The Non-Sovereign Princely
and Ducal Houses of Europe
Volume III - WII

Ducal House of Wellington
House of Wellesley

The members of this family bear the surname Wellesley. The children of the Dukes of Wellington and Marquesses of Douro enjoy the title Lord or Lady before their Christian names. 

The Dukedom of Wellington, derived from Wellington in Somerset, is a hereditary title in the senior rank of the Peerage of the United Kingdom. The first holder of the title was Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington (1769-1852), the noted Irish-born career British Army officer and statesman, and unqualified references to the Duke of Wellington almost always refer to him. He is most famous for, together with Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher, defeating Napoleon I at Waterloo in Flanders. The Wellesley family is, in origin, an Anglo-Irish aristocratic dynasty.

The titles of Duke of Wellington and Marquess Douro were bestowed upon Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, on 11 May 1814. The subsidiary titles of the Duke of Wellington are: Marquess of Wellington (1812), Marquess Douro (1814), Earl of Mornington (1760 - but only inherited by the Dukes of Wellington in 1863), Earl of Wellington (1812), Viscount Wellesley (1760 - inherited in 1863), Viscount Wellington (1809), Baron Mornington (1746 - also inherited in 1863), and Baron Douro (1809). The Viscountcy of Wellesley and the Barony and Earldom of Mornington are in the Peerage of Ireland; the rest are in the Peerage of the United Kingdom.

The Dukes of Wellington also hold the foreign titles of Prins van Waterloo (Prince of Waterloo, United Kingdom of the Netherlands, 1815), Duque de Ciudad Rodrigo (Duke of Ciudad Rodrigo, Spain, 1812), Duque da Vitória (Duke of the Victory, Portugal, 1812), Marquês de Torres Vedras (Marquis of Torres Vedras, Portugal, 1812) and Conde de Vimeiro (Count of Vimeiro, Portugal, 1811). These were granted to the first Duke as victory titles for his distinguished services as victorious commanding general in the Peninsular War (in Spain and Portugal) and at the Battle of Waterloo (in what is now Belgium). The family seat is Stratfield Saye House, near Basingstoke, Hampshire. Apsley House, in London, is now owned by English Heritage, although the family retain an apartment there.

The List of Dukes of Wellington (1814)

The Genealogy of The Ducal House

Hon. ARTHUR Wesley, b.Dublin 1 May 1769 (son of Garret Wesley, Earl of Mornington); changed surname to Wellesley May 1798; cr 4 Sep 1809 Baron Douro of Wellesley and Viscount Wellington of Talavera and of Wellington; cr 28 Feb 1812 Earl of Wellington; cr 3 Oct 1812 Marquess of Wellington; cr 11 May 1814 Marquess of Douro and Duke of Wellington; also cr 1811 Conde de Vimeiro in Portugal, in 1812 Duque de Ciudad Rodrigo in Spain and Marques de Torres Vedras and Duque de Vittoria in Portugal, in 1815 Prince of Waterloo in the Netherlands; d.Walmer Castle 14 Sep 1852; he had m.Dublin 10 Apr 1806 Hon. Catherine Sarah Dorothea Pakenham (1772-Apsley House 24 Apr 1831)

1a) ARTHUR RICHARD, 2nd Duke of Wellington, etc, suc as 6th Earl of Mornington 1863 (London 3 Feb 1807-Brighton 13 Aug 1884); m.London 18 Apr 1839 Lady Elizabeth Hay (Yester 27 Sep 1820-Bearhill Park, Walton-on-Thames 13 Aug 1904)

2a) Charles (Phoenix Park, Dublin 16 Jan 1808-Apsley House 9 Oct 1858); m.London 9 Jul 1844 Augusta Sophia Anna Pierrepont (30 May 1820-London 13 Jul 1893)

1b) Arthur (5 May 1845-7 Jul 1846)

2b) HENRY, 3rd Duke of Wellington, etc (Apsley House 5 Apr 1846-Stratfield Saye 8 Jun 1900); m.7 Mar 1882 Evelyn Katrine Gwenfra Williams (1855-West Green House, Hartley Wintney, Hants 11 Mar 1939)

