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Thomas van Straubenzee | |
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Born | Thomas Alexander van Straubenzee 1982 (age 41–42) |
Alma mater | |
Occupation | Real estate businessman |
Spouses |
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Children | 2 |
Relatives | Charlie van Straubenzee (brother) Henry van Straubenzee (paternal grandfather) Charles van Straubenzee (paternal great great great great Uncle) Casimir Cartwright van Straubenzee (cousin) William van Straubenzee (cousin) |
Thomas Alexander van Straubenzee (born 1982) [1] is an English businessman, property consultant, and real estate agent. Van Straubenzee is known for his connection to the British royal family and as the godfather of Princess Charlotte of Wales.
Van Straubenzee is the son of Captain Alexander van Straubenzee, formerly of the Royal Green Jackets and Claire van Straubenzee MBE, née Fenwick. Claire is the eldest daughter of Anthony and Caroline Fenwick DL of Lincolnshire. Thomas is the grandson of Lieutenant-Colonel Henry van Straubenzee DSO OBE. The van Straubenzee family are landed gentry, of Spennithorne, North Yorkshire. Their ancestor Colonel Turner van Straubenzee JP DL bought the estate in 1788.
He attended Ludgrove School, where he was a schoolmate and close friend of the Prince of Wales, and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex. [2] He later attended Harrow School. [3] He is the older brother of Charlie van Straubenzee. In 2002, another younger brother, Henry, was killed in a car accident. The funeral was attended by members of the British royal family. [4] [5] In June 2005, Thomas accompanied Prince William on his royal tour to New Zealand. [6]
Van Straubenzee worked as a chartered surveyor with Strutt & Parker before co-founding VanHan with Rory Penn in 2012, a high-end residential and commercial real estate firm. His company was later acquired by Knight Frank. [7] In March 2018 he became the head of Knight Frank's Global Wealth Advisory team. [8]
Thomas van Straubenzee, Global head of Knight Frank’s Private Office has been named ‘Property Adviser of the Year’ at the Spear’s Awards 2023, beating competition from seven other leading UK real estate agencies. The Spear’s Awards are the premier awards event for the world of private capital. [9]
Van Straubenzee is a patron of the Henry van Straubenzee Memorial Fund, a charity founded in honour of his late younger brother Henry. [10]
Van Straubenzee sits on the Philanthropy Board for the Royal Albert Hall, London. [11]
Van Straubenzee is one of the five godparents of Princess Charlotte of Wales, the second child and only daughter of the Prince and Princess of Wales. [12] [13] [14]
Van Straubenzee married Lady Melissa Percy, daughter of the 12th Duke of Northumberland, at St Michael's Church, Alnwick on 22 June 2013. [15] [16] [17] They divorced in March 2016 on the grounds of van Straubenzee's "unreasonable behaviour". [18]
On 24 July 2020, van Straubenzee married the assistant head teacher at Princess Charlotte and Prince George's school, Lucy Lanigan-O'Keeffe, [19] daughter of barrister Stephen Lanigan-O'Keeffe and sister of Irish Olympic pentathlete Arthur Lanigan-O'Keeffe. [20] [21] [22] The Lanigan-O'Keeffe family were landed gentry in County Tipperary. [23] [24] They have two children. [25] [26]
In 2012 Thomas was mugged on Albert Bridge Road as he was talking on the phone to Prince Harry. Harry came to his rescue and they reported the crime at the nearby police station. [27]
The van Straubenzee's are old family friends of the Spencer family. Princess Diana was the nanny of Thomas's cousin Alexandra Whitaker and was a close friend of his uncle William. In July 2017 William van Straubenzee appeared on ITV’s moving documentary, Diana, 20 years on from her tragic death. [28]
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