Julie Montagu, Viscountess Hinchingbrooke

Last updated

Viscountess Hinchingbrooke
Born
Julie Jean Fisher

(1972-02-17) February 17, 1972 (age 52)
Sugar Grove, Illinois, U.S.
Alma mater Indiana University
University of Buckingham
Occupation(s)Entrepreneur, yoga instructor, television host
Television Ladies of London
An American Aristocrat's Guide to Great Estates
American Viscountess
Spouse
​
​
(m. 2004)​
Children4
FatherThomas L. Fisher
Relatives John Montagu, 11th Earl of Sandwich (father-in-law)
Family House of Montagu (by marriage)

Julie Montagu, Viscountess Hinchingbrooke (born Julie Jean Fisher; February 17, 1972) is an American entrepreneur, yoga instructor, blogger, writer and television personality. She is married to Luke Montagu, Viscount Hinchingbrooke, who is the son and heir to John Montagu, 11th Earl of Sandwich. Montagu began her television career as a cast member on the British reality series Ladies of London before hosting her own series on the Smithsonian Channel called An American Aristocrat's Guide to Great Estates . Since 2021 she has run her own series, American Viscountess, on YouTube.

Contents

Early life

Julie Fisher was born on 17 February 1972 to Thomas Fisher, [1] and was brought up in Sugar Grove, Illinois, [2] as one of five siblings. She went on to study computer science at Indiana University. Fisher moved to London to work for an internet-based company, and was working at a digital agency when she met Luke Montagu in 2003. She was a single mother at the time with two children, [3] and had assumed he was not interested in her.

Three months after they began dating, the couple spent a weekend on the Isle of Wight and she noticed that his credit cards read ‘Viscount Hinchingbrooke’. Only then did he explain that he was a member of the aristocracy and his father was John Montagu, 11th Earl of Sandwich. A year after they first met, they were married at Mapperton House, Dorset, the country estate of the Earl of Sandwich. [4]

When Luke Montagu suffered years of side effects from being removed from prescription medication by an addiction clinic (and was later awarded £1.35 million in compensation), [5] Julie Montagu began running yoga classes in nearby church halls in order to bring some money into the household. By that time, Luke was unable to continue in his position as director of the Met Film School so Julie became the sole supporter. [3]  

According to a June 2020 magazine article, Julie Montagu is a "qualified yoga teacher, nutritionist and mindfulness guru". [3]

Career

Julie Montagu started a blog, called the "Flexi Foodie" and wrote a successful cookbook, [4] Superfoods: The Flexible Approach to Eating More Superfoods & Superfoods Superfast. [6] She founded the charity Council for Evidence-Based Psychiatry after Luke's recovery, based on their experiences. [7]

She was then offered a position on the reality television series Ladies of London as her husband was recovering. She later said of the series, "We thought long and hard before accepting as it offered financial support for a while. But it was not fun to do. I was expected to behave in a way I wasn't, like an It girl or socialite, when I'm not. They edit you... You have to go along with things or you get fired. But you know it was a job. I was acting". She celebrated when it was cancelled after three seasons. [4] In 2016, the couple took over the running of the Mapperton Estate. [6] By that time, Far from the Madding Crowd had recorded some scenes at the estate. [3]

The series brought financial stability which allowed the couple to invest further in the Mapperton Estate, turning an old stable block into a wedding venue. Julie also opened her own school of yoga on the grounds, but continues to practice yoga elsewhere, headlining an act at the Wanderlust yoga festival in Victoria Park, London. [4] During the lead-up to the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Julie Montagu was interviewed on a number of occasions because she is a US citizen who married into British aristocracy; [8] she was also an on-site commentator on the wedding for the BBC. [9] She was also interviewed following such events as Markle's father responding to a letter his daughter had sent him, [10] and the royal couple's break from the monarchy in 2020. [11] [12] [13]

In a 2017 interview, the couple were working to increase the business: "by attracting more visitors and more weddings. At the moment we host 12 a year but we are hoping to build that up to 40". The cost of operating the Mapperton estate was £200,000 per annum at that time. [5] Because of the restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Luke estimated that they lost £200,000 that year. [14]

After appearing on their "Million Dollar American Princess" documentary series, she was asked by the Smithsonian Channel to host a new series to air in 2020, An American Aristocrat's Guide to Great Estates , [15] which was also streaming on Amazon Prime Video in North America by March 2021. [16]

On 17 October 2021, Julie appeared on CNN’s documentary series, Diana. [17]

Since 2020, Julie Montagu has run the YouTube channel American Viscountess, being travelogue tours of British country houses, accenting interviews, history, customs and culture. [18]

Personal life

She is married to Luke Montagu, Viscount Hinchingbrooke, and has four children, [4] two of whom are from her first marriage and two with Luke. [6] She supported her husband through his recovery from a dependency of prescription drugs and now campaigns for greater awareness of the issue. [4]

