Sandra Seagram

Seagram was born into a wealthy Canadian distilling family. Her father, Philip Frowde Seagram, was a captain in the 48th Highlanders of Canada and, when he was killed on 8 March 1941, became the first officer of that regiment to be killed in action in World War II.^[1][2] Her mother, Martha Elizabeth Telfer, died two and a half months after Sandra's father was killed. Her paternal grandfather was Edward F. Seagram, son of Joseph E. Seagram, the founder of Seagram's distillery.^[3]

After her parents' deaths, she was raised by her paternal uncle Campbell Seagram.^[3] She was educated at Branksome Hall, a private girls' school in Toronto.

On 17 July 1958, when she was 20 years old, Seagram became the last debutante to be presented at the Court of St James's.^[4][5] Her mother and grandmother had been presented before her.^[6] She curtsied to Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother – deputizing for an ill Queen Elizabeth II – and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, at Buckingham Palace.^[7] She was one of 1,400 debutantes presented that season.^[7]

In 1959, Seagram married Italian Eugenio Annovazzi and settled in Rome.^[6] They have two children.^[3]