Prince Ricardo De La Cerda
The Royal Family led High Society at the Wedding of David Somerset, the Heir of the Duke of Beaufort, and Lady Caroline Thynne, daughter of the Marquess of Bath, at St Peter’s Church in Eaton Square on this Day in 1950, 75 years ago, before a Reception for 1,000 at the home of Sir ‘Chips’ Channon in Belgrave Square!
David Somerset, the future 11th Duke of Beaufort, cousin and Heir of the 10th Duke and Duchess of Beaufort, married Lady Caroline Thynne, daughter of the 6th Marquess of Bath and Daphne Fielding, at St Peter’s Church in Eaton Square in London.
King George VI, Queen Elizabeth, Queen Mary, Princess Margaret and the Duchess of Kent led members of the English Aristocracy at the Wedding.
Lady Caroline wore a Diamond Rivière, which remains an Heirloom of the Marquesses of Bath, that Sir ‘Chips’ later found on his bedroom floor.
In my bedroom I found a diamond necklace on the floor! This is a Bath heirloom which Caroline had worn at the wedding and forgot! I sent it to Claridge’s.
After the Ceremony, the Reception for 1,000 Guests was held at the home of Sir ‘Chips’ Channon in Belgrave Square, who described the day in his diary:
“My beautiful but battered Belgrave mansion looked splendid, furniture was moved and sent away; great cornucopias of lilies stood on high plinths; the place was a bower of white flowers and a huge marquee had been built out at the back of the dining room; I superintended all the moving although Henry Bath and (Tony) Vivian his brother-in-law looked in as did both bride and bridegroom. Then I rested and wondered what I should do to cope with the expected 1,000 guests … at three o’clock I was ready to receive, and the first arrivals apart from Vittoria Sermoneta and Peter, were Audrey Bouverie, and Diana and John Julius Cooper, followed quickly – alas! – by Oggie Lynn …. The crowds outside were enormous, literally hundreds and many pressmen, etc.
Punctually at 3.30 Queen Mary arrived wearing a heliotrope arrangement: I was immensely struck by her youthful appearance, erect carriage and smiling manner – and her memory. I tried to take her up to the library, as had been arranged, but she insisted on seeing the dining room. First she inspected my Meissen and catching a glimpse of Diana Cooper, who had darted behind a door in the morning room, she said gruffly but humorously: ‘Who is hiding behind that door?’ and when I told her she commanded me to fetch Diana …. They talked of old days. After a bit the bride and bridegroom arrived and were presented, and then I went to the door to meet the King and Queen and Princess Margaret. The King chatted for a moment, but had to leave, and I escorted the immense but cool and airy and smiling Queen into the house, followed by Princess Margaret and in a moment the Duchess of Kent, very elegant, arrived. Then the Baths (who had got to the church, it appears – St Peter’s, Eaton Square – after the King and Queen). Somehow we managed to get the royal family upstairs and the small attendants (the little Astor boy, Chiquita’s, was the prettiest) were collected and photographs were taken.
I refused to join the grand group until that was over. Daphne and Henry and the Somersets, Bobbie and Betty, looking well but rather less radiant than usual for private reasons of which I am aware; the attractive bridegroom David Somerset – took up their positions and began to receive the 900 guests who meanwhile had been herded below. The house was full but not unduly crowded. I was left alone with the two Queens – how happy I would have been with either! – and showed them my Fabergé collection, the Pontremoli carpet, my Rex Whistler fresco, etc. The Queen is too fat, but she was very, very agreeable, called me ‘dear Chips’, etc., and I spent at least an hour with her bringing up different people. She asked me if I were going to the Buck House party tonight and seemed surprised when I said not. ”
My Paul had arrived from Eton and I presented him to both Queens, who were gracious … and I led up Vittoria Sermoneta, too, and many others including P, of course, and Nigel Davies, and even Raymond Blackburn to whom the Queen remarked: ‘Chips is a wonderful friend!’ Both Queens called me ‘Chips’ but Princess Margaret addressed me as ‘Mr Channon’! For the first time I was pulverized by her charm and beauty: her eyes are wonderfully blue – can she put belladonna in them?
The Duchess of Kent slipped away escorted out by Peter. Hours passed … I introduced my secretary to Queen Mary! … After two hours, when the cake had been cut, the Queens showed signs of leaving, and Queen Elizabeth suggested seeing the dining room. So we processed downstairs. More conversation!! It was just before six before they left, Queen E in the first car with Princess Margaret. She had been at Belgrave Square for two and a half hours, or just under. She was followed by Queen Mary, who had been with us even longer. Both Jack Coke, who is in-waiting on the Dowager Queen, for he is an ally, and Arthur Penn whom I used to hate, congratulated me on the arrangements. Arthur is quite friendly and I think he is changing towards me. By six o’clock in the afternoon the Court Ball, as someone called it, was over, and only friends remained!! We had successfully separated the sheep from the Gothas! as Peter described it; and we then had a gay hour with the Coopers …. and champagne. Then Vittoria Sermoneta, Peter and I went to Paquito San Domingo’s for a cocktail and I drove Vittoria to the House of Commons for dinner. After a division I went to bed – exhausted and almost relieved not to have been at the Palace where 1,200 people had been summoned. Many were quite unknown.
In my bedroom I found a diamond necklace on the floor! This is a Bath heirloom which Caroline had worn at the wedding and forgot! I sent it to Claridge’s. Caroline will be a beautiful Duchess – that is, if she sticks to David long enough, which I doubt as even his grandmother, Lady Kitty Lambton, tells me that he has not a very nice character!! Both Daphne’s and Betty Somerset’s mothers eloped with other men and married many of them. It was a wedding of high-voltage breeding and the blood, hot blood of both families augurs ill … My godson Christopher Thynne seems nice but he hasn’t the great beauty of the rest of the family!”
Contrary to Sir Chip’s predictions, the 11th Duke and Duchess of Beaufort had four children and remained married until she passed away in 1995. The Duke married again in 2000 before passing away in 2017.
Devonshire Diamond Palmette Tiara