Lady Jane Dawnay

Lady Jane Dawnay
Born
Jane Meriel Grosvenor

(1953-02-08) 8 February 1953 (age 71)
Spouses
​
​
(m. 1977; div. 1990)​
Edward Dawnay
​
(m. 1996)​
Children
Parents

Lady Jane Meriel Dawnay (née Grosvenor; born 8 February 1953), formerly Jane Innes-Ker, Duchess of Roxburghe, is a British aristocrat and thoroughbred racehorse owner.

Early life

Dawnay was born Jane Meriel Grosvenor on 8 February 1953 to Robert Grosvenor and The Honourable Viola Lyttelton. She was raised in Northern Ireland where her father, in line for the dukedom of Westminster, was High Sheriff of Fermanagh. The family resided at Ely Lodge in Blaney, County Fermanagh.[1] Her father became heir presumptive to the dukedom in 1963 and succeeded his brother as 5th Duke of Westminster in 1967. Thus, Jane became Lady Jane Grosvenor. She has two elder siblings: Leonora, Countess of Lichfield, and Gerald, 6th Duke of Westminster.

In 1971, Lady Jane was presented as debutante at the International Debutante Ball at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City.[2] As a young woman, Dawnay was a rumored girlfriend of Charles, Prince of Wales, later King Charles III.[3][4]

Racing

Dawnay's racing colours

Dawnay is an owner of thoroughbred racehorces, notable horses who have run in her colours are Cobblers Dream, winner of the 2022 Lanzarote Hurdle and 2022 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle, Croco Bay, winner of the 2019 Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase, and Dance Island, winner of the 2010 Mildmay Novices' Chase.[5]

Marriages and issue

Dawnay met her first husband, Guy, 10th Duke of Roxburghe, at a party in Northern Ireland.[6] They were married on 11 September 1977 at St Mary's Church, Eccleston.[3] They had three children:

Upon marriage, she became styled as Her Grace The Duchess of Roxburghe. During her first marriage, the Roxburghe's resided at the Duke's ancestral family seat Floors Castle near Kelso in the Scottish Borders. Prince Andrew is godfather of her younger son Lord Edward and she in turn is godmother of Princess Beatrice.[7][8] Prince Andrew proposed to Sarah Ferguson at Floors Castle and the Roxburghe's daughter Lady Rosanagh was a bridesmaid at their wedding in July 1986.[7]

The Duchess sued her husband for divorce in 1990, accusing him of adultery. After their divorce, the Duchess said of her first husband "boys will be boys".[6] She remained popular with the townspeople of Kelso after her divorce.[9]

On 11 June 1996, she married Edward William Dawnay (born 10 February 1950), her second cousin through Hugh, 1st Duke of Westminster.[1] They reside at Hillington Hall near King's Lynn, Norfolk and in Eaton Square, London.[10]

References

  1. ^ a b "A figure of discreet charm". The Herald. 20 September 1998. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  2. ^ "66 Young Women Presented At International Debutante Ball". The New York Times. 30 December 1971. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  3. ^ a b Reed, Roy (12 September 1977). "Britons' Wedding Eimits Pomp But Has Lots of Circumstance". The New York Times. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  4. ^ Wilson, Christopher (10 November 2013). "Prince Charles and his relationships". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  5. ^ Hendry, Sam. "'He looks a nice prospect' - Cobblers Dream shows rivals a clean pair of heels". Racing Post. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  6. ^ a b "The Duke of Roxburghe obituary". The Times. 30 August 2019. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  7. ^ a b "The Duke of Roxburghe, Scottish landowner who expanded the commercial potential of his estate with Floors Castle at its heart – obituary". The Daily Telegraph. 30 August 2019. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  8. ^ Speers, W. "Princess Beatrice Gets 5 Godparents". Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on 7 May 2014. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  9. ^ "Why the Lady is a duchess". The Herald. 19 December 1995. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  10. ^ Jacobs, Emma (25 March 2010). "Changing times at London's best address". The Financial Times. Retrieved 27 June 2023.