Charles Wellesley, 9th Duke of Wellington

Last updated

Surrey (1979–1984)
Princess Antonia of Prussia
(m. 1977)
The Duke of Wellington
Charles Wellesley, 9th Duke of Wellington.jpg
Wellington in 2015
Member of the House of Lords
as an elected hereditary peer
17 September 2015
In office
1979–1989
ChildrenArthur Wellesley, Earl of Mornington
Lady Honor Montagu
Lady Mary Wellesley
Lady Charlotte Santo Domingo
Lord Frederick Wellesley
Parent(s) Valerian Wellesley, 8th Duke of Wellington
Diana McConnel
Education Eton College
Alma mater Christ Church, Oxford

Arthur Charles Valerian Wellesley, 9th Duke of Wellington, 9th Prince of Waterloo, 10th Duke of Ciudad Rodrigo, 9th Duke of Victoria, GE, OBE, DL (born 19 August 1945), styled Earl of Mornington between 1945 and 1972 and Marquess of Douro between 1972 and 2014, is a British peer and politician. He served as Conservative Member of the European Parliament for Surrey (1979–1984) and Surrey West (1984–1989) and eligible to sit as a hereditary peer in the House of Lords.

Contents

Early life

Wellington was born on 19 August 1945 at H.R.H Princess Christian Hospital in Windsor, Berkshire, the eldest son of Valerian Wellesley, 8th Duke of Wellington and Diana McConnel. He grew up in London and at Stratfield Saye House, his family's estate in Hampshire, and was educated at Ludgrove School, Eton College and Christ Church, Oxford. [1] [2]

Politics

Wellington stood as Conservative candidate for Islington North in 1974, losing to Labour's incumbent Michael O'Halloran. He was a member of Basingstoke Borough Council from 1978 to 1979. He subsequently served as Conservative MEP for Surrey from 1979 to 1984, and as Conservative MEP Surrey West from 1984 to 1989.

In September 2015, he was elected to a seat in the House of Lords as a Conservative in a by-election following the retirement of Lord Luke. [3] On 4 September 2019, he quit the Conservative Party. He sat as a "non-affiliated" member of the House of Lords from September 2019 to September 2020. Since September 2020 he has sat as a Crossbench Peer. [4]

In 2021 he put forward an amendment to the Environment Bill to attempt to reduce pollution from the dumping of sewage in rivers. The initial amendment was rejected by MPs - which led to a backlash on social media. The Environment Secretary George Eustice proposed making measures a legal duty but Wellington put forth the amendment again to attempt to ensure changes came into force. [5]

Courtier

He carried Queen Mary's Crown in the royal procession at the coronation of Charles III and Camilla. [6] With the Duchess, he was invited to ride in the King's procession at Royal Ascot 2023. [7]

Charity

Wellington has worked for a number of non-profit or charitable organisations. He was a patron of British Art at the Tate Gallery (1987–90), 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 to 2001). He was appointed OBE 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.

On 1 October 2007, he became 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.

Marriage

He married Princess Antonia of Prussia on 3 February 1977 at St. Paul's Church, Knightsbridge, London. The couple are friends of King Charles III and Queen Camilla. [8]

They have five children:

Titles and styles

Apart from his British titles, the Duke of Wellington also holds the hereditary titles of 9th Prince of Waterloo ("Prins van Waterloo") of both the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Kingdom of Belgium, and 9th Duke of Victoria ("Duque da Vitória") of the Kingdom of Portugal with its subsidiary titles Marquis of Torres Vedras ("Marquês de Torres Vedras") and Count of Vimeiro ("Conde de Vimeiro"). These were granted to the first Duke as victory titles for his distinguished services as victorious commanding general in the Peninsular War (in Spain and Portugal), and at the Battle of Waterloo (in what is now Belgium).

Wellington is also the 10th Duke of Ciudad Rodrigo ("Duque de Ciudad Rodrigo") of the Kingdom of Spain, which on 10 March 2010 was ceded to him by his father. In accordance with Spanish procedure, Wellington (then styled as Marquess of Douro) made a formal claim to the title with the Spanish Ministry of Justice. [13] King Juan Carlos of Spain, through his minister, granted the succession to the Dukedom of Ciudad Rodrigo to Wellington in May 2010. [14]

His full title and style is: His Serene Highness Arthur Charles Valerian Wellesley, Duke of Wellington, Prince of Waterloo, Duke of Ciudad Rodrigo, Duke of Victoria, Marquess of Wellington, Marquess Douro, Marquess of Torres Vedras, Earl of Mornington, Earl of Wellington, Count of Vimeiro, Viscount Wellesley, Viscount Wellington, Baron Mornington, Baron Douro.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington</span> British soldier and statesman (1769–1852)

Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, was an Anglo-Irish statesman, soldier, and Tory politician who was one of the leading military and political figures of 19th-century Britain, serving twice as prime minister of the United Kingdom. He is among the commanders who won and ended the Napoleonic Wars when the Seventh Coalition defeated Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Duke of Wellington (title)</span> Title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom

Duke of Wellington is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. The name derived from Wellington in Somerset. The title was created in 1814 for Arthur Wellesley, 1st Marquess of Wellington, the Anglo-Irish military commander who is best known for leading the decisive victory with Field Marshal von Blücher over Napoleon's forces at Waterloo in Brabant. Wellesley later served twice as British prime minister.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arthur Wellesley, 2nd Duke of Wellington</span> British soldier and politician (1807–1884)

Lieutenant-General Arthur Richard Wellesley, 2nd Duke of Wellington,, styled Lord Douro between 1812 and 1814 and Marquess of Douro between 1814 and 1852, was a British soldier and politician. The eldest son of Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, victor of Waterloo and Prime Minister, he succeeded his father in the dukedom in 1852 and held minor political office as Master of the Horse from 1853 to 1858. In 1858, he was made a Knight of the Garter.

Wellesley may refer to:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Earl of Mornington</span> Title in the peerage of Ireland

Earl of Mornington is a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1760 for the Anglo-Irish politician and composer Garret Wellesley, 2nd Baron Mornington. On the death of the fifth earl in 1863, it passed to the Duke of Wellington; since that date, the title has generally been used by courtesy for the heir apparent to the heir apparent to the dukedom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Earl Cowley</span> Earldom in the Peerage of the United Kingdom

Earl Cowley is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1857 for the diplomat Henry Wellesley, 2nd Baron Cowley. He was Ambassador to France from 1852 to 1867. He was made Viscount Dangan, of Dangan in the County of Meath, at the same time as he was given the earldom. This title is also in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. Lord Cowley was the eldest son of Henry Wellesley, 1st Baron Cowley, who like his son served as Ambassador to France. In 1828 he was created Baron Cowley, of Wellesley in the County of Somerset, in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. A member of the prominent Wellesley family, Cowley was the fifth and youngest son of Garret Wellesley, 1st Earl of Mornington, and the younger brother of Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, and Richard Wellesley, 1st Marquess Wellesley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gerald Wellesley, 7th Duke of Wellington</span> Anglo-Irish diplomat, soldier, and architect (1885-1972)

Gerald Wellesley, 7th Duke of Wellington,, styled Lord Gerald Wellesley between 1900 and 1943, was an Anglo-Irish diplomat, soldier, and architect.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prince of Waterloo</span>

Prince of Waterloo is a title in the Dutch and Belgian nobility, held by the Duke of Wellington. The title was created by King William I of the Netherlands for Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington as a victory title in recognition of defeating Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. The Duke of Wellington and all his descendants along the male line belong to Dutch and Belgian nobility, in which all the descendant dukes carry the title of "Prince of Waterloo" with the style "Serene Highness". The rest of his family retain the Dutch honorific Jonkheer or Jonkvrouw.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Duke of Ciudad Rodrigo</span> Dukedom of Spain

Duke of Ciudad Rodrigo is a hereditary title in the Peerage of Spain, accompanied by the dignity of Grandee. It was conferred by Ferdinand VII on the British General Arthur Wellesley, then 1st Viscount Wellington, later 1st Duke of Wellington in 1812, after his important victory at the Siege of Ciudad Rodrigo that same year, as a victory title. As all dukedoms but one in the peerage of Spain, it has Grandeeship attached.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Garret Wesley, 1st Earl of Mornington</span> Anglo-Irish politician and composer, father of Duke of Wellington

Garret Colley Wesley, 1st Earl of Mornington was an Anglo-Irish politician and composer, as well as the father of several distinguished military commanders and politicians of Great Britain and Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Henry Wellesley, 1st Baron Cowley</span> Anglo-Irish diplomat and politician

Henry Wellesley, 1st Baron Cowley GCB was an Anglo-Irish diplomat and politician. He was the younger brother of the soldier and politician the first Duke of Wellington. He is known particularly for his service as British Ambassador to Spain during the Peninsular War where he acted in cooperation with his brother to gain the support of Cortes of Cádiz. His later postings included being Ambassador in Vienna where he dealt with Metternich and British Ambassador to France during the reign of Louis Philippe I.

