Lady Anne Rhys
Encyclopedia
Anne Maud Rhys, 7th Duchess of Ciudad Rodrigo, known in the United Kingdom
as Lady Anne Maud Rhys (née
Wellesley; 2 February 1910 – 1998), was a British
aristocrat
, a noblewoman in the Spanish nobility
, and socialite
.
Anne was the eldest child and only daughter of Arthur Wellesley, 5th Duke of Wellington
, 5th Duke of Ciudad Rodrigo, and his wife, Lillian. During her late teens, she dated (and was rumoured to be the fiancée of) Edward, Prince of Wales
. In the winter of 1928, Anne was suffering from pneumonia
whilst the Prince was touring Africa
and he is said to have received coded radio bulletins in regard to her health. Rumours of their engagement were later officially denied by Buckingham Palace
.
On 23 March 1933, Anne married Hon. David Rhys, the youngest son of the 7th Baron Dynevor. The couple had two children, Llewelyn Arthur (1935-2005) and Elizabeth Maud (b. 1937) before divorcing in 1963. Her brother, Henry
had inherited their father's titles in 1941 and on his death almost two years later, Anne inherited the Spanish
Dukedom of Ciudad Rodrigo and the honour of Grandee
(which had been awarded to her ancestor, the 1st Duke
and was able to pass through the female line), whilst the British dukedom passed to her uncle, Gerald
. She became the 7th Duchess of Ciudad Rodrigo and her husband became Duke of Ciudad Rodrigo. Anne ceded the dukedom to her uncle in 1949.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
as Lady Anne Maud Rhys (née
NEE
NEE is a political protest group whose goal was to provide an alternative for voters who are unhappy with all political parties at hand in Belgium, where voting is compulsory.The NEE party was founded in 2005 in Antwerp...
Wellesley; 2 February 1910 – 1998), was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
aristocrat
Aristocracy (class)
The aristocracy are people considered to be in the highest social class in a society which has or once had a political system of Aristocracy. Aristocrats possess hereditary titles granted by a monarch, which once granted them feudal or legal privileges, or deriving, as in Ancient Greece and India,...
, a noblewoman in 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 socialite
Socialite
A socialite is a person who participates in social activities and spends a significant amount of time entertaining and being entertained at fashionable upper-class events....
.
Anne was the eldest child and only daughter of Arthur Wellesley, 5th Duke of Wellington
Arthur Wellesley, 5th Duke of Wellington
Arthur Charles Wellesley, 5th Duke of Wellington was the son of Arthur Charles Wellesley, 4th Duke of Wellington, and Kathleen Bulkeley Williams....
, 5th Duke of Ciudad Rodrigo, and his wife, Lillian. During her late teens, she dated (and was rumoured to be the fiancée of) Edward, Prince of Wales
Edward VIII of the United Kingdom
Edward VIII was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth, and Emperor of India, from 20 January to 11 December 1936.Before his accession to the throne, Edward was Prince of Wales and Duke of Cornwall and Rothesay...
. In the winter of 1928, Anne was suffering from pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
whilst the Prince was touring Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
and he is said to have received coded radio bulletins in regard to her health. Rumours of their engagement were later officially denied by Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace, in London, is the principal residence and office of the British monarch. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is a setting for state occasions and royal hospitality...
.
On 23 March 1933, Anne married Hon. David Rhys, the youngest son of the 7th Baron Dynevor. The couple had two children, Llewelyn Arthur (1935-2005) and Elizabeth Maud (b. 1937) before divorcing in 1963. Her brother, Henry
Henry Wellesley, 6th Duke of Wellington
Henry Valerian George Wellesley, 6th Duke of Wellington was the son of Arthur Charles Wellesley, 5th Duke of Wellington and the Hon. Lilian Maud Glean Coats, daughter of Lord Glentaner. He was styled the Earl of Mornington between 1912 and 1934 and Marquess of Douro between 1934 and 1941...
had inherited their father's titles in 1941 and on his death almost two years later, Anne inherited the Spanish
Spain
Spain , 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...
Dukedom of Ciudad Rodrigo and the honour of Grandee
Grandee
Grandee is the word used to render in English the Iberic high aristocratic title Grande , used by the Spanish nobility; Portuguese nobility, and Brazilian nobility....
(which had been awarded to her ancestor, the 1st Duke
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...
and was able to pass through the female line), whilst the British dukedom passed to her uncle, Gerald
Gerald Wellesley, 7th Duke of Wellington
Gerald Wellesley, 7th Duke of Wellington, KG , styled Lord Gerald Wellesley between 1900 and 1943, was a British diplomat, soldier, and architect....
. She became the 7th Duchess of Ciudad Rodrigo and her husband became Duke of Ciudad Rodrigo. Anne ceded the dukedom to her uncle in 1949.
Sources
- Burke's Peerage & Gentry
- Time.com http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,928333,00.html & http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,723582,00.html