Arthur Wellesley, Marquess of Douro
Encyclopedia
Arthur Charles Valerian Wellesley, Marquess of Douro, 10th Duke of Ciudad Rodrigo, Grandee of Spain, OBE
(born 19 August 1945), is the son and heir of Valerian Wellesley, 8th Duke of Wellington, and his wife, Diana McConnel
. He was born as Earl of Mornington
in 1945, at Princess Christian Nursing Home, Windsor
, Berkshire
. He has three younger brothers and one younger sister.
and educated at Eton College
and later at Christ Church, Oxford
.
(who no longer uses her royal title) on 3 February 1977 at St. Paul's Church, Knightsbridge
, London
. They have five children:
candidate for Islington North
in 1974, finishing in second place. He was a member of Basingstoke Borough Council from 1978–1979. He subsequently served as Conservative
MEP
for Surrey
from 1979–1984, and as Conservative
MEP
Surrey West
from 1984-1989.
in 1999 for services to British-Spanish business relations. He was appointed a Deputy Lord-Lieutenant of Hampshire
in 1999. In 2003 he was given a four year appointment as a Commissioner for English Heritage
.
As of 1 October 2007 he has been Chairman of the Governing Council of King's College London
, an institution of which his wife Princess Antonia
is an alumna, and of which his ancestor Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
was instrumental in the foundation.
Besides being the eldest son of the Duke of Wellington, he also belongs to the Dutch nobility as Jonkheer
, as well as a member of the Spanish nobility
and Portuguese nobility.
On March 10, 2010, the Marquess of Douro claimed the title of Duke of Ciudad Rodrigo together with the accompanying title Grandee of Spain, as his father ceded them to him. King Juan Carlos of Spain
, through his minister, granted the succession of the dukedom to the Marquess by Royal Decree of May 21, 2010 as confirmed by the notice in the Official Bulletin of State
dated June 12, 2010. As a result, the Marquess of Douro is now the 10th Duke of Ciudad Rodrigo and also remains the heir apparent to the Duke of Wellington title.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 19 August 1945), is the son and heir of Valerian Wellesley, 8th Duke of Wellington, and his wife, Diana McConnel
Diana Wellesley, Duchess of Wellington
Diana Wellesley, Duchess of Wellington, Baroness Douro MBE was the wife of Arthur Valerian Wellesley, 8th Duke of Wellington, and a British intelligence officer in her own right during World War II....
. He was born as Earl of Mornington
Earl of Mornington
Earl of Mornington is a title in the Peerage of Ireland, since 1863 a subsidiary title of the dukedom of Wellington. It was created in 1760 for the Anglo-Irish politician and composer Garret Wellesley, 2nd Baron Mornington. He was made Viscount Wellesley, of Dangan Castle in the County of Meath, at...
in 1945, at Princess Christian Nursing Home, Windsor
Windsor, Berkshire
Windsor is an affluent suburban town and unparished area in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire, England. It is widely known as the site of Windsor Castle, one of the official residences of the British Royal Family....
, Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
. He has three younger brothers and one younger sister.
Education
The Marquess was born in WindsorWindsor, Berkshire
Windsor is an affluent suburban town and unparished area in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire, England. It is widely known as the site of Windsor Castle, one of the official residences of the British Royal Family....
and educated at Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
and later at Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
.
Marriage
He married Princess Antonia of PrussiaPrincess Antonia, Marchioness of Douro
Princess Antonia of Prussia, Marchioness of Douro, Duchess of Ciudad Rodrigo, OBE , is a great-granddaughter of Wilhelm II, German Emperor.-Biography:...
(who no longer uses her royal title) on 3 February 1977 at St. Paul's Church, Knightsbridge
Knightsbridge
Knightsbridge is a road which gives its name to an exclusive district lying to the west of central London. The road runs along the south side of Hyde Park, west from Hyde Park Corner, spanning the City of Westminster and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. They have five children:
- Arthur Gerald Wellesley, Earl of MorningtonArthur Wellesley, Earl of MorningtonArthur Gerald Wellesley, Earl of Mornington , is the son of Charles Valerian Wellesley, Marquess of Douro, and after his father heir to the Dukedom of Wellington...
