Lady Lindsay | |
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 The Duchess of Westminster byGlyn Philpot | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Loelia Mary Ponsonby (1902-02-06)6 February 1902 |
| Died | 1 November 1993(1993-11-01) (aged 91) |
| Nationality | British |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Parent(s) | Frederick Ponsonby, 1st Baron Sysonby Victoria Kennard |
| Occupation | embroiderer, socialite, magazine editor |
Loelia Mary, Lady Lindsay, formerlyLoelia Grosvenor, Duchess of Westminster, (néePonsonby; 6 February 1902 – 1 November 1993), was a British socialite, needlewoman and magazine editor.[1]
Lindsay was the only daughter of the courtierSir Frederick Ponsonby, later 1stBaron Sysonby, and the cookbook authorVictoria Ponsonby (née Kennard). She spent her early years atSt James's Palace, Park House atSandringham, andBirkhall. One of theBright Young People, she met the twice-divorced, 22-years senior,Hugh Grosvenor, 2nd Duke of Westminster. They were married on 20 February 1930 in a blaze of publicity, withWinston Churchill as the best man, but were unable to have children.[2] Her marriage to the enormously wealthy peer was described byJames Lees-Milne as "a definition of unadulterated hell". It was dissolved in 1947 after years of separation.[3]
After her divorce, Loelia, Duchess of Westminster, established herself as a skilful hostess atSend, Surrey, occupying herself with needlework and gardening, passions she had inherited from her mother.[3][1] Her needlework collection was bequeathed to theNational Trust. During the 1950s she worked as a feature editor forHouse & Garden magazine, and covered the wedding ofPrince Rainier III of Monaco andGrace Kelly.[3]
Lindsay is believed to have popularised the aphorism (falsely attributed toMargaret Thatcher): "Anybody seen in a bus over the age of 30 has been a failure in life", which appears to have been coined by poetBrian Howard.[4]
Lindsay's second marriage, to the divorced explorerSir Martin Lindsay, 1st Baronet, came as a surprise to her friends[1] but was more successful.[3] The couple married on 1 August 1969. Sir Martin, a devoted husband,[1] died in 1981, and Lady Lindsay chose to spend her last years in nursing homes. Her memoirs, written in 1961 and titledGrace and Favour: The Memoirs of Loelia, Duchess of Westminster, are a significant record of aristocratic life between theFirst andSecond World Wars.[3]
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