Princess Margaret and the Earl of Snowdon were among the 2000 guests at the magnificent society Wedding of the 5th and last Marquess of Dufferin and Ava and his fourth cousin, Lindy Guinness, at Westminster Abbey on this day in 1964, 60 years ago.
The 5th and last Marquess of Dufferin and Ava, son of the 4th Marquess of Dufferin and Ava and Maureen Guinness, married his fourth cousin, Lindy Guinness, daughter Group Captain Loel Guinness and Lady Isabel Manners, in a magnificent society Wedding at Westminster Abbey
Miss Belinda Guinness was married in Westminster Abbey today to the fifth Marquess of Dufferin and Ava. More than 2,000 persons, among them Princess Margaret and her husband, Lord Snowden, attended the ceremony, performed by the Dean of Westminster, the Rev. Eric S. Abbott. Six child bridesmaids and six child pages were in attendance. Viscount Suddley, son of the Earl and Countess of Aran, was the best man.
A reception for 1,800 guests was held in three floors of the Cafe Royal, and a fleet of buses were used to transport guests. As a wedding present, Mr. Guinness gave his daughter a wardrobe of 20 dresses designed by Castillo of Paris. The couple will fly to New York for their wedding trip.
The 22-year‐old bride is the daughter of Loel Guinness, the financier, and Lady Isabel Throckmorton, daughter of the ninth Duke of Rutland and wife of Sir Robert Throckmorton, 11th baronet. Mr. Guinness, whose branch of the family is not in the brewing business, has been prominent in merchant banking. The bridegroom, whose name is Sheridan Frederick Terence Hamilton‐Temple-Blackwood, is the son of the late fourth Marquess of Dufferin and Ava. His mother, the Marquess’s widow, is married to Judge John Cyril Maude.
The new Marchioness of Dufferin and Ava wore the Dufferin and Ava Shamrock Tiara, which is now on display at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
The bride wore a dress of heavy white gabardine designed by John Cavanagh. It had a bodice molded to a slightly raised waistline, a narrow roll collar and a princess line skirt flowing to a 15-foot court train held at the shoulders with small tailored bows. The bride’s veil of tulle was attached to the Dufferin and Ava shamrock tiara.
During the 1960s and 1970s, Lord and Lady Dufferin and Ava hosted many popular art gatherings at their mansion in Holland Park in London and at the Clandeboye Estate, the family seat, until the Marquess’ death of an AIDS-related illness in 1988, when the Marquessate became extinct because the couple had no children. Lady Dufferin inherited Clandeboye and became active in conservation issues, gaining an interest in pedigree cows, which she also frequently painted before she passed away at the age of 79 in 2020.
Following their marriage, they moved into a large house in Holland Park, where they hosted many parties for the “aristo-bohemian set” during the 1960s and 1970s and were leading lights on the London art scene. The couple, who didn’t have any children, also set about restoring Clandeboye estate to its former glory.
Devonshire Diamond Palmette Tiara
Duchess of Devonshire’s Tiaras
Devonshire Diamond Rivière
Devonshire Parure
Ruby Clasp
Craven Brooch
Insect Brooches
Devonshire Tiara
Devonshire Diamond Rivière
Ruby Clasp
Wellington Tiara
Diamond Earrings
Diamond Tassel Earrings
Bagration Spinel Tiara
Rosebery Tiara
Diamond Necklace
Westminster Myrtle Wreath Tiara
Diamond Fringe Tiara
Duchess of Buccleuch’s Tiaras
Northumberland Tiara
Duchess of Sutherland’s Tiara
Duchess of Bedford’s Tiaras
Marlborough Tiara
Portland Tiara
Duchess of Norfolk’s Sapphire Necklace
Rutland Tiara
Argyll Tiara
Manchester Tiara
Dufferin Tiara
Bath Tiara
Milford Haven Ruby Kokoshnik
Duchess of Devonshire’s Tiaras
Devonshire Parure
Ruby Clasp
Craven Brooch
Insect Brooches
