Princess Antonia of Prussia, Duchess of Wellington, Princess of Waterloo, Duchess of Victoria, Duchess of Ciudad Rodrigo, (Antonia Elizabeth Brigid Louise Mansfeld; born 28 April 1955) is a British aristocrat and philanthropist. She serves as the president of

The Guinness Partnership The Guinness Partnership is one of the largest providers of affordable housing and care in England. Founded as a charitable trust in 1890, it is now a Community Benefit Society with eight members. Bloomberg classify it as a real estate owner a ...

, an affordable housing

community benefit society An industrial and provident society (IPS) is a body corporate registered for carrying on any industries, businesses, or trades specified in or authorised by its rules. The members of a society benefit from the protection of limited liability ...

in the United Kingdom. A member of the

House of Hohenzollern The House of Hohenzollern (, also , german: Haus Hohenzollern, , ro, Casa de Hohenzollern) is a German royal (and from 1871 to 1918, imperial) dynasty whose members were variously princes, Prince-elector, electors, kings and emperors of Hohenzol ...

by birth, she is a great-granddaughter of

Wilhelm II, German Emperor Wilhelm II (Friedrich Wilhelm Viktor Albert; 27 January 18594 June 1941) was the last German Emperor (german: Kaiser) and King of Prussia, reigning from 15 June 1888 until his abdication on 9 November 1918. Despite strengthening the German Empir ...

and a great-great-great-granddaughter of

Queen Victoria Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until Death and state funeral of Queen Victoria, her death in 1901. Her reign of 63 years and 21 ...

of the United Kingdom.

Early life and education

Princess Antonia Elizabeth Brigid Louise Mansfeld of Prussia was born in London on 28 April 1955, the daughter of Prince Frederick of Prussia and

Lady Brigid Guinness Lady Brigid Katharine Rachel Guinness (30 July 19208 March 1995) was the youngest daughter of Rupert Guinness, 2nd Earl of Iveagh, and wife of Prince Frederick of Prussia (1911–1966), Prince Frederick of Prussia, grandson of Wilhelm II, German ...

.Eilers, Marlene. Queen Victoria's Descendants. Rosvall Royal Books, Falkoping, Sweden, 1997. pp. 18, 124; de Badts de Cugnac, Chantal. Coutant de Saisseval, Guy. ''Le Petit Gotha''. Nouvelle Imprimerie Laballery, Paris 2002, pp. 77, 103–105. (French); She is a great-granddaughter of the German Emperor Wilhelm II on her father's side and granddaughter of

Rupert Guinness, 2nd Earl of Iveagh Rupert Edward Cecil Lee Guinness, 2nd Earl of Iveagh, (29 March 1874 – 14 September 1967) was an Anglo-Irish businessman, politician, oarsman and philanthropist. Born in London, he was the eldest son of Edward Guinness, 1st Earl of Iveagh. ...

on her mother's side. Montgomery-Massingberd, Hugh. " Burke's Royal Families of the World: ''Volume I Europe & Latin America'', 1977, pp. 145, 235, 279. She has a twin brother, Rupert. She was educated at

Cobham Hall School Cobham Hall School is an independent day and boarding school for girls in the English parish of Cobham, Kent. It is a Round Square school and a member of the Girls' Schools Association. The school is housed in Cobham Hall, a Tudor era Grade I l ...

and

King's College London King's College London (informally King's or KCL) is a public research university located in London, England. King's was established by royal charter in 1829 under the patronage of King George IV and the Duke of Wellington. In 1836, King's ...

, where she earned a bachelor's degree in English.

Career

In 2008 Antonia was appointed as a fellow of

Eton College Eton College () is a public school in Eton, Berkshire, England. It was founded in 1440 by Henry VI under the name ''Kynge's College of Our Ladye of Eton besyde Windesore'',Nevill, p. 3 ff. intended as a sister institution to King's College, C ...

, serving as a member of the college's governing body. She is also a fellow of

King's College, London King's College London (informally King's or KCL) is a public university, public research university located in London, England. King's was established by royal charter in 1829 under the patronage of George IV of the United Kingdom, King G ...

. She opened ''Maggi Hambling's War Requiem & Aftermath'', a cultural exhibition at King's College. In 2007 she was appointed as the President of

, an affordable housing charitable society in the United Kingdom, and was appointed an

Officer of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...

in the 2008 Birthday Honours for services to social housing. Prior to serving as president, she had been a member of the Partnership's Board of Trustees since 1976. In 2009 she became the chairman of the

Royal Ballet School The Royal Ballet School is a British school of classical ballet training founded in 1926 by the Anglo-Irish ballerina and choreographer Ninette de Valois. The school's aim is to train and educate outstanding classical ballet dancers, especially ...

, serving until December 2019. As chairman, she helped lead the school's Healthy Dancer Programme and fundraised for the school's academic programs.

Personal life

On 3 February 1977, she married Charles Wellesley, Marquess of Douro at

St Paul's Church, Knightsbridge St Paul's Church, Knightsbridge, is a Grade II*listed Anglican church of the Anglo-Catholic tradition located at 32a Wilton Place in Knightsbridge, London. History and architecture The church was founded in 1843, the first in London to champion ...

in London. When her husband succeeded his father as the 9th Duke of Wellington, she became the Princess of Waterloo, Duchess of Victoria, Duchess of Wellington, and Duchess of Ciudad Rodrigo. They have five children: * Arthur Wellesley, Earl of Mornington (born 31 January 1978) * Lady Honor Wellesley (born 25 October 1979) * Lady Mary Wellesley (born 16 December 1986) *

Lady Charlotte Wellesley Lady Charlotte Anne Santo Domingo (''née'' Wellesley; 8 October 1990) is an English socialite and photography producer. Since 2016 she has consistently been listed in the annual ''Sunday Times Rich List''. Early life and family Lady Charlot ...

(born 8 October 1990) * Lord Frederick Wellesley (born 30 September 1992)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wellington, Antonia, Princess, Duchess of 1955 births Living people Alumni of King's College London Belgian princesses British duchesses by marriage Dutch princesses

Antonia Antonia may refer to: People * Antonia (name), including a list of people with the name * Antonia gens, a Roman family, any woman of the gens was named ''Antonia'' * Antônia (footballer) * Antônia Melo Entertainment * ''Antonia's Line'', or ...

Portuguese duchesses

Officers of the Order of the British Empire Spanish duchesses English women philanthropists Philanthropists from London Fellows of King's College London Fellows of Eton College People educated at Cobham Hall School People from London English twins Guinness family Wellesley family