Nancy Jane Marie Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, 28th Baroness Willoughby de Eresby ( ; born 1 December 1934) is an
English peer and member of the
Astor family
The Astor family achieved prominence in business, society, and politics in the United States and the United Kingdom during the 19th and 20th centuries. With ancestral roots in the Italian Alps region of Italy by way of Germany,
the Astors settle ...
. She is a holder of the office of
Lord Great Chamberlain
The Lord Great Chamberlain of England is the sixth of the Great Officers of State (United Kingdom), Great Officers of State, ranking beneath the Lord Privy Seal, Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal and above the Lord High Constable of England, Lord Hi ...
, which is exercised by the
7th Baron Carrington.
Family
She is the daughter of
James Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, 3rd Earl of Ancaster
Gilbert James Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, 3rd Earl of Ancaster, (8 December 1907 – 29 March 1983) styled Lord Willoughby de Eresby from 1910 to 1951, was a British Conservative politician.
Early life
Gilbert James Heathcote-Drummond-Willo ...
, and Nancy Phyllis Louise Astor (daughter of
Waldorf Astor, 2nd Viscount Astor
Waldorf Astor, 2nd Viscount Astor, DL (19 May 1879 – 30 September 1952) was an American-born English politician and newspaper proprietor. He was a member of the Astor family. He was active in minor political roles. He was devoted to charitab ...
). Her brother Timothy Gilbert (born 19 March 1936),
heir apparent
An heir apparent, often shortened to heir, is a person who is first in an order of succession and cannot be displaced from inheriting by the birth of another person; a person who is first in the order of succession but can be displaced by the b ...
of the
Earldom of Ancaster, was lost at sea in 1963.
Adult life
Lady Willoughby was one of the six
Maids of Honour
A maid of honour is a junior attendant of a queen in royal households. The position was and is junior to the lady-in-waiting. The equivalent title and office has historically been used in most European royal courts.
Role
Traditionally, a queen ...
at the
1953 coronation of Queen
Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until her death in 2022. She was queen regnant of 32 sovereign states during ...
.
Her father was the third and last
Earl of Ancaster
Earl () is a rank of the nobility in the United Kingdom. The title originates in the Old English word ''eorl'', meaning "a man of noble birth or rank". The word is cognate with the Scandinavian form ''jarl'', and meant "chieftain", particular ...
. On his death in 1983, the earldom became extinct, but according to the rules of succession to the ancient peerage, she succeeded him as
Baroness Willoughby de Eresby
Baron Willoughby de Eresby ( ) is a title in the Peerage of England. It was created in 1313 for Robert de Willoughby. Since 1983, the title has been held by Jane Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, 28th Baroness Willoughby de Eresby.
History
Th ...
. She became the sixth woman to hold the barony, which is distinguished by its suffix from that of
Willoughby de Broke. She also inherited divided between
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire (abbreviated Lincs.) is a county in the East Midlands of England, with a long coastline on the North Sea to the east. It borders Norfolk to the south-east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south-west, Leicestershire ...
and
Perthshire
Perthshire (locally: ; gd, Siorrachd Pheairt), officially the County of Perth, is a historic county and registration county in central Scotland. Geographically it extends from Strathmore in the east, to the Pass of Drumochter in the north, ...
and in 2008 was ranked 1,572nd in a list of richest people forming the ''
annual report of the Sunday Times'', citing her wealth as £48 million. The annual report includes domiciled and non-domiciled visitors believed to be in the United Kingdom at the start of each year. Her father left net assets subjected to tax to his heirs on his death attested as £1,486,694 (equivalent to £5 million in 2019), but may have transferred assets before his death.
In 1987, Lady Willoughby became a patron of King Edward VI School in
Spilsby
Spilsby is a market town, civil parish and electoral ward in the East Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England. The town is adjacent to the main A16, east of the county town of Lincoln, north-east of Boston and north-west of Skegness. It ...
(now
King Edward VI Academy
King Edward VI Academy (formerly King Edward VI Humanities College), is a coeducational bi-lateral secondary school and sixth form with academy status, located in Spilsby, Lincolnshire, England, for children between the ages of eleven and eigh ...
). She also served as a
Deputy Lieutenant of Lincolnshire.
Like most other hereditary peers, Lady Willoughby lost her seat in the
House of Lords
The House of Lords, also known as the House of Peers, is the Bicameralism, upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Membership is by Life peer, appointment, Hereditary peer, heredity or Lords Spiritual, official function. Like the ...
as a result of the
House of Lords Act 1999
The House of Lords Act 1999 (c. 34) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that reformed the House of Lords, one of the chambers of Parliament. The Act was given Royal Assent on 11 November 1999. For centuries, the House of Lords ...
. She has not been elected as one of the ninety hereditary peers to hold a seat for life. However, she has a quarter-share in the hereditary position of
Lord Great Chamberlain
The Lord Great Chamberlain of England is the sixth of the Great Officers of State (United Kingdom), Great Officers of State, ranking beneath the Lord Privy Seal, Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal and above the Lord High Constable of England, Lord Hi ...
, which carries with it a seat in the House of Lords, although the quarter share means only that she is a ''Joint Hereditary Lord Great Chamberlain'', with the possibility of gaining the position in every fourth monarch's reign; her relevant family tree back to 1789 features in this regard, as the office was split by decision of the House of Lords between the daughters of
Robert Bertie, 4th Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven
Robert Bertie, 4th Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven, PC (17 October 1756 – 8 July 1779), styled Lord Robert Bertie until 1758 and Marquess of Lindsey between 1758 and 1778, was a British peer. He was born in Grimsthorpe, the second son ...
(who was also Lord Willoughby de Eresby and Marquess of Lindsey).
Lady Willoughby de Eresby is unmarried and without issue. This leaves co-heirs presumptive of the peerage Sebastian St Maur Miller (b. 1965), her older aunt's grandson, and
Sir John Aird, 4th Baronet
Sir George John Aird, 4th Baronet (born 30 January 1940) is a British baronet. He is the son of Sir John Renton Aird, 3rd Baronet and Lady Priscilla Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby. He is usually called by his middle name John.
Biography
George J ...
(b. 1940), her younger aunt's son. They will share in the Lord Great Chamberlain's quarter-interest, leaving them one eighth of the role each, ranking them second behind the
Marquess of Cholmondeley
Marquess of Cholmondeley ( ) is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1815 for George Cholmondeley, 4th Earl of Cholmondeley.
History
The Cholmondeley family descends from William le Belward (or de Belward), the fe ...
, who takes the role in every alternate reign.
[Kidd, Charles, ''Debrett's Peerage & Baronetage 2015 Edition'', London, 2015, p.P751]
See also
*
Drummond Castle
Drummond Castle is located in Perthshire, Scotland. The castle is known for its gardens, described by Historic Environment Scotland as "the best example of formal terraced gardens in Scotland." It is situated in Muthill parish, south of Crieff. ...
*
Grimsthorpe Castle
Grimsthorpe Castle is a country house in Lincolnshire, England north-west of Bourne on the A151. It lies within a 3,000 acre (12 km2) park of rolling pastures, lakes, and woodland landscaped by Capability Brown. While Grimsthorpe is not ...
References
Bibliography
*
*28
Hereditary women peers
British maids of honour
1934 births
Astor family
Heathcote family
Livingston family
Living people
Daughters of British earls
English people of German descent
English people of Irish descent
English people of Scottish descent
20th-century English people
20th-century English women
21st-century English people
21st-century English women
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