Lady Rosemary Spencer-Churchill
English aristocrat and courtier
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lady Rosemary Mildred Muir (née Spencer-Churchill; born 24 July 1929) is an English aristocrat who served as a maid of honour to Elizabeth II at her coronation in 1953.
24 July 1929
- John Spencer-Churchill, 10th Duke of Marlborough (father)
- Mary Cadogan (mother)
Lady Rosemary Muir | |
|---|---|
| Born | Lady Rosemary Mildred Spencer-Churchill 24 July 1929 London, England |
| Spouse |
Charles Robert Muir
(m. 1953; died 1972) |
| Children | 3 |
| Parents |
|
Early life and family
Lady Rosemary Mildred Spencer-Churchill was born on 24 July 1929 in London to John Spencer-Churchill, Marquess of Blandford, and the Hon. Alexandra Mary Cadogan.[1][2] Her maternal grandfather was Henry Cadogan, Viscount Chelsea. Her paternal grandmother was Consuelo Vanderbilt. Her father inherited the Dukedom of Marlborough, becoming the tenth duke when Spencer-Churchill was five years old. She grew up at Blenheim Palace in West Oxfordshire. After her father's death in 1972 her brother John became the eleventh Duke of Marlborough.[3]
Coronation of Elizabeth II
Spencer-Churchill served as a maid of honour to Queen Elizabeth II at her coronation in Westminster Abbey on 2 June 1953.[4][5][6] She was the eldest and highest ranking maid of honour at Elizabeth II's coronation, as the only daughter of a duke.[7] Lady Rosemary, along with Lady Jane Vane-Tempest-Stewart rode in a carriage with Charles Tryon, 2nd Baron Tryon, the Keeper of the Privy Purse, during the procession while the other maids of honour waited at the abbey.[8] After the coronation, Spencer-Churchill returned to Blenheim to attend an outdoor party hosted by her mother, the Duchess of Marlborough, where they roasted an ox for villagers from Woodstock.[8]
Personal life
Spencer-Churchill married Charles Robert Muir, a stockbroker, on 26 June 1953 at Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford.[5] Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret were among the guests at the wedding.[9][10][11] Their first child, Alexander Pepys Muir, was born on 8 November 1954. Their second child, Simon Huntly Muir, was born on 3 July 1959. Their third child, Mary Arabella Muir, was born on 16 January 1962. Their son Alexander is a god-son of Princess Margaret. Her husband died on 24 March 1972. She resides at Orange Hill House in Binfield. [8][12]
She has seven grandchildren, Jack, Rowley, Consuelo, Robin, Thomas, Caspar and Isabella.
In 2015 Spencer-Churchill was featured in the BBC Two documentary film The Last Dukes.[3][13]