dukes of Marlborough, dau of the Rt Hon Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-
Churchill, KG, OM, CH, FRS, &c. By his 2nd wfe he had further issue,
Alexander Winston Duncan b 1986, and Sophie Rachel, b 1988. Private
family funeral. Thanksgiving Service to be announced.

--==--

Hon Mrs Basil Feilding

_.The Hon Mrs Basil Feilding (née Rosemary Eardley-Wilmot), who d 22
Oct 2009, was wife of the late Capt the Hon Basil Egerton Feilding
(1916-1970), scion of the Earls of Denbigh. She was b 1920, as
Rosemary Eardley-Wilmot, scion of the Eardley-Wilmot Baronets (cr
1821), and was sister of Sir John Eardley-Wilmot, 5th Baronet (b
1917); married 1939, the Hon Basil Feilding (3rd son of Viscount
Feilding, eld son of the 9th Earl of Denbigh), by whom she had issue,
Peter b 1941; Giles STEUART-Feilding b 1950; Crispin b 1960; Jennifer
b 1947; Imelda b 1958. Private funeral. Memorial Service at a later
date.

-==-

Hon Penelope Jane (Penny) VELISSAROPOULOS

_.The Hon Penelope Jane (Penny) VELISSAROPOULOS (née Allsopp), who
died in Athens, 15 Oct 2009, was a scion of the Barons Hindlip (cr
1886), b 1940 as Penelope Jane Allsopp, dau of the 4th Baron Hindlip
(1906-1966), by his 2nd wife the former Hansina Cecilia Elfrida
(Tulla) Harris; married 1965, Theodore VELISSAROPOULOS.

--==--

Wendy Grant 1937-2009

_.Wendy Juliet Grant (née Weldon), who d 15th October 2009 in
Winchester, after a short illness, aged 72, was a scion of the Weldon
Baronets (cr 1723). She was b 1937, dau of Brig Hamilton Edward
Crosdill Weldon, CBE RA (1910-85), by his 1st wife the former Margaret
Helen Katharine Passy; married 1960, Capt Ian Fothergill Grant, RN, by
whom she had issue, Jonathan, Andrew and Amanda. She had grandchildren
Hamish, Oliver, Rory, Jemima, Polly and Eliza. Family funeral to be
followed by a Service of Thanksgiving at St. Cross Church, the
Hospital of St. Cross, Winchester, 11 Nov.

-==-

Monday, October 26, 2009

Sir John Nugent, Bt, dies

Daily Telegraph 13/10/2009

NUGENT
Sir John Bart. Of.— Co.Westmeath, Ireland (formerly of Lambourn,
Berkshire). Peacefully at home on October 9th after a gallant fight.
Beloved husband of Pepe, father of Nicholas and Grania and adored
grandfather. Funeral will take place place today in Ireland. Memorial
in Lambourn at a later date. Donations, if desired, to North Westmeath
Hospice. www.northwestmeathhospice.ie

Death of Cynthia Lady Goschen

_. Cynthia Lady Goschen, who died 9th October, 2009, aged 91, was a
scion of the Earls Cadogan, and widow of Sir Edward Christian Goschen,
DSO, 3rd Baronet (1913-2001). She was born Cynthia Cadogan, 28 July,
1918, a granddaughter of the 5th Earl Cadogan,dau of the Rt Hon Sir
Alexander George Montagu Cadogan (1884-1968), by his wife the former
Lady Theodosia Louisa Augusta Acheson (1882-1977); married 1946, Sir
Edward Goschen, DSO, 3rd Bart, who had succeeded to the baronetcy in
1933. Sir Edward, who died on 8 March, 2001, was Deputy Chairman of
the Stock Exchange Council, 1963-71. She leaves issue, Sir Edward, the
4th Bt, who was b 1949, and a dau, Caroline.

--==--

Death of Anthony Seymour Berkeley Portman

-.Anthony Seymour Berkeley Portman, who died 9 Oct 2009, aged 81, was
a scion of the Viscounts Portman. He was b 23 March 1928, son of
Brigadier Guy Maurice Berkeley Portman (1890-1961), by his wife the
former Katharine Taylor; he was married nd leaves issie, 2 sons,
Michael and Jonathan. Private cremation. Service of Thanksgiving at
St Peter's, Hurstbourne Tarrant on Friday 23rd October 2009.