Henry Valerian George Wellesley, 6th Duke of Wellington, styled as Earl of Mornington between 1912 and 1934 and Marquess of Douro between 1934 and 1941, was a British peer and politician.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Princess Antonia, Duchess of Wellington</span> British aristocrat and philanthropist

Princess Antonia of Prussia, Duchess of Wellington is a British aristocrat and philanthropist. She serves as the president of The Guinness Partnership, an affordable housing community benefit society in the United Kingdom. A member of the House of Hohenzollern by birth, she is a great-granddaughter of Wilhelm II, German Emperor and a great-great-great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. Through her marriage, she is also the Princess of Waterloo, Duchess of Victoria, and Duchess of Ciudad Rodrigo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Duke of Victoria</span> Portuguese title of nobility

Duke of Victoria is a Portuguese title of nobility retained by the Duke of Wellington.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diana Wellesley, Duchess of Wellington</span>

Diana Ruth Wellesley, Duchess of Wellington, was the wife of Valerian Wellesley, 8th Duke of Wellington, and a British intelligence officer during World War II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Valerian Wellesley, 8th Duke of Wellington</span> Senior British peer and a retired Brigadier in the British Army

Brigadier Arthur Valerian Wellesley, 8th Duke of Wellington,, styled Marquess of Douro between 1943 and 1972, was a senior British peer and a brigadier in the British Army. His main residence was Stratfield Saye House in Hampshire.

Lady Charlotte Anne Santo Domingo is an English socialite and photography producer. She is married to Colombian-American businessman Alejandro Santo Domingo.

Charlotte Sloane Paget, Marchioness of Anglesey, formerly known as Lady Charlotte Wellesley, was the second wife of Henry Paget, 1st Marquess of Anglesey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anne Wellesley, Countess of Mornington</span> Anglo-Irish aristocrat

Anne Wellesley, Countess of Mornington was an Anglo-Irish aristocrat. She was the wife of Garret Wesley, 1st Earl of Mornington and mother of the victor of the Battle of Waterloo, Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington.

References

  1. Barber, Richard (2004). The Story of Ludgrove. Oxford: Guidon Publishing. p. 259. ISBN   0-9543617-2-5.
  2. ‘WELLINGTON’, Who's Who 2017, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 2017
  3. Conservative hereditary peers’by-election, September 2015:result
  4. "The Duke of Wellington". UK Parliament. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  5. "New legal duty promised over sewage as Lords forces issue". BBC News. BBC News. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
  6. "Coronation order of service in full". BBC News. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  7. "Ascot Racecourse on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  8. "Among friends: Inside the new King and Queen Consort's inner circle". Tatler. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  9. Maung, Carole Aye (5 September 1997). "Our Auntie Diana". The Mirror. Retrieved 15 June 2013.
  10. "Behind-the-scenes at Lady Charlotte Wellesley and Alejandro Santo Domingo wedding". HELLO!. 31 May 2016.
  11. Odiamar, Danielle (29 May 2016). "Lady Charlotte Wellesley Marries Alejandro Santo Domingo Surrounded by Royal Guests". Harper's BAZAAR.
  12. "Capt F.C. Wellesley and Capt K.E. Lambert". Telegraph. 25 February 2021.
  13. "Anuncio de la Subsecretaría (División de Tramitación de Derechos de Gracia y otros Derechos), sobre solicitud de sucesión por cesión en el título de Duque de Ciudad Rodrigo, con Grandeza de España". www.boe.es (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 November 2018.
  14. "Orden JUS/1527/2010, de 21 de mayo, por la que se manda expedir, sin perjuicio de tercero de mejor derecho, Real Carta de Sucesión en el título de Duque de Ciudad Rodrigo, con Grandeza de España, a favor de Lord Charles Wellesley". www.boe.es (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 November 2018.
Orders of precedence in the United Kingdom
Preceded by Duke
The Duke of Wellington
Succeeded by
Peerage of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Duke of Wellington
2014–present
Incumbent
Peerage of Ireland
Preceded by Earl of Mornington
2014–present
Incumbent
Dutch nobility
Preceded by Prince of Waterloo
2014–present
Incumbent
Spanish nobility
Preceded by Duke of Ciudad Rodrigo
2010–present
Incumbent
Portuguese nobility
Preceded by Duke of Victoria
2014–present
Incumbent
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Elected hereditary peer to the House of Lords
under the House of Lords Act 1999
2015–present
Incumbent
Academic offices
Preceded by Chairman of King's College London
2007–2016
Succeeded by