Fortune FitzRoy, Duchess of Grafton
Encyclopedia
Ann Fortune FitzRoy, Duchess of Grafton GCVO
(born Ann Fortune Smith; 24 February 1920) is the widow of Hugh FitzRoy, 11th Duke of Grafton
. She was a Lady of the Bedchamber
to Queen Elizabeth II
between 1953 and 1966 and has been Mistress of the Robes
since 1967.
Evan Cadogan Eric Smith MC
of Ashfold in Sussex
, and his wife Beatrice Williams. Her younger brother, Sir John Smith
, was a financier with the family bank (formerly Smith's Bank
of Nottingham, later the National Provincial Bank
and then part of NatWest), a Conservative
MP
, and the founder of the Landmark Trust
. She has another younger brother, Jeremy Fox Eric Smith (born 1928).
, son of Charles Alfred Euston Fitzroy, 10th Duke of Grafton
, and his wife Lady Doreen Maria Josepha Sydney Buxton. The Dukes of Grafton are direct descendants of the 1st Duke of Grafton, the illegitimate son of King Charles II
by his mistress Barbara Villiers.
Together they had five children:
In 1970, Hugh Fitzroy, Earl of Euston succeeded his father as 11th Duke of Grafton
, whereupon she became Duchess of Grafton.
In April 2011, the Duchess of Grafton was widowed. Her husband was succeeded as Duke by their grandson Henry FitzRoy, Viscount Ipswich
, as their son and previous heir James, Earl of Euston, had died in 2009.
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
(born Ann Fortune Smith; 24 February 1920) is the widow of Hugh FitzRoy, 11th Duke of Grafton
Hugh FitzRoy, 11th Duke of Grafton
Hugh Denis Charles FitzRoy, 11th Duke of Grafton, was the son of Charles FitzRoy, 10th Duke of Grafton, and his first wife Lady Doreen Maria Josepha Sydney Buxton, second daughter of Sydney Buxton, 1st Earl Buxton. He was known until 1970 as the Earl of Euston.-Biography:He was born in 1919 in...
. She was a Lady of the Bedchamber
Lady of the Bedchamber
This is an incomplete list of those who have served as Lady of the Bedchamber in the British Royal Household...
to Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
between 1953 and 1966 and has been Mistress of the Robes
Mistress of the Robes
The Mistress of the Robes is the senior lady of the British Royal Household. Formerly responsible for the Queen's clothes and jewellery, the post now has the responsibility for arranging the rota of attendance of the Ladies in Waiting on the Queen, along with various duties at State ceremonies...
since 1967.
Biography
She was born as Ann Fortune Smith, the daughter of CaptainCaptain (British Army and Royal Marines)
Captain is a junior officer rank of the British Army and Royal Marines. It ranks above Lieutenant and below Major and has a NATO ranking code of OF-2. The rank is equivalent to a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy and to a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force...
Evan Cadogan Eric Smith MC
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
of Ashfold in Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
, and his wife Beatrice Williams. Her younger brother, Sir John Smith
John Lindsay Eric Smith
Sir John Lindsay Eric Smith, CH, CBE was a British banker, Conservative Member of Parliament, and Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire. He was involved with many architectural, industrial and maritime conservation charities...
, was a financier with the family bank (formerly Smith's Bank
Smith's Bank
Smith's Bank in Nottingham was one of the earliest banks established in England and was the first English bank outside London.-Thomas Smith :...
of Nottingham, later the National Provincial Bank
National Provincial Bank
National Provincial Bank was a British retail bank which operated in England and Wales from 1833 until its merger into the National Westminster Bank in 1970; it remains a registered company but is dormant...
and then part of NatWest), a Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
, and the founder of the Landmark Trust
Landmark Trust
The Landmark Trust is a British building conservation charity, founded in 1965 by Sir John and Lady Smith, that rescues buildings of historic interest or architectural merit and then gives them a new life by making them available for holiday rental...
. She has another younger brother, Jeremy Fox Eric Smith (born 1928).
Marriage and children
On 12 October 1946 Ann Fortune FitzRoy married the then Earl of EustonHugh FitzRoy, 11th Duke of Grafton
Hugh Denis Charles FitzRoy, 11th Duke of Grafton, was the son of Charles FitzRoy, 10th Duke of Grafton, and his first wife Lady Doreen Maria Josepha Sydney Buxton, second daughter of Sydney Buxton, 1st Earl Buxton. He was known until 1970 as the Earl of Euston.-Biography:He was born in 1919 in...
, son of Charles Alfred Euston Fitzroy, 10th Duke of Grafton
Charles FitzRoy, 10th Duke of Grafton
Charles Alfred Euston FitzRoy, 10th Duke of Grafton was a soldier and farmer.Charles was born at Euston Hall near Thetford, the eldest son of the Reverend Lord Charles Edward FitzRoy and of his wife Ismay FitzRoy, daughter of Charles FitzRoy, 3rd Baron Southampton...
, and his wife Lady Doreen Maria Josepha Sydney Buxton. The Dukes of Grafton are direct descendants of the 1st Duke of Grafton, the illegitimate son of King Charles II
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
by his mistress Barbara Villiers.
Together they had five children:
- James Oliver Charles Fitzroy, Earl of Euston, born on 13 December 1947, died on
- Lady Henrietta Fortune Doreen Fitzroy, born on 14 September 1949 (age 62)
- Lady Virginia Mary Elizabeth Fitzroy, born on 10 April 1954 (age 57)
- Lord Charles Patrick Hugh Fitzroy, born on 7 January 1957 (age 55)
- Lady Olivia Rose Mildred Fitzroy, born on 1 August 1963 (age 48)
In 1970, Hugh Fitzroy, Earl of Euston succeeded his father as 11th Duke of Grafton
Hugh FitzRoy, 11th Duke of Grafton
Hugh Denis Charles FitzRoy, 11th Duke of Grafton, was the son of Charles FitzRoy, 10th Duke of Grafton, and his first wife Lady Doreen Maria Josepha Sydney Buxton, second daughter of Sydney Buxton, 1st Earl Buxton. He was known until 1970 as the Earl of Euston.-Biography:He was born in 1919 in...
, whereupon she became Duchess of Grafton.
In April 2011, the Duchess of Grafton was widowed. Her husband was succeeded as Duke by their grandson Henry FitzRoy, Viscount Ipswich
Henry FitzRoy, 12th Duke of Grafton
Henry Oliver Charles FitzRoy, 12th Duke of Grafton is an English peer. He inherited the Dukedom of Grafton from his grandfather, the 11th Duke, on 7 April 2011.-Biography:...
, as their son and previous heir James, Earl of Euston, had died in 2009.
Titles and styles
- 24 February 1920 12 October 1946: Miss Ann Fortune Smith
- 12 October 1946 11 November 1970: Countess of Euston
- 11 November 1970 7 April 2011: Her Grace The Duchess of Grafton
- 7 April 2011 present: Her Grace The Dowager Duchess of Grafton