--==--

Isla Violet Hampton

_. Georgina Elizabeth Hampton (née Walker-Okeover) wife of Niall P.
Hampton, and scion of the Walker-Okeover Baronets, gave birth to a
daughter, Isla Violet, 10th Oct 2009.

Niall is a son of Mr Michael Hampton, of Shirley, Surrey and Mrs Eric
Carter, of Twickenham, and Georgina is a daughter of the late Sir
Peter Walker-Okeover, Baronet, of Ashbourne, Derbyshire, and of Mrs
Andrew Lukas, of Wyck Rissington, Cheltenham.


---

William Phipps (1936-2009)

_.William Anthony Dominic Phipps, silversmith, scion of the Marquesses
of Normanby, died 1 Oct 2009, aged 73. He was b Berlin, 21 April,
1936, sixth son of the Rt Hon Sir Eric Clare Edmund Phipps, GCB, GCMG,
GCVO (1875-1945), sometime British Ambassador to Berlin by his 2nd
wife te forme Frances Georgina Ward; m 1960, Henrietta Frances (b
1931), dau of Henry Taylor Lamb, MC, RA, by his wife the former Lady
(Margaret) Pansy Felicia Pakenham, sister of the 7th Earl of Longford,
KG, PC; by whom he had issue, 3 sons, 1 dau.

Sir John Onslow, 8th Bt

_.Sir John Roger Wilmot Onslow, 8th Baronet, died 14 Oct 2009, aged
77. He was b 21 July 1932, & succeeded his father, Sir Richard Wilmot
Onslow, 7th Bt, TD, in 1963. Educ at Cheltenham; married (i) 1955 (div
1973) Catherie Zoia Greenway; married (ii) 1976, Susan Fay Hughes, and
leaves issue from his 1st union, viz:- Richard Paul Atherton. b 16
Sept 1958, who now inherits the baronetcy (cr 1797), and a dau, Joanna
Elizabeth, b 1956. He leaves 2 grandchildren, Harry and Camilla.
Private Cremation, followed by Service of Thanksgiving for the life of
Sir John will take place at the Church of St Mary, Gissing, Diss,
Norfolk, on Friday 6th November 2009.

--==--

Demise of Baroness Elles

The House of Lords have announced the death of the Baroness Elles.

Diana Louie d Col Stewart Francis NEWCOMBE. She was a Conservative MEP
for Thames Valley 1979-89 having been cr Baroness Elles, of City of
Westminster (Life Baroness) in 1972. She m 1945 Neil Moncrieff ELLES
(d 2008) and had a son (Hon James Edmund Moncrieff ELLES b 1949 and
married with a son and a dau) and a dau (Hon Elizabeth Rosamund ELLES
was b 1947 and m 1971 (div 1992) Christopher John Lockhart-Mummery,
QC, son of late Sir Hugh Evelyn Lockhart-Mummery, KCVO (scion of V
Hampden) by whom she has a son and 2 daus).

Death of Capt Robin Andrew Stormonth Darling

_.Capt Robin Andrew Stormonth Darling, late the 9th Queen's Royal
Lancers, who died 17 October, 2009, aged 83, was a scion of the LG
family of Lednathie; b 1 Oct 1926, son of Patrick Stormonth Darling
(1886-1960), of Balvarran, Enochdhu, by Blairgowrie, Perthshire, by
his 2nd wife the former Edith Mary Ormston Lamb (scion of Lamb of
Knighton Manor LG) and widow of Lt Cyril Cameron; soldier and member
of the Stock Exchange; married (i) 3 Oct 1956, Susan Marion Clifford-
Turner, by whom he had issue, viz: - Andrew Charles John, b 3 Apr
1959; Lorne Robin b 21 July 1963, and Rosanna Jane, b 18 Dec 1957. he
further married Carola_____; and left another son, Rory. He was
stepfather of Christoph and Edward. Grandfather of Ivo, Asa, Doone and
Kinvara. Funeral at Ballintuim Church, Strathardle, Perthshire on
Friday 30th October 2009.

--==--

Wendt/Wemyss engagement

_. The engagement was announced 21 Oct 2009, between Steven L. Wendt,
only son of Mr and Mrs Henry Wendt, of Greenock, South Australia, and
Leonora A. Wemyss, younger daughter of Michael James Wemyss of that
Ilk, DL, FRICS (b. 1947), of Wemyss Castle, Fife, by his wife, the
former Charlotte Mary Bristowe.