In 2021, she enrolled at the University of Buckingham to work towards a Master's of Arts in Country House studies. [19] [20]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Earl of Sandwich</span> Noble title in the Peerage of England

Earl of Sandwich is a noble title in the Peerage of England, held since its creation by the House of Montagu. It is nominally associated with Sandwich, Kent. It was created in 1660 for the prominent naval commander Admiral Sir Edward Montagu. He was made Baron Montagu of St Neots, of St Neots in the County of Huntingdon, and Viscount Hinchingbrooke, at the same time, also in the Peerage of England. The viscountcy is used as the courtesy title by the heir apparent to the earldom. A member of the prominent Montagu family, Lord Sandwich was the son of Sir Sidney Montagu, youngest brother of Henry Montagu, 1st Earl of Manchester, and Edward Montagu, 1st Baron Montagu of Boughton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Montagu, 11th Earl of Sandwich</span> British businessman and politician (born 1943)

John Edward Hollister Montagu, 11th Earl of Sandwich, is a British businessman and politician. He was a crossbench member of the House of Lords from 1995 to 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Victor Montagu</span> British politician (1906–1995)

Alexander Victor Edward Paulet Montagu, known as Viscount Hinchingbrooke from 1916 to 1962, as the Earl of Sandwich from 1962 to 1964 and as Victor Montagu from 1964 to 1995, was a British Conservative Member of Parliament (MP). He was usually known to family and friends as 'Hinch Hinchingbrooke' or 'Hinch Sandwich' or, later, as 'Hinch Montagu'. In 2015, it was revealed that he was cautioned for indecently assaulting a child for a period of two years between 31 December 1970 and January 1972.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meghan, Duchess of Sussex</span> Member of the British royal family and former actress (born 1981)

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex is an American member of the British royal family and a former actress. She is married to Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, the younger son of King Charles III.

Edward Montagu may refer to:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edward Montagu, 2nd Earl of Sandwich</span>

Edward Montagu, 2nd Earl of Sandwich was an English aristocrat and politician.

Luke Timothy Charles Montagu, Viscount Hinchingbrooke is a British aristocrat and philanthropist. He has been Viscount Hinchingbrooke since the death of his grandfather in 1995.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mapperton</span> Hamlet in Dorset, England

Mapperton is a hamlet and civil parish in Dorset, England, 3 miles (4.8 km) south-east of Beaminster. Dorset County Council estimated that the population of the parish was 60 in 2013.

Montagu is an English surname of Old French origin, a form of Montague. One notable family with this surname is the House of Montagu, who include the Earls of Sandwich. Notable people with the surname include:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle</span> 2018 British royal wedding

The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was held on Saturday 19 May 2018 in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle in the United Kingdom. The groom is a member of the British royal family; the bride is American and previously worked as an actress, blogger, charity ambassador, and advocate.

Emma Clare Thynn, Marchioness of Bath, often known as Emma Weymouth, is a British socialite and fashion model. She is married to Ceawlin Thynn, 8th Marquess of Bath. In 2020, she became the first black marchioness in British history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doria Ragland</span> American social worker and yoga instructor (born 1956)

Doria Loyce Ragland is the mother of Meghan Markle and the ex-wife of American retired television lighting director and director of photography Thomas Markle Sr.. Ragland holds a degree in social work and is a former makeup artist and yoga instructor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Family of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex</span> Markle and Ragland families

Members of the Markle and Ragland families have been related by marriage to the British royal family since the wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry in May 2018, when she became the Duchess of Sussex. The couple have two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet of Sussex. The Markle family is of German descent and originates in Alsace on the modern French–German border, and Meghan's paternal ancestors moved to the United States in the 17th century; among her father's other ancestors are American settlers of English, Dutch, and Irish descent. The Ragland family is of African American descent.

Trevor Engelson is an American film producer and literary manager, whose work has included producing the TV series Snowfall, as well as the 2010 film Remember Me. Prior to his marriage to Tracey Kurland, he was married to Meghan Markle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alberta Montagu, Countess of Sandwich</span> American heiress and British aristocrat (1877–1951)

Alberta Montagu, Countess of Sandwich was an American heiress, diarist, and letter writer who was the wife of George Montagu, 9th Earl of Sandwich. Like many Gilded Age debutantes from the United States, she married into the British aristocracy and took on the running of her husband's family's ancestral seat, Hinchingbrooke House. Lady Sandwich was a close friend of Mildred Barnes Bliss and was an accomplished musician, writer, and linguist. She was a friend and devotee of the Hindu monk and philosopher Swami Vivekananda, whom she had met in her childhood when he stayed at her family's New York estate. Lady Sandwich hosted Vivekananda in Chicago, New York, and Paris, accompanied him on a trip to Rome, and corresponded with him throughout her life.