3b) Victoria Alexandrina (Apsley House 2 Apr 1847-31 Jul 1933); m.London 6 Sep 1877 Ion Trant Hamilton, Lord Holmpatrick (14 Jul 1839-Abbotstown House 6 Mar 1898)

4b) ARTHUR Charles, 4th Duke of Wellington, etc (Apsley House 15 Mar 1849-Ewhurst Park, Basingstoke 18 Jun 1934); m.London 24 Oct 1872 Kathleen Emily Bulkeley Williams (Beaumaris 13 Jun 1848-Apsley House 24 Jun 1927)

1c) Evelyn Kathleen (30 Jul 1873-19 Jan 1922); m.18 Jun 1900 Hon. Robert James (13 May 1873-13 Dec 1960)

2c) ARTHUR Charles, 5th Duke of Wellington, etc (London 9 Jun 1876-London 11 Dec 1941); m.London 23 Mar 1909 Hon Lilian Maud Glen Coats (Belleisle 3 Feb 1885-Orford Hall, Ham, Richmond 3 May 1946)

1d) Anne Maud, suc 1943 as Duquesa de Ciudad Rodrigo, which titles she ceded to her uncle, the 7th Duke (b.London 2 Feb 1910); m.London 23 Mar 1933 (div 1963) Hon David Reginald Rhys (18 Mar 1907-1991)

2d) HENRY Valerian George, 6th Duke of Wellington, etc (London 14 Jul 1912-k.a.Salerno 16 Sep 1943)

3c) Richard (London 30 Sep 1879-k.a.Zandvoorde 29 Oct 1914); m.London 30 Apr 1908 Louise Nesta Pamela FitzGerald (London 8 Jan 1889-21 Feb 1946)

1d) Pamela (London 14 May 1912-31 Mar 1987); m.1st London 12 Jun 1933 (div 1943) Charles Robert Archibald Grant (29 Dec 1903-21 Jan 1972); m.2d London 24 Jul 1947 Hon Denis Gomer Berry (London 11 Jul 1911-1983)

2d) Mary (b.London 8 Jan 1915)

4c) GERALD, 7th Duke of Wellington, etc (Inchicore 21 Aug 1885-4 Jan 1972); m.London 30 Apr 1914 Dorothy Violet Ashton (Maidenhead 21 Aug 1885-Penns-in-the-Rocks, Withyham, Sussex 11 Jul 1956) 

1d) ARTHUR Valerian, 8th Duke of Wellington, etc (b.Rome 2 Jul 1915); m.Jerusalem 28 Jan 1944 Diana Ruth McConnel (b.1921)

1e) Arthur Charles Valerian, Marquess of Douro (b.Windsor 19 Aug 1945); m.St.Paul's Knightsbridge, London 3 Feb 1977 Antonia Pss of Prussia (b.London 28 Apr 1955)

1f) Arthur Gerald, Earl of Mornington (b.London 31 Jan 1978); m.St.James Church, Barbados, 4 Jun 2005 Jemma Madeleine Kidd (b.Guildford 20 Sep 1974)

1g) Mae Madeleine (b.London 4 Jan 2010)

2g) Arthur Darcy, Viscount Wellesley (b.London 4 Jan 2010)

2f) Honor Victoria (b.London 25 Oct 1979); m.Stratfield Saye 3 Jul 2004 Hon. Orlando William Montagu (b.16 Jan 1971)

3f) Mary Luise (b.London 16 Dec 1986)

4f) Charlotte Anne (b.London 8 Oct 1990)

5f) Frederick Charles (b.London 30 Sep 1992)

2e) Richard Gerald (b.Windsor 20 Jun 1949); m.14 Jul 1973 Joanna Marion Sumner

1f) Natasha Doone (b.5 Oct 1975); m.20 Oct 2007 C. Tom Halliday

2f) Davinia Chloe (b.Ayrshire 10 Oct 1977)

3e) Caroline Jane (b.Park Corner, Heckfield 6 Jul 1951)

4e) John Henry (b.Park Corner 20 Apr 1954); m.Church of the Immaculate Conception, Farm St, London 7 May 1977 Corinne Vaes

1f) Gerald Valerian (b.Queen Charlotte's Hospital 6 Jun 1981)

2f) Alexandrina Sofia (b.23 Jul 1983)