(b. 31 January 1978) who is married as of 4 June 2005 to the former model Jemma Kidd, a fashion stylist and great-granddaughter of Lord Beaverbrook. They have twins (b. 4 January 2010) Lady Mae Madeleine and Arthur Darcy, Viscount Wellesley - Lady Honor Victoria Wellesley (b. 25 October 1979) who is married (as his second wife) to the Honourable Orlando Montagu, younger son of the Earl of SandwichJohn Montagu, 11th Earl of SandwichJohn Edward Hollister Montagu, 11th Earl of Sandwich is a British entrepreneur, politician and nobleman.Montagu is the eldest son of Victor Montagu, who disclaimed the earldom of Sandwich in 1964, and his first wife Maud Rosemary...
and has a son Walter (b. 3 December 2005). Walter Montagu is the first grandchild for Marquess and Marchioness of Douro. They also have a daughter (b. January 2007) called Nancy Jemima. - Lady Mary Luise Wellesley (b. 16 December 1986)
- Lady Charlotte Anne Wellesley (b. 8 October 1990) who attends Oxford University
- Lord Frederick Charles Wellesley (b. 30 September 1992), attends Eton CollegeEton CollegeEton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
Politics
Lord Douro stood as ConservativeConservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
candidate for Islington North
Islington North (UK Parliament constituency)
Islington North is a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first-past-the-post system of election...
in 1974, finishing in second place. He was a member of Basingstoke Borough Council from 1978–1979. He subsequently served as Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
MEP
Member of the European Parliament
A Member of the European Parliament is a person who has been elected to the European Parliament. The name of MEPs differ in different languages, with terms such as europarliamentarian or eurodeputy being common in Romance language-speaking areas.When the European Parliament was first established,...
for Surrey
Surrey (1979-1984) (European Parliament constituency)
Prior to its uniform adoption of proportional representation in 1999, the United Kingdom used first-past-the-post for the European elections in England, Scotland and Wales...
from 1979–1984, and as Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
MEP
Member of the European Parliament
A Member of the European Parliament is a person who has been elected to the European Parliament. The name of MEPs differ in different languages, with terms such as europarliamentarian or eurodeputy being common in Romance language-speaking areas.When the European Parliament was first established,...
Surrey West
Surrey West (European Parliament constituency)
Prior to its uniform adoption of proportional representation in 1999, the United Kingdom used first-past-the-post for the European elections in England, Scotland and Wales...
from 1984-1989.
Charity
Lord Douro has worked for a number of non profit or charitable organisations. He was a patron of British Art at the Tate Gallery (1987–1990), a member of the Royal College of Art between (1992–97), Chair of British-Spanish Tertulias (1993–98) and Trustee of the Phoenix Trust from 1996–2001). He received an OBEOrder of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in 1999 for services to British-Spanish business relations. He was appointed a Deputy Lord-Lieutenant of Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
in 1999. In 2003 he was given a four year appointment as a Commissioner for English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
.
As of 1 October 2007 he has been Chairman of the Governing Council of King's College London
King's College London
King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
, an institution of which his wife Princess Antonia
Princess Antonia, Marchioness of Douro
Princess Antonia of Prussia, Marchioness of Douro, Duchess of Ciudad Rodrigo, OBE , is a great-granddaughter of Wilhelm II, German Emperor.-Biography:...
is an alumna, and of which his ancestor Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, KG, GCB, GCH, PC, FRS , was an Irish-born British soldier and statesman, and one of the leading military and political figures of the 19th century...
was instrumental in the foundation.
Business career
- Deputy Chairman of Thames Valley Broadcasting Ltd between 1975 and 1984.
- Director of Ferrocarril de Antofagasta a BoliviaFerrocarril de Antofagasta a BoliviaThe Ferrocarril de Antofagasta a Bolivia is a private railway operating in the northern provinces of Chile. It is notable in that it was one of the earliest railways built to the gauge of , with a route that climbed from sea level to over , while handling goods traffic totaling near 2 million tons...
