Biography of Loelia Mary Ponsonby Duchess Westminster 1902-1993

On 16th February 1901 [her future husband] Hugh "Bendor" Grosvenor 2nd Duke Westminster (age 21) and Constance Edwina "Shelagh" Cornwallis-West Duchess Westminster (age 25) were married. She by marriage Duchess Westminster.

On 6th February 1902 Loelia Mary Ponsonby Duchess Westminster was born to [her father] Frederick "Fritz" Ponsonby 1st Baron Sysonby (age 34).

1917. Glyn Philpot (age 32). Portrait of Loelia Mary Ponsonby Duchess Westminster (age 14).

On 19th December 1919 [her future husband] Hugh "Bendor" Grosvenor 2nd Duke Westminster (age 40) and Constance Edwina "Shelagh" Cornwallis-West Duchess Westminster (age 44) were divorced on the grounds of his desertion and misconduct, with the decree being made absolute 19 December 1919. The alimony settlement of £13,000 a year he made upon her, which she declined, was then the largest in British legal history.

"The duchess of Westminster has been granted a divorce from Hugh Richard Arthur Grosvenor, second duke of Westminster, on the grounds of desertion and misconduct. Counsel for the duke said a simple dental to the charges had been entered original1y, but that upon trial the case had not been contested, The duchess of Westminster formerly was Constance Edwina, daughter of Col. Willlam Cornwallis-West, She and her husband signed na separation agreement in 1914, They were married in 1901 and have two children. The duke of Westminster served in Egypt in 1915 and won the D.S.O. for bravery. The duchess is one of the most beautiful women in the British isles, The duke is England's richest landlord and the world's most ardent and possibly most expert polo player. He owns 600 acres In the heart of London, Grosvenor House gallery, founded in 1770, and 30,000 acres of rich land in Cheshire.

On 14th January 1920, just over three weeks after her divorce from [her future husband] Hugh "Bendor" Grosvenor 2nd Duke Westminster (age 40), John Fitzpatrick Lewis and Constance Edwina "Shelagh" Cornwallis-West Duchess Westminster (age 44) were married.

On 26th November 1920 [her future husband] Hugh "Bendor" Grosvenor 2nd Duke Westminster (age 41) and Violet Mary Nelson Duchess Westminster (age 29) were married.

In 1926 [her future husband] Hugh "Bendor" Grosvenor 2nd Duke Westminster (age 46) and Violet Mary Nelson Duchess Westminster (age 35) were divorced.

Around 1927. Cecil Beaton (age 22). Photograph of Loelia Mary Ponsonby Duchess Westminster (age 24) wearing the Westminster Halo tiara.

On 20th February 1930 Hugh "Bendor" Grosvenor 2nd Duke Westminster (age 50) and Loelia Mary Ponsonby Duchess Westminster (age 28) were married. She by marriage Duchess Westminster. His third marriage; her first. Winston Churchill (age 55) was best man. They were married until 1947 when the marriage was dissolved. No issue. The difference in their ages was 22 years. They were fourth cousin once removed.

The Times. 21st February 1930. THE DUKE OF WESTMINSTER AND MISS PONSONBY. The marriage of the [her husband] Duke of Westminster (age 50) and Miss Loelia Mary Ponsonby (age 28), daughter of [her father] Sir Frederick (age 62) and Lady Ponsonby, of Great Tangley Manor Guildford, and St. James's Palace [Map], took place at Prince's-row Register Office yesterday. Among those present were Mr. Winston Churchill (age 55), Lady Serena James (age 28), Mrs Walter Rubens, Colonel (age 65) and Mrs. Guy Wyndham, Captain and Mrs. Cowes, Mrs. Basil Kerr, Mr. and Mrs. George Drummond, and Mr. and Mrs. Richard Guinness. The Duke and Duchess left for their honeymoon in the Duke's steam yacht the Cutty Sark, wlhich was moored at Deptford [Map].

On 20th October 1935 [her father] Frederick "Fritz" Ponsonby 1st Baron Sysonby (age 68) died. His son [her brother] Edward (age 32) succeeded 2nd Baron Sysonby of Wonersh in Surrey.

On 26th July 1936 [her sister-in-law] Lettice Mary Elizabeth Grosvenor Countess Beauchamp (age 59) died estranged from all her children except her youngest Richard Edward Lygon (age 19).

On 5th October 1940 Major Stephen Hardy Vernon (age 29) and [her step-daughter] Ursula Mary Grosvenor (age 38) were married at St Margaret's Church, Westminster [Map]. She the daughter of [her husband] Hugh "Bendor" Grosvenor 2nd Duke Westminster (age 61) and Constance Edwina "Shelagh" Cornwallis-West Duchess Westminster (age 65).

Before 31st August 1945. William Acton (age 39). Portrait of Loelia Mary Ponsonby Duchess Westminster (age 43).

Before 31st August 1945. William Acton (age 39). Portrait of Loelia Mary Ponsonby Duchess Westminster (age 43).

On 7th February 1947 [her husband] Hugh "Bendor" Grosvenor 2nd Duke Westminster (age 67) and Anne Winifred Sullivan Marchioness Westminster (age 31) were married. She by marriage Marchioness Westminster. The difference in their ages was 36 years.

On 19th July 1953 [her husband] Hugh "Bendor" Grosvenor 2nd Duke Westminster (age 74) died. His first cousin William (age 58) succeeded 3rd Duke Westminster, 5th Marquess Westminster, 6th Earl Grosvenor, 12th Baronet Grosvenor of Eaton in Cheshire.

In 1956 [her brother] Edward Gaspard Ponsonby 2nd Baron Sysonby (age 53) died. His son [her nephew] John (age 11) succeeded 3rd Baron Sysonby of Wonersh in Surrey.

In 1962 [her future husband] Martin Lindsay (age 56) was created 1st Baronet Lindsay of Dowhill in Kinross-shire.

On 1st August 1969 Martin Lindsay 1st Baronet (age 63) and Loelia Ponsonby (age 67) were married. She the former wife of the Duke of Westminster.

On 5th May 1981 [her husband] Martin Lindsay 1st Baronet (age 75) died.

On 1st November 1993 Loelia Mary Ponsonby Duchess Westminster (age 91) died.