Fortune FitzRoy, Duchess of Grafton

Ann Fortune FitzRoy, Dowager Duchess of Grafton, GCVO JP (née Smith; 24 February 1920), is a British courtier who has served as Mistress of the Robes to Queen Elizabeth II since 1967.[1] She is the widow of Hugh FitzRoy, 11th Duke of Grafton and grandmother of Henry FitzRoy, 12th Duke of Grafton.

Her Grace

The Dowager Duchess of Grafton

GCVO JP
Mistress of the Robes
Assumed office
1967
MonarchElizabeth II
Preceded byThe Dowager Duchess of Devonshire
Personal details
Born
Ann Fortune Smith

(1920-02-24) 24 February 1920
Spouse(s)
​
​
(m. 1946; died 2011)​
ChildrenJames FitzRoy, Earl of Euston
Lady Henrietta St. George
Lady Virginia Hill
Lord Charles FitzRoy
Lady Olivia Monson
ParentsEvan Cadogan Smith
Beatrice Williams
OccupationMistress of the Robes
(since 1967)

Early life

She was born as Ann Fortune Smith to Captain 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 banking business (formerly known as Smith's Bank of Nottingham, later titled as the National Provincial Bank and then part of NatWest), a Conservative MP, and the founder of the Landmark Trust. Another younger brother is Jeremy Fox Eric Smith (born 1928).[2]

Marriage and children

On 12 October 1946, she married the then Earl of Euston, later 11th Duke of Grafton, at St Mary's Church, Slaugham.[3] The couple had first met at a ball at Euston Hall. They had five children:[2]

  • James Oliver Charles FitzRoy, Earl of Euston (13 December 1947–1 October 2009).[4] He married to Lady Clare Amabel Margaret Kerr and had issue, including Henry FitzRoy, 12th Duke of Grafton.
  • Lady Henrietta Fortune Doreen FitzRoy (born 14 September 1949). She married Edward Gerald Patrick St. George (1928–2004) in 1979, had issue.[5]
  • Lady Virginia Mary Elizabeth FitzRoy (born 10 April 1954). Goddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II.[6] She married Lord Ralph William Francis Joseph Kerr (born 1957), second son of Peter Kerr, 12th Marquess of Lothian, on 6 September 1980; they were divorced in 1987, no issue. Married, secondly, Roger Babington Hill in 1995, no issue.
  • Lord Charles Patrick Hugh FitzRoy (born 7 January 1957).
  • Lady Olivia Rose Mildred FitzRoy (born 1 August 1963).

In 1970, Hugh Fitzroy, Earl of Euston, succeeded his father after his death as 11th Duke of Grafton, whereupon she became known as the Duchess of Grafton. In April 2011, the Duchess of Grafton was widowed.[7] Her husband was succeeded as duke by their grandson, Henry FitzRoy, Viscount Ipswich, since their elder son died in 2009.[8] She turned 100 in February 2020.[9]

Royal service

She was a Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Elizabeth II between 1953 and 1966, and she has been Mistress of the Robes since 1967.[1][10][11] The Duchess, when Countess of Euston, was appointed a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) in the 1965 New Year Honours, she was late promoted to a Dame Commander (DCVO) in the 1970 New Year Honours and a Dame Grand Cross (GCVO) in the 1980 Birthday Honours.[12][13][14]

She served as Justice of the peace for West Sussex between 1972 and 1990.[15]

Honours

References
  1. Her Majesty's A-team DailyTelegraph
  2. Lundy, Darryl. "Ann Fortune Smith". The Peerage. Retrieved 30 May 2011.
  3. "Miss Fortune Smith marries". The Slaugham Archives. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  4. Earl of Euston obituary Daily Telegraph
  5. St George, Sarah. "EDWARD GERALD PATRICK ST. GEORGE".
  6. Maloney, Maggie. "Everything to Know About Queen Elizabeth's 30 Godchildren". Town & Country. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  7. "Death announcements - Grafton". Daily Telegraph. 7 April 2011. Retrieved 30 May 2011.
  8. "Royalty Obituaries - The Duke of Grafton". Daily Telegraph. 11 April 2011. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
  9. Fortune FitzRoy : la Maîtresse de la garde-robe a 100 ans
  10. "No. 39791". The London Gazette. 3 March 1953. p. 1243.
  11. "No. 44219". The London Gazette. 3 January 1967. p. 87.
  12. "No. 44999". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 January 1970. p. 4.
  13. "No. 43529". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 January 1965. p. 5.
  14. "No. 48212". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 June 1980. p. 4.
  15. Burke's peerage, baronetage and knightage (107th ed.). Stokesley: Burke's Peerage & Gentry. 2003. ISBN 0971196621.
  16. "No. 43529". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 January 1965. p. 5.
  17. "No. 44999". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 January 1970. p. 4.
  18. "No. 48212". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 June 1980. p. 4.
Court offices
Preceded by
The Dowager Duchess of Devonshire		 Mistress of the Robes to
Queen Elizabeth II
1967–present		 Succeeded by
Incumbent
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