Lady Elizabeth Montagu, known as Betty Montagu, was a British novelist, nurse, and art collector. The daughter of the 9th Earl of Sandwich and American heiress Alberta Sturges, she grew up at Hinchingbrooke House in Huntingdon and was educated at North Foreland Lodge. A prominent debutante in the 1930s, she was active in the London Season before World War II. When war broke out in Europe, she volunteered as a nurse, heading the casualties department at St Thomas' Hospital in London. After the war ended, she served on the teaching staff at the Royal College of Nursing until 1950.

Lady Mary Faith Culme-Seymour was a British aristocrat and letter writer. The daughter of the 9th Earl of Sandwich and American heiress Alberta Sturges, she grew up at the family's ancestral seat, Hinchingbrooke House in Huntingdon. When her brother, Victor Montagu, 10th Earl of Sandwich, sold the family home in 1955, Lady Faith took her close friend, the novelist E. M. Forster, to see it one last time. Her last tour of the home with Forster was an emotional one, and she documented the experience in her diary and in letters. She and Forster, who initially offered her advice on short story writing, remained friends until his death.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lady Agneta Montagu</span> British aristocrat

Lady Agneta Harriet Montagu, sometimes known as Lady Agnete Yorke and Lady Augusta Yorke, was a British aristocrat and courtier. She served as a bridesmaid at the wedding of Alexandra of Denmark and Edward VII in 1867 and as Lady of the Bedchamber in the household of Princess Helena of the United Kingdom, who was the daughter of Queen Victoria. She was the mother of George Montagu, 9th Earl of Sandwich.

An American Aristocrat's Guide to Great Estates is a factual documentary television series commissioned by the Smithsonian Channel. It is presented by Julie Montagu, Viscountess Hinchingbrooke, the American wife of Viscount Hinchingbrooke, and explores the histories, management styles and upkeep costs of Britain's family mansions and castles.

References

  1. ↑ "Hinchingbrooke, Viscount". Who's Who. 2007. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U20237. ISBN   978-0-19-954088-4 . Retrieved 5 June 2018.
  2. ↑ Lambert, Victoria (September 2017). "Meet Julie Montagu, future Countess of Sandwich and all-American guru of healthy living". The Daily Telegraph . Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "The American Aristocrat keeping Mapperton House on the map". Tatler. 11 June 2020.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Lambert, Victoria (19 September 2017). "Meet Julie Montagu, future Countess of Sandwich and all-American guru of healthy living". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
  5. 1 2 "Luke and Julie Montagu: The duo taking up the reins at Mapperton". Great British Life. 28 November 2017.
  6. 1 2 3 "Luke and Julie Montagu: The duo taking up the reins at Mapperton". Dorset. 28 November 2017. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
  7. ↑ Powell, Rosalind (4 December 2017). "Great Estates: how the heir to the Earl of Sandwich runs 'the finest manor house in England'". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
  8. ↑ Relph, Daniella (27 November 2017). "Meghan Markle and Prince Harry: A royal shake-up". BBC News. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
  9. ↑ Halleman, Caroline (16 April 2018). "I'm an American Who Married into the British Aristocracy. Here's My Advice for Meghan Markle". Town & Country. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
  10. ↑ "Handwriting Expert Analyses Meghan Markle's Letter to Her Father". Good Morning Britain. 11 February 2019. Retrieved 19 March 2020– via YouTube.
  11. ↑ Roberto, Melissa (22 January 2020). "Meghan Markle gets sympathy from actress, British aristocrat Julie Montagu: UK press is '100 percent ruthless'". Fox News. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  12. ↑ "Watch Royal Divide: Harry, Meghan & the Crown Wednesday, January 29 | ABC Updates". ABC. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  13. ↑ Collcutt, Deborah (22 January 2020). "Meghan Markle row: Why duchess HAD to leave Britain – Viscountess Hinchingbrooke". Express. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  14. ↑ Smith, Julia Llewellyn (8 August 2023). "Julie Montagu, the viscountess trying to save the ancestral pile". The Times.
  15. ↑ Trilivas, Nicole. "Explore The Historic Estates Of Great Britain With 'Ladies Of London' Alum, Julie Montagu". Forbes.
  16. ↑ "Prime Video: An American Aristocrat's Guide to Great Estates – Season 1". www.primevideo.com.
  17. ↑ Grebenyuk, Yana (17 October 2021). "Princess Diana's Duchess Camilla Fixation Began on Wedding Day". US Weekly. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  18. ↑ American Viscountess . Retrieved 29 February 2024– via YouTube.
  19. ↑ "Visiting England's Country Estates Becomes ... Recommended Coursework". Air Mail .
  20. ↑ Johnson, Rachel (16 April 2022). "Master's of the House". Air Mail .
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.