Biography of Diana Mitford 1910-2003

In February 1904 [her father] David Freeman-Mitford 2nd Baron Redesdale (age 25) and [her mother] Sydney Bowles (age 24) were married.

On 17th June 1910 Diana Mitford was born to David Freeman-Mitford 2nd Baron Redesdale (age 32) and Sydney Bowles (age 30).

On 11th May 1920 [her future husband] Oswald Mosley 6th Baronet (age 23) and Cynthia Blanche Curzon Lady Ancoats (age 21) were married. Following their marriage he is alledged to have had affairs with his wife's younger sister Alexandra Naldera Curzon (age 16) and his wife's step-mother Grace Elvina Hinds Marchioness Curzon Kedleston (age 34). She the daughter of George Nathaniel Curzon 1st Marquess Kedleston (age 61) and Mary Victoria Leiter Baroness Curzon Kedleston.

Cynthia Blanche Curzon Lady Ancoats: On 23rd August 1898 she was born to George Nathaniel Curzon 1st Marquess Kedleston and Mary Victoria Leiter Baroness Curzon Kedleston. On 16th May 1933 Cynthia Blanche Curzon Lady Ancoats died.

Alexandra Naldera Curzon: On 20th March 1904 she was born to George Nathaniel Curzon 1st Marquess Kedleston and Mary Victoria Leiter Baroness Curzon Kedleston. Naldera baing the place in India where she was conceived. In 1925 Major Edward Dudley Metcalfe and she were married. She the daughter of George Nathaniel Curzon 1st Marquess Kedleston and Mary Victoria Leiter Baroness Curzon Kedleston. In 1955 Major Edward Dudley Metcalfe and Alexandra Naldera Curzon were divorced. On 7th August 1995 Alexandra Naldera Curzon died. She was buried at All Saints Church, Kedleston [Map].

14th November 1928. Daily Mirror. Dubtant to Wed. Engagment of Hon. Diana Freeman-Mitford (age 18) to Cabinet Minister's Son.

One of the prettiest debutants of the year is to marry the son of a Cabinet Minister.

The engagement was announced last night of the Hon. Diana Freeman-Mitford, third daughter of [her father] Lord (age 50) and [her mother] Lady (age 48) Redesdale, and Mr. [her future husband] Bryan Guiness (age 23), elder son of Colonel [her future father-in-law] Walter Guiness (age 48), Minster of Agriculture, and Lady [her future mother-in-law] Evelyn Guiness (age 45).

12th December 1928. The Sketch. Photograph of Diana Mitford (age 18).

On 30th January 1929 Bryan Guiness (age 23) and Diana Mitford (age 18) were married at St Margaret's Church, Westminster [Map].

6th February 1929. The Sketch. The marriage of Mr. [her husband] Bryan Guinness (age 23), son of the Hon. Walter Guinness, to the Hon. Diana Mitford (age 18), third daughter of Lord and Lady Redesdale, was solemnised at St. Margaret's, Westminster [Map]. The lovely nineteen-year-old bride was attended by eleven bridesmaids.

Note. Her sisters [her sister] Nancy (age 24) and [her sister] Unity (age 14) were two of the eleven bridesmaid. Her younger sisters [her sister] Jessica Lucy Mitford (age 11) and [her sister] Deborah Vivien Mitford Duchess Devonshire (age 8) were unwell but threw rice as her car passed.

6th January 1932. The Sketch. Photograph of sisters [her sister] Nancy Mitford (age 27), [her sister] Unity Valkyrie Mitford (age 17), [her sister] Jessica Lucy Mitford (age 14) and Diana Mitford (age 21).

1933. Yevonde Cumbers aka Madame Yevonde (age 39). Photograph of Diana Mitford (age 22). © National Portrait Gallery.

In June 1933 Bryan Walter Guiness 2nd Baron Moyne (age 27) and Diana Mitford (age 22) were divorced.

Devon-based newspaper the Western Times reported how ‘the Hon. Diana Guinness was granted a decree nisi by Lord Merrivale in the Divorce Court yesterday on the ground of the adultery of her husband, the Hon. Bryan Walter Guinness, who did not defend the suit.'

According to Mrs. Guinness's case she and her husband were perfectly happy until after the birth of their second child in 1931. Differences arose, and there were quarrels. In February, 1933, a deed of separation was entered into. A month later Mrs. Guinness received from her husband a letter stating that he had stayed with Miss Isolde Field at a Brighton hotel.

On 6th October 1936 Oswald Mosley 6th Baronet (age 39) and Diana Mitford (age 26) were married.

In 1938 [her son] Alexander Mosley was born to [her husband] Oswald Mosley 6th Baronet (age 41) and Diana Mitford (age 27).

In 1940 [her son] Max Mosley was born to [her husband] Oswald Mosley 6th Baronet (age 43) and Diana Mitford (age 29).

30th June 1940. Sunday Pictorial. Lady Mosley (age 30) is Detained.

30th April 1941. Tatler. The Hon. Lady Mosley (age 30).

Before 31st August 1945. William Acton (age 39). Portrait of Diana Mitford (age 35).

On 17th March 1958 [her father] David Freeman-Mitford 2nd Baron Redesdale (age 80) died. His brother [her uncle] Bertram (age 78) succeeded 3rd Baron Redesdale of Redesdale in Northumberland.

In 1963 [her mother] Sydney Bowles (age 83) died.

On 9th February 1966 Mary Irene Curzon 2nd Baroness Ravensdale (age 70) died. Her nephew [her step-son] Nicholas (age 42) succeeded 3rd Baron Ravensdale of Ravensdale in Derbyshire.

On 3rd December 1980 [her husband] Oswald Mosley 6th Baronet (age 84) died. His son [her step-son] Nicholas (age 57) succeeded 7th Baronet Mosley of Ancoats.

On 6th July 1992 [her former husband] Bryan Walter Guiness 2nd Baron Moyne (age 86) died.

On 11th August 2003 Diana Mitford (age 93) died.