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Natalia Grosvenor, Duchess of Westminster

British aristocrat (born 1959) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Natalia Ayesha Grosvenor, Dowager Duchess of Westminster (née Phillips; born 8 May 1959), is a British aristocrat, philanthropist and winemaker. She is the widow of the 6th Duke of Westminster and mother of the 7th Duke. As of 2024, the Duchess's family, specifically her son, were 11th on the Sunday Times Rich List with a net worth of £10.127 billion.[1]

Born
Natalia Ayesha Phillips

(1959-05-08) 8 May 1959 (age 67)
London, England
Spouse
(m. 1978; died 2016)
Children
Parents
Quick facts Her GraceThe Dowager Duchess of Westminster, Born ...
The Dowager Duchess of Westminster
Born
Natalia Ayesha Phillips

(1959-05-08) 8 May 1959 (age 67)
London, England
Spouse
(m. 1978; died 2016)
Children
Parents
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Personal life

Born Natalia Ayesha Phillips, she is the youngest daughter of Lieutenant Colonel Harold "Bunnie" Phillips and Georgina "Gina" Wernher.[2]

Her paternal grandparents were Colonel Joseph Phillips and Mary Bryce, daughter of John Pablo Bryce. Her maternal grandparents were Sir Harold Wernher, 3rd Bt, and Countess Anastasia de Torby, morganatic daughter of Grand Duke Michael Mikhailovich of Russia. Tally, as she is known to friends and family, had an older brother, Nicholas (1947–1991), and three older sisters, including Marita Knight and the late Alexandra Hamilton, Duchess of Abercorn.[3]

She and her siblings are direct descendants of poet Alexander Pushkin and Afro-Russian engineer Abram Gannibal.[4]

The Duchess is godmother of William, Prince of Wales; in turn, Diana, Princess of Wales, was godmother of her daughter, Lady Edwina, and her son, Hugh, the current Duke of Westminster, is the godson of Charles III and godfather to Prince George of Wales and Prince Archie of Sussex.[5][6]

Career

The Duchess supports many charitable endeavours in Cheshire and across the United Kingdom, these include the Alex Moulton Charitable Trust and the Hospice of the Good Shepherd.[7][8][9]

The Duchess owns a vineyard in Portofino called "La Cappelletta" where she produces Vermentino della Cappelletta, a Ligurian Vermentino.[10][11][12]

Marriage and issue

Natalia met Gerald Grosvenor, Earl Grosvenor, at a ball at Blenheim Palace in 1977.[citation needed][3]

They married the following year on 17 October 1978 at St Mary's Church, Luton, near her family seat, Luton Hoo. The bride wore a gown designed by Sarah Butler and an antique diamond and spinel tiara which Grosvenor had bought for her that had belonged to Princess Catherine Bagration.[citation needed] Upon marriage, Natalia was styled as Countess Grosvenor.

Four months later, Grosvenor's father died and he became the 6th Duke of Westminster, thus making Natalia the Duchess of Westminster. They had four children and seven grandchildren:

Ancestry

More information Ancestors of Natalia Grosvenor, Duchess of Westminster ...
Ancestors of Natalia Grosvenor, Duchess of Westminster[2]
8. Joseph Edward John Phillips
4. Joseph Harold John Phillips
9. Maud Henrietta Thurnall
2. Harold Pedro Joseph Phillips
10. John Pablo Bryce
5. Mary Mercedes Bryce
11. María de las Mercedes González de Candamo y Iriarte
1. Natalia Grosvenor, Duchess of Westminster
12. Sir Julius Wernher, 1st Baronet
6. Sir Harold Wernher, 3rd Baronet
13. Alice Sedgwick Mankiewicz
3. Georgina Wernher
14. Grand Duke Michael Mikhailovich of Russia
7. Countess Anastasia Mikhailovna de Torby
15. Countess Sophie Nikolaievna of Merenberg
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