5e) James Christopher Douglas (b.16 Dec 1964); m.1st 1994 (div 2005) Laura Elizabeth Wedge; m.2d Ayrshire shortly before 26 Jul 2005 Emma Nethercott

1f) Eleanor Rose (b.9 Dec 1995)

2f) Oliver Valerian (b.2005)

3f) Skye Joanna (b.2006)

2d) Elizabeth (b.London 26 Dec 1918); m.London 18 Nov 1939 (div 1960) Thomas Clyde (b.London 1917)

5c) Eileen (Windsor 13 Feb 1887-31 Oct 1952); m.London 11 Sep 1916 Cuthbert Julian Orde (18 Dec 1888-19 Dec 1968)

6c) George (Windsor 29 Jul 1889-31 Jul 1967); m.1st New York 12 Mar 1917 Louise Nesta Pamela FitzGerald, his brother's widow (1889-1946); m.2d 25 Nov 1955 Jean McGillivray

1d) Richard (Hempstead, Long Island, New York 22 Jun 1920-1984); m.1st Buckland Faringdon 30 Apr 1948 (div 1970) Ruth Haig-Thomas (1924-17 Jul 2008); m.2d 1970 Jill Burton

1e) Nesta (b.Buckland 27 Feb 1951); m.5 Sep 1985 Richard Sidney Hawes

2e) Lucy (b.Buckland 15 May 1953); m.26 Jan 1991 Charles Robert Collin

3e) Charles (21 Oct 1955-18 Mar 2009); m.1981 Louise Charlotte Buxton

1f) Rosanna (b.12 Oct 1989)

2f) Charlotte (b.15 Oct 1992)

4e) John (25 Jan 1962-29 Aug 2009); m.1994 Sarah Catriona Grantham Duncan

1f) Thomas Richard Henry (b.2000)

5b) Mary Angela (Apsley House 21 Oct 1850-26 Apr 1936); m.London 7 Sep 1875 George Arthur Jervoise Scott, of Rotherfield Park (2 Nov 1833-4 Mar 1895)

6b) Georgina (d.3 Feb 1880); m.22 Jul 1874 William Rolle Malcolm (10 Jan 1840-3 Feb 1923)

The members of this family bear the surname Grosvenor; The children of the Dukes of Westminster and the daughters of the Earls Grosvenor bear the title Lord or Lady before their Christian names.

The title Duke of Westminster was created by Queen Victoria in 1874 and bestowed upon Hugh Grosvenor, the 3rd Marquess of Westminster. The title is derived from Westminster. The current holder of the title is Gerald Grosvenor, 6th Duke of Westminster. Large real estate holdings in central London make him one of Britain's richest men. The Duke of Westminster's seat is at Eaton Hall, Cheshire.

Sir Richard Grosvenor, the 7th Baronet, was created Baron Grosvenor in 1761 and in 1784 became both Viscount Belgrave and Earl Grosvenor under George III. The title Marquess of Westminster was bestowed upon Robert Grosvenor the 2nd Earl Grosvenor at the coronation of William IV in 1831. The subsidiary titles are: Marquess of Westminster (created 1831), Earl Grosvenor (1784), Viscount Belgrave, of Belgrave in the County of Chester (1784), and Baron Grosvenor, of Eaton in the County of Chester (1761). The Dukedom and Marquessate are in the Peerage of the United Kingdom; the rest are in the Peerage of Great Britain. The courtesy title of the eldest son and heir to the Duke is Earl Grosvenor.

The Grosvenor Baronets of Eaton (1622)

The Earls Grosvenor (1784)

The Marquesses of Westminster (1831)

The Dukes of Westminster (1874)

The heir apparent and the only person in line of succession to the Dukedom of Westminster is the present holder's son Hugh Richard Louis Grosvenor, Earl Grosvenor (b. 1991). If the Duke of Westminster doesn't father any other legitimate son and Earl Grosvenor dies leaving no heirs male, the dukedom will go extinct. Other titles would be inherited by a distant cousin.