Leonora's paternal grandfather, David Wemyss of that Ilk (1920-2005),
married in 1945, Lady Jean Christian Bruce, daughter of the 10th Earl
of Elgin & Kincardine. Leonora's gt-grandfatgher, Capt Michael Wemyss
of that Ilk (1888-1982) married in 1918, Lady Victoria Alexandrina
Violet Cavendish-Bentinck, CVO, who died in 1994 aged 104, daughter
of
the 6th Duke of Portland.


--==--

Iolo Griffith

Daily Telegraph Oct 22, 2009

GRIFFITH
On 29th September 2009, Clare Craven-Smith-Milnes and Antony Griffith,
a son, Iolo Michael Wynne, a brother for Dylan and Mair..—


Miss Craven-Smith-Milnes is a scion of that LG family.


-==-

Weil/Courtauld engagement

_. The engagement was announced 22 Oct 2009 between Jonathan Weil,
eldest son of Mr and Mrs Simon Weil, of Highbury, London, and Sarah
Courtauld, scion of that LG family, younger daughter of the Rev
Christopher Courtauld and Dr Elizabeth Courtauld, of Levington,
Suffolk.

-==-

Laugher/Bethell marriage

_. The marriage took place 12 Sept 2009, in the Chapel of The Royal
Hospital, Chelsea, between Wilfrid Alban
Francis Laugher, only son of Mr Robin Laugher and the late Mrs
Victoria Laugher, and the Hon Alice Mary Bethell (b 1979), 1st
daughter of Maj. the 6th Baron Westbury, MBE (b 29 May 1950), by his
former wife the former Caroline Mary Palmer (b 1952), (now Mrs Mark
Dickinson), a granddaughter maternally of the 2nd Viscount Churchill.

==

Beazley/McEwan marriage

_.The marriage took place 26 September, 2009, at St Ninian's Church,
Troon, Ayrshire, between Nicholas Beazley, son of Group Captain and
Mrs Beazley, of East Grafton, Wiltshire, and Stephanie McEwan, elder
daughter of the Lord and Lady McEwan, of Troon. The Rev David Mungavin
officiated. .—The bride, who was given in marriage by her father, was
attended by Ms Louisa McEwan and Magdalene Beazley-Stanley. Mr William
Nobles and Mr James Smith were best men.

--==--

Daughter for Lady Hoare

_. The Hon. Lady Hoare (nee the Hon Eleanor Filumema Hoare, b 1973,
nee Flower), wife of Sir Charles James Hoare 9th Baronet (b. 15 Mar
1971), gave birth to a dau, Elizabeth Louisa, 19 Oct 2009, a sister
for Edward, who was b 13 Feb 2006, and for Emily.

Sir Charles is the only son of Sir Timothy Hoare, 8th Baronet, and
Lady Hoare, and Eleanor is the only daughter of the 11th Viscount
Ashbrookand Viscountess Ashbrook.


--==--

Monday, October 19, 2009

Sir Ludovic Kennedy dies aged 89

_.Sir Ludovic Kennedy, who died 18th October 2009 aged 89, was best known to television audiences of the 1960s and 1970s as the urbane presenter of such current affairs programmes as Panorama, 24 Hours, Midweek and Tonight, and more recently of the review programme Did you See. Sir Ludovic was a scion of the Marquesses of Ailsa.

Ludovic Henry Coverley Kennedy was born 3 November 1919. His father, Captain Edward Kennedy, was descended from the 11th Earl of Cassillis and was a kinsman of the Marquess of Ailsa. His mother, Rosalind, was the daughter of Sir Ludovic Grant, an 11th baronet.

--==--

Sir Ludovic Kennedydies aged 89

Sir Ludovic Kennedy, who died 18th October 2009 aged 89, was best known to television audiences of the 1960s and 1970s as the urbane presenter of such current affairs programmes as Panorama, 24 Hours, Midweek and Tonight, and more recently of the review programme Did you See. Sir Ludovic was a scion of the Marquesses of Ailsa.

Ludovic Henry Coverley Kennedy was born 3 November 1919. His father, Captain Edward Kennedy, was descended from the 11th Earl of Cassillis and was a kinsman of the Marquess of Ailsa. His mother, Rosalind, was the daughter of Sir Ludovic Grant, an 11th baronet.