Ltd between 1977 and 1980. - Councillor for Basingstoke Borough Council between 1978 and 1979.
- Director of Eucalyptus Pulp Mills Ltd between 1979 and 1988.
- Director of Transatlantic Holdings plc between 1983 and 1996.
- Director of Global Asset Management Worldwide Inc between 1984 and 1999.
- Deputy Chairman of Deltec Panamerica SA between 1985 and 1989.
- Chairman of Deltec Securities (UK) Ltd between 1986 and 1989.
- Director of Continental and Industrial Trust plc between 1987 and 1990.
- Deputy Chairman of Guinness Mahon HoldingsGuinness MahonGuinness Mahon was an Irish merchant bank originally based in Dublin but more recently with major operations in London.-History:The firm was founded in Dublin in 1836 by brewer Robert Rundell Guinness, cousin of the brewer Arthur Guinness, and John Ross Mahon, an estate agent. A London office...
Ltd between 1988 and 1991. - Director of Sun Life Corp Ltd between 1988 and 1996.
- Director of Rothmans International Ltd between 1990 and 1993.
- Chairman of Dunhill Holdings Ltd between 1991 and 1993.
- Deputy Chairman of Vendôme Luxury Group plc between 1993 and 1999.
- Chairman of Framlington Group Ltd between 1994 and 1999.
- Chairman of Sun Life & Provincial HoldingsSun Life & Provincial HoldingsSun Life & Provincial Holdings plc was a large British insurance company. It was listed on the London Stock Exchange and was a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.-History:...
plc in 1996. - Director of Pernod Ricard, SA
Titles and styles
- Charles Wellesley, Earl of Mornington (1945–1972)
- Charles Wellesley, Marquess of Douro (1972–present)
- In SpainSpainSpain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
: Excelentísimo Señor Charles Wellesley, Duque de Ciudad Rodrigo, Grande de EspañaGrandeeGrandee is the word used to render in English the Iberic high aristocratic title Grande , used by the Spanish nobility; Portuguese nobility, and Brazilian nobility....
(2010-present) - In the NetherlandsNetherlandsThe Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
: De hoogwelgeboren heer Jonkheer Charles Wellesley (1945-present)
- In Spain
Besides being the eldest son of the Duke of Wellington, he also belongs to the Dutch nobility as Jonkheer
Jonkheer
Jonkheer is a Dutch honorific of nobility.-Honorific of nobility:"Jonkheer" or "Jonkvrouw" is literally translated as "young lord" or "young lady". In medieval times such a person was a young and unmarried son or daughter of a high ranking knight or nobleman...
, as well as a member of the Spanish nobility
Spanish nobility
Spanish nobles are persons who possess the legal status of hereditary nobility according to the laws and traditions of the Spanish monarchy. A system of titles and honours of Spain and of the former kingdoms that constitute it comprise the Spanish nobility...
and Portuguese nobility.
On March 10, 2010, the Marquess of Douro claimed the title of Duke of Ciudad Rodrigo together with the accompanying title Grandee of Spain, as his father ceded them to him. King Juan Carlos of Spain
Juan Carlos I of Spain
Juan Carlos I |Italy]]) is the reigning King of Spain.On 22 November 1975, two days after the death of General Francisco Franco, Juan Carlos was designated king according to the law of succession promulgated by Franco. Spain had no monarch for 38 years in 1969 when Franco named Juan Carlos as the...
, through his minister, granted the succession of the dukedom to the Marquess by Royal Decree of May 21, 2010 as confirmed by the notice in the Official Bulletin of State
Boletín Oficial del Estado
The Boletín Oficial del Estado , Spanish for Official Bulletin of the State, is the official gazette of the Government of Spain. It publishes the laws of the Cortes Generales and the dispositions of the Autonomous Communities...
dated June 12, 2010. As a result, the Marquess of Douro is now the 10th Duke of Ciudad Rodrigo and also remains the heir apparent to the Duke of Wellington title.