1a) Victor Alexander, Earl Grosvenor (Stafford House 28 Apr 1853-Saighton Towers, nr Chester 22 Jan 1884); m.Sandbeck House, Yorks 3 Nov 1874 Lady Sibell Mary Lumley (Tickhill Castle 25 Mar 1855-SaightonGrange 4 Feb 1929)

1b) Constance Sibell (Cliveden 22 Aug 1875-8 Jul 1957); m.London 15 Jul 1899 Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 9th Earl of Shaftesbury (31 Aug 1869-25 Mar 1961)

2b) Lettice Mary Elizabeth (Cliveden 25 Dec 1876-26 Jul 1936); m.Eccleston 26 Jul 1902 William Lygon, 7th Earl Beauchamp (20 Feb 1872-15 Nov 1938)

3b) HUGH Richard Arthur, 2nd Duke of Westminster, etc (Saighton Towers 19 Mar 1879-Loch More Lodge 20 Jul 1953); m.1st London 16 Feb 1901 (div 1919) Constance Edwina Cornwallis-West (1876-Brockenhurst, Hants 21 Jan 1970); m.2d 26 Nov 1920 (div 1926) Violet Mary Nelson (1891-1983); m.3d Register Office, Prince's Row, Westminster 20 Feb 1930 (div 1947) Hon Loelia Mary Ponsonby (6 Feb 1902-London 1 Nov 1993); m.4th Chester 7 Feb 1947 Anne Winifred Sullivan (13 Apr 1915-31 Aug 2003)

1c) Ursula Mary Olivia (London 21 Feb 1902-5 Jun 1978); m.1st London 23 Jul 1924 (div 1940) William Patrick Filmer-Sankey; m.2d 5 Oct 1940 Stephen Vernon

2c) Edward George Hugh. Earl Grosvenor (Grosvenor House 16 Nov 1904-13 Feb 1909)

3c) Mary Constance (London 27 Jun 1910-Eaton 7 Jun 2000)

2a) Elizabeth Harriet (11 Oct 1856-London 25 Mar 1928); m.Aldford, Cheshire 2 Feb 1876 James Edward William Theobald Butler, 3rd Marquess of Ormonde (Kilkenny Castle 5 Oct 1844-Kilkenny Castle 26 Oct 1919)

3a) Beatrice Constance (Calveley Hall 14 Nov 1858-Boughton Park 12 Jan 1911); m.1st Eccleston 13 Nov 1877 Charles Compton William Cavendish, 3rd Lord Chesham (Burlington House 13 Dec 1850-k.while hunting nr Daventry 9 Nov 1907)

4a) Arthur Hugh (London 31 May 1860-29 Apr 1929); m.London 12 Apr 1893 Helen Sheffield (1872-12 Jul 1950)

1b) Robert Arthur (Eaton 25 May 1895-12 Jun 1953); m.9 Dec 1925 Doris May Wignall (d.13 Nov 1975)

1c) Hugh Frederick (19 Oct 1927-9 Apr 1947)

2c) Robina Jill (b.28 Aug 1930); m.1st 19 Sep 1951 (div 1961) Michael Philip Forsyth-Forrest; m.2d 1961 Ronald Mills

2b) Constance Isolde (Broxton 12 Jan 1900- ); m.2 Jun 1930 William Reginald James Alston-Roberts-West (5 Sep 1900-k.a.Belgium 21 May 1940)

3b) Barbara (Broxton 17 Aug 1901-30 Aug 1977); m.15 Jan 1929 John Anthony Alexander Rous, 4th Earl of Stradbroke (1 Apr 1903-14 Jul 1983)

5a) Henry George (London 23 Jun 1861-27 Dec 1914); m.1st Quenby Hall 21 Apr 1887 Dora Mina Erskine-Wemyss (Londoin 6 Feb 1856-London 24 Dec 1894); m.2d London 19 Oct 1911 Rosamund Angharad Lloyd (d.16 Apr 1941)

1b) Millicent Constance (London 14 Jan 1889-24 Aug 1944); m.1st London 15 Nov 1909 (div 1919) William Molyneux Clarke (28 Sep 1869-19__); m.2d Aug 1919 Frank Billinge (d.28 sep 1928); m.3d 6 Aug 1932 John Finlay Dew

