Lady Elizabeth Clyde (born Elizabeth Wellesley, 26 December 1918 – 25 November 2013) was an English

socialite A socialite is a person from a wealthy and (possibly) aristocratic background, who is prominent in high society. A socialite generally spends a significant amount of time attending various fashionable social gatherings, instead of having traditio ...

. She was the daughter of Gerald Wellesley, 7th Duke of Wellington, and Dorothy Violet Ashton, and thus a great-great-granddaughter of Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington.

Early life

Elizabeth Wellesley was born on

Boxing Day Boxing Day is a holiday celebrated after Christmas Day, occurring on the second day of Christmastide (26 December). Though it originated as a holiday to give gifts to the poor, today Boxing Day is primarily known as a shopping holiday. It ...

1918 to Gerald and Dorothy Wellesley (née Ashton) in London. She was christened in the Chapel Royal,

St. James Palace St James's Palace is the most senior royal palace in London, the capital of the United Kingdom. The palace gives its name to the Court of St James's, which is the monarch's royal court, and is located in the City of Westminster in London. Alt ...

with the special permission of King George V. Soon after her birth, the family purchased two homes: 43 Portland Place in London, and Sherfield Court in Hampshire.

Personal life

Clyde announced her engagement to Major Thomas Clyde of the Royal Horse Guards, son of William Pancoast Clyde, Jr., on 24 October 1939. They married on 18 November 1939 at St. Peter's Church, Vere Street, in London, with her brother as best man. A reception followed at her father's home at

Chester Terrace Chester Terrace is one of the neo-classical terraces in Regent's Park, London. The terrace has the longest unbroken facade in Regent's Park, of about . It takes its name from one of the titles of George IV before he became king, Earl of Cheste ...

, featuring a wedding cake designed by Rex Whistler and made by Fortnum & Mason. The family lived at Dorney, Buckinghamshire. Her children are: *

Jeremy Clyde Michael Jeremy Thomas Clyde (born 22 March 1941) is an English actor and musician. During the 1960s, he was one-half of the folk duo Chad & Jeremy (with Chad Stuart), who had little success in the UK, but were an object of interest to American ...

(born 22 March 1941), actor and musician * Robin Clyde (19 April 1943 – 13 February 1950) * William Jonathan Clyde (born 27 May 1949) Clyde filed for divorce in 1959 on grounds of adultery, and was granted custody of the couple's youngest son. She and Thomas remained "close and supportive friends" until his death in 1999. She retired to Bramley, Hampshire.''

Life Magazine ''Life'' was an American magazine published weekly from 1883 to 1972, as an intermittent "special" until 1978, and as a monthly from 1978 until 2000. During its golden age from 1936 to 1972, ''Life'' was a wide-ranging weekly general-interest ma ...

'', 30 March 1953, p. 12

/ref>

References

1918 births 2013 deaths Daughters of British dukes English socialites

Elizabeth Clyde Lady Elizabeth Clyde (born Elizabeth Wellesley, 26 December 1918 – 25 November 2013) was an English socialite. She was the daughter of Gerald Wellesley, 7th Duke of Wellington, and Dorothy Violet Ashton, and thus a great-great-granddaughter of ...

People from Buckinghamshire People from Bramley, Hampshire {{UK-noble-stub pt:Lady Elizabeth Clyde