--==--

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Twin sons for the Marchioness of Cholmondeley

The Marchioness of Cholmondeley (b 1984), wife of the 7th Marquess of Cholmondeley, KCVO (b 27 Jun 1960), Hereditary Lord Grat Chamberlain of England (acting for the reign off Elizabeth II since 1990), gave birth to twin sons, the Earl of Rocksavage and Lord ____Cholmondeley, 12 Oct 2009, in London.

The Marquess is the son of late 6th Marquess of Cholmondeley, GCVO (1919-90), of Malpas, Cheshire, and of Lavinia, Marchioness of Cholmondeley, and the Marchioness is the former Rose Sarah Hanbury (b 1984), younger daughter of Timothy James Hanbury (b 1952), of Wembury, Devon, scion of the LG family of Hanbury of Drumstinchall formerly of Poles, by his wife the former Emma Longman (b 1959) , dau of Mark Frederic Kerr Longman (d 1972), by his wife the former Lady Elizabeth Mary Lambart (b 1924), dau of 10th Earl of Cavan.

--==--

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Prince William's friend Emilia d'Erlanger to wed

_.The engagement was announced 13 Oct 2009 between David H. Jardine-Paterson, elder son of Mr and Mrs Michael Jardine-Paterson, of Balgray, Dumfriesshire, and Emilia Mary Florence d'Erlanger (b 1982), youngest daughter of Mr Robin Gerard d'Erlanger, of Hensleigh, Devon, by his wife the former Hon Mary Elizabeth Josephine Pellew (b 1947), dau of the 9th Viscount Exmouth (1908-70).

David Jardine-Paterson is scion of a Scots landed family (and kin of the Earl of Annandale & Hartfell. Miss d'Erlanger is a friend of Prince William of Wales and mooted as a possible bride for HRH by the tabloid press from circa 1999...
--==--

Saturday, October 03, 2009

Leo James Aylmer

Illona Aylmer (nee Dixon), wife of Kenneth Malcolm Aylmer (b. 1970), scion of the Barons Aylmer, gave birth to
a son, Leo James, 7 September, 2009, a brother for Ella, Scarlet and the late Magenta (Maggie).

Kenneth Aylmer is a great-grandson of Frederick Aylmer who m. Constance Grenfell, granddaughter maternally of the Rt Hon William Sebright Lascelles, son of the 2nd Earl of Harewood, &c.


--

Jephcott/Vardy engagement

_.The engagement was announced 3 Oct 2009 between Mark Jephcott,
younger son of Sir Neil Jephcott, Bt, of East Portlemouth, Devon, and
of the late Denny Jephcott, and Dr Sarah B. Vardy, elder daughter of
Mr and Mrs Roger Vardy, of Retford, Nottinghamshire.

-==--

Lord Glendevon, 2nd baron, dies at 59

_.The 2nd Baron Glendevon died peacefully after a short illness, circa
September 2009, aged 59. The former Julian John Somerset Hope was b 6
March, 1950, 1st son of the then Lord John Adrian Hope, PC (1912-95)
(2nd twin son of the 2nd Marquess of Linlithgow). Lord John was Member
of Parliament (Conservative) for North Midlothian and Peeblesshire
1945-50 and for Edinburgh Pentlands 1950-64; Under-Secretary, Foreign
Affairs 1954-56; Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Commonwealth Relations
1956-57; Joint Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Scottish Office 1957-59;
Privy Councillor 1959; Minister of Works 1959-62, & was cr a Baron in
1964 (one of the last batch of hereditary peers) as Lord Glendevon, by
his wife the former Elizabeth Mary Paravicini (former wife of Vincent
Paravicini, son of Charles Paravicini, Minister for Switzerland to the
Court of St James), only child of William Somerset Maugham CH, of
Villa Mauresque, Cap Ferrat, Alpes Maritimes, France, by his wife
Syrie Barnardo, dau. of Dr Barnardo.

He succeeded to the peerage on the demise of his father, 18 Jan 1995.
He neve married. The peerage now devolves upon his Lordship's yr
brother, the Hon Jonathan Charles Hope (b 1952).


Funeral Service at Holy Trinity, Sloane Square, SW1, on Wednesday 7th
October.