2b) Dorothy Alice Margaret Augusta, granted rank of Duke's daughter 1954 (London 22 Aug 1890-11 Jan 1966); m.1st London 15 Apr 1909 (div 1919) Albert Edward Harry Meyer Archibald Primrose, Lord Dalmeny [later, 6th Earl of Rosebery] (8 Jan 1882-30 May 1974); m.2d 16 Mar 1920 (div 1927) Robert Bingham Brassey (d.14 Nov 1946); m.3d 23 May 1929 (div 1938) Chetwode Charles Hamilton Hilton-Greene (d.31 Dec 1963); m.4th 7 Feb 1938 Richard Herbert Mack (d.16 Sep 1967)

3b) WILLIAM, 3rd Duke of Westminster (Eaton Hall 23 Dec 1894-22 Feb 1963)

6a) Robert Edward (19 Mar 1869-Constantinople 16 Jun 1888)

7a) Margaret Evelyn (Eaton Hall 9 Apr 1873-London 27 Mar 1929); m.Eaton Hall 12 Dec 1894 Adolphus Pr of Teck, later, Marquess of Cambridge (Kensington Palace 13 Aug 1868-Shatton Hall 24 Oct 1927)

8a) Gerald Richard (London 14 Jul 1874-10 Oct 1940)

9a) Mary Cavendish (London 12 May 1883-14 Jan 1959); m.1st London 10 Jun 1903 Henry William Crichton, Viscount Crichton (30 Sep 1872-k.a.31 Oct 1914); m.2d 18 Apr 1918 Hon Algernon Francis Stanley (8 Jan 1874-10 Feb 1962)

10a) Hugh William (London 6 Apr 1884-k.a.30 Oct 1914); m.London 21 Apr 1906 Lady Mabel Florence Mary Crichton (31 Mar 1882-15 Jul 1944)

1b) GERALD Hugh, 4th Duke of Westminster (13 Feb 1907-Saighton Grange nr Chester 25 Feb 1967); m.11 Apr 1945 Sally Perry (27 Jun 1910-Frenchay Hospital, Bristol 30 May 1990)

2b) ROBERT George, 5th Duke of Westminster (London 24 Apr 1910-Ely Lodge, Enniskillen 19 Feb 1979); m.3 Dec 1946 Hon Viola Maud Lyttelton (10 Jun 1912-Dungannon 3 May 1987)

1c) Leonora Mary (b.1 Feb 1949); m.Chester Cathedral 8 Mar 1975 (div 1986) Thomas Patrick John Anson, 5th Earl of Lichfield (b.25 Apr 1939)

2c) GERALD Cavendish, 6th Duke of Westminster, etc (b.Omagh 22 Dec 1951); m.Luton 7 Oct 1978 Natalia Ayesha Phillips (b.London 8 May 1959; see Russia)

1d) Tamara Katharina (b.St.Mary's Hospital, Paddington 20 Dec 1979); m.Chester Cathedral 6 Nov 2004 Edward Bernard Charles van Cutsem (b.6 Jun 1973)

2d) Edwina Louise (b.St.Mary's Hospital, Paddington 4 Nov 1981)

3d) Hugh Richard Louis, Earl Grosvenor (b.St.Mary's Hospital, Paddington 29 Jan 1991)

4d) Viola Georgina (b.St.Mary's Hospital, Paddington 12 Oct 1992)

3c) Jane Meriel (b.8 Feb 1953); m.1st Church of St.Mary the Virgin, Eccleston nr Chester 10 Sep 1977 (div 1990) Guy David Innes-Ker, 10th Duke of Roxburghe (b.18 Nov 1954); m.2d 11 Jun 1996 Edward William Dawnay (b.10 Feb 1950)

11a) Helen Frances (Eaton Hall 5 Feb 1888-21 Oct 1970); m.10 Nov 1915 Lord Henry Charles Seymour (18 May 1878-18 Jun 1939)

12a) Edward Arthur (Eaton Hall 27 Oct 1892-26 Aug 1929); m.Lyndhurst 5 Aug 1914 Lady Dorothy Margaret Browne (1 Jan 1888-8 Mar 1961)

1b) Beatrice Elizabeth Katharine (6 Nov 1915-19__); m.3 Jun 1944 (div 1945) Richard Desiré Girouard

2b) Rosemary Helen (4 Mar 1918-19 Sep 1969); m.23 Jul 1945 Hon George William ffolkes Dawnay (20 Apr 1909-1990)