Lady Elizabeth Clyde (born Elizabeth Wellesley, 26 December 1918 – 25 November 2013) was an English

socialite A socialite is a person, typically a woman from a wealthy or aristocratic background, who is prominent in high society. A socialite generally spends a significant amount of time attending various fashionable social gatherings, instead of having ...

. She was the daughter of

Gerald Wellesley, 7th Duke of Wellington Gerald Wellesley, 7th Duke of Wellington, (21 August 1885 – 4 January 1972), styled Lord Gerald Wellesley between 1900 and 1943, was an Anglo-Irish diplomat, soldier, and architect. Background and education Wellesley was the third son of Lo ...

, and Dorothy Violet Ashton, and thus a great-great-granddaughter of

Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington Field marshal (United Kingdom), Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington (; 1 May 1769 – 14 September 1852) was a British Army officer and statesman who was one of the leading military and political figures in Britain during t ...

Early life

Elizabeth Wellesley was born on

Boxing Day Boxing Day, also called as Offering Day is a holiday celebrated after Christmas Day, occurring on the second day of Christmastide (26 December). Boxing Day was once a day to donate gifts to those in need, but it has evolved to become a part ...

1918 to

Gerald Gerald is a masculine given name derived from the Germanic languages prefix ''ger-'' ("spear") and suffix ''-wald'' ("rule"). Gerald is a Norman French variant of the Germanic name. An Old English equivalent name was Garweald, the likely original ...

and Dorothy Wellesley (née Ashton) in London. She was christened in the Chapel Royal, St. James Palace with the special permission of King George V. Soon after her birth, the family purchased two homes: 43

Portland Place Portland Place is a street in the Marylebone district of central London. Named after the 3rd Duke of Portland, the unusually wide street is home to the BBC's headquarters Broadcasting House, the Chinese and Polish embassies, the Royal Insti ...

in London, and Sherfield Court in Hampshire.

Personal life

Clyde announced her engagement to Major Thomas Clyde of the Royal Horse Guards, son of William Pancoast Clyde, Jr., on 24 October 1939. They married on 18 November 1939 at St. Peter's Church, Vere Street, in London, with her brother Valerian as best man. A reception followed at her father's home at Chester Terrace, featuring a wedding cake designed by

Rex Whistler Reginald John "Rex" Whistler (24 June 190518 July 1944) was a British artist, who painted murals and society portraits, and designed theatrical costumes. He was killed in action in Normandy in World War II. Whistler was the brother of poet and ...

and made by

Fortnum & Mason Fortnum & Mason plc (colloquially often shortened to just Fortnum's) is an Luxury goods, upmarket department store in London, England. The main store is located at 181 Piccadilly in the St James's area of London, where it was established in 1707 ...

. The family lived at Dorney, Buckinghamshire. Her children are: * Jeremy Clyde (born 22 March 1941), actor and musician * Robin Clyde (19 April 1943 – 13 February 1950) * William Jonathan Clyde (born 27 May 1949) Clyde filed for divorce in 1959 on grounds of adultery, and was granted custody of the couple's youngest son. She and Thomas remained "close and supportive friends" until his death in 1999. She retired to Bramley, Hampshire.''

Life Magazine ''Life'' (stylized as ''LIFE'') is an American magazine launched in 1883 as a weekly publication. In 1972, it transitioned to publishing "special" issues before running as a monthly from 1978 to 2000. Since then, ''Life'' has irregularly publi ...

'', 30 March 1953, p. 12

/ref>

References

1918 births 2013 deaths Daughters of British dukes English socialites Elizabeth Clyde People from Buckinghamshire People from Bramley, Hampshire People from Marylebone {{UK-noble-stub pt:Lady Elizabeth Clyde