--==--

Lord Glendevon, 2nd baron, dies at 59

_.The 2nd Baron Glendevon died peacefully after a short illness, circa
September 2009, aged 59. The former Julian John Somerset Hope was b 6
March, 1950, 1st son of the then Lord John Adrian Hope, PC (1912-95)
(2nd twin son of the 2nd Marquess of Linlithgow). Lord John was Member
of Parliament (Conservative) for North Midlothian and Peeblesshire
1945-50 and for Edinburgh Pentlands 1950-64; Under-Secretary, Foreign
Affairs 1954-56; Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Commonwealth Relations
1956-57; Joint Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Scottish Office 1957-59;
Privy Councillor 1959; Minister of Works 1959-62, & was cr a Baron in
1964 (one of the last batch of hereditary peers) as Lord Glendevon, by
his wife the former Elizabeth Mary Paravicini (former wife of Vincent
Paravicini, son of Charles Paravicini, Minister for Switzerland to the
Court of St James), only child of William Somerset Maugham CH, of
Villa Mauresque, Cap Ferrat, Alpes Maritimes, France, by his wife
Syrie Barnardo, dau. of Dr Barnardo.

He succeeded to the peerage on the demise of his father, 18 Jan 1995.
He neve married. The peerage now devolves upon his Lordship's yr
brother, the Hon Jonathan Charles Hope (b 1952).


Funeral Service at Holy Trinity, Sloane Square, SW1, on Wednesday 7th
October.


--==--

Buttigieg/Aubrey-Fletcher engagement

_.The engagement was announced 3 Oct 2009 between Daniel S.C. Buttigieg, son of Mr and Mrs Manny Buttigieg, of Honor Oak, London, and Rebecca Louise Aubrey-Fletcher (b 1981), scion of the Aubrey-Fletcher baronets, elder daughter of Patrick John Kincaid Aubrey-Fletcher (b 1955), of St Mellion, Cornwall, by his wife the former
Elizabeth Anne Sheerman.

--==--

Sir John Dyke Acland, 16h Baronet, dies in accident aged 70

_.Sir John Dyke Acland, 16th Baronet (cr 1644), died 26 September,
2009, following a road traffic accident on the previous day. He was
70.

He was born 13 May 1939, the eldest son of Sir Richard Thomas Dyke
Acland, 15th Bt (1906-90), MP for Barnspale 1935-45 & for Gravesend
1947-55, by his wife the former Anne Stella Alford (d 1992), ad was
educated at Clifton and Magdalene College Cambs (BA, MSc), & the Univ
of the West Indies.


He married firstly,1961 (div 2001), Virginia, dau of Roland Forge, of
The Grange, Banoldby-le-Beck, Lincs, and had 2 sons, viz, Dominic Dyke
Acland, b 19 Nov 1962, and Piers Dyke Acland, b 1964, and a dau, Holly
Dyke Acland b 1972; married 2ndly, 2001, Susan, dau of Herbert Hooper.
He is survived by his2nd wife and three children from his first
marriage. The eldest son now inherits the baronetcy.


-==--

Rawe/von Mallinckrodt engagement

.—The engagement was announced in Oct 2009 between Timothy J.M. Rawe, son of Capt
James Rawe & Mrs Rawe, of Hinton St Mary, Dorset, and N. Sophie von
Mallinckrodt, daughter of Mr and Mrs George von Mallinckrodt, of
Chelsea, London.

The bride-to-be is a Darell and a Schroder descendant. Per
Burke's, Nina Sophie (b. 1967) is the daughter of Charmaine Brenda
von Mallinckrodt (nee Schroder). Charmaine's father was Helmut
William Bruno Schroder (d. 1969), only surviving son of Baron Bruno
Schroder. Charmaine's mother was Margaret Eleanor Phyllis Darell,
daughter of Sir Lionel Edward Hamilton Marmaduke Darell, 6th Bt.

Merode/Pigott engagement

_.The engagement was announced 3 Oct 2009 between Prince Simon de
Merode, son of Prince and Princess Léonel de Merode, of Westerlo,
Belgium, and Anna Pigott, daughter of Lieutenant General Sir Anthony
and Lady Pigott, of Salisbury, Wiltshire.

--==--

Merode/Pigott engagement

_.The engagement was announced 3 Oct 2009 between Prince Simon de
Merode, son of Prince and Princess Léonel de Merode, of Westerlo,
Belgium, and Anna Pigott, daughter of Lieutenant General Sir Anthony
and Lady Pigott, of Salisbury, Wiltshire.

Prince Simon is 21st in line of succession to lead this ancient
family. The Merodes have their origins in Germany, but in recent times
have featured as one of the prime families in Belgium. The head of the
House is a baron, count, marquis and prince several times over. The Merodes
are descended from King Charles I.

--==-