Guide for blue-blooded spouse hunters

Press, 13 June 1984, Page 15

Guide for blue-blooded spouse hunters

NZPA London Britain’s wealthiest and most eligible men and women will soon be listed in a blue-blood’s guide to matrimony by “Burke’s Peerage,” the nobility watcher’s handbook. Instead of wading through pages of the book looking for a perfect up-market partner for Penelope or Godfrey, Mumsie and Pater will be able to look at a list in the front of the Peerage. According to the publisher, Harold Brooks-Baker, the list should make it possible to pick an elite partner at the drop of a top hat. Appropriately, Mr Brooks-Baker has dubbed his list the “blood and gold” to denote its aristocratic and millionaire content. Judging by the demand for information on eligible nobles, the list should be a big success. “We are continually getting inquiries from Europe — mostly Italy, France, and Germany — and from Canada and the United States,” said Mr Brooks-Baker. “They want lists of the most eligible young people, wealthy heiresses, and unmarried heirs to title.” Mr Brooks-Baker does not feel, however, that he is dealing in people as though

they were sides of beef, albeit blue ribbon beef. “The inquiries are quite aboveboard,” he said. Mr Brooks-Baker said most of the enquiries came from people already in the “blue and gold”. “Burke’s Peerage” is assembling the list now, and will release it early next year, in an enlarged edition of the publication. Mr Brooks-Baker said the first list would be just a foretaste of an improved version in later editions. These would include more details, including such vital information as whether the prospective partner’s father owns more than 10,000 acres or whether the young man in question attended Eton, Harrow or Rugby. Mr Brooks-Baker said two definite entrants in the first list would be the Etoneducated Lord Burghersh, the 32-year-old son of the Earl of Westmorland, and 20-year-old Lady Helen Windsor, daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Kent. While it may sound a little like a bloodstock agent’s guide, the list is certain to become a sort of status symbol. Missing out would be like not being invited to the Buckingham Palace garden party.