DUKE DIVORCED.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 19 June 1925, Page 5

DUKE DIVORCED.

MISCONDUCT AT MONTE CARLO. “WOULD LIVE' AS HE LIKED.” . . ) , |:i (, !'U ■ ,'! LONDON,' Thursday. The Duchess of Westminster was granted a divorce on the grounds of the Duke’s misconduct with a married woman in Monte Carlo. The case was removed from the special jury list, and heard as an undefended suit. ! The Duchess, in evidence, said that While, staying aboard a'yacht in Monte Carlo the' Duke 'angrily declined to cease! hife* associations with women, and asserted that he would live as he liked. HP admitted living with . Several women. Petitioner thereupon left ‘ the and 1 N.Z. Cable. Assn.

'(The Duke; bf Westminster is 46 years of age, and one of the richest ■men in the Empire, owning large areas of London and many country estate's. His first -wife, Constance Edwina Cornwallis W.est,, to whom he: was married ■in- 1901, divorced him in 1919. His present wife, whom he married in 1920, was formerly Mrs. Violet Mary Geraldine Rowley, who had divorced her husband, a guardsman. Following their matrimonial rift, a puarrel between the Duke and. Duchess, of Westminster, regarding the possession of theif house in Berkeley Square, was ventilated in court, when a motion onbehalf of the Duchess for an injunction- to restrain the Duke from ejecting the Duchess, and her servants from Bourdon House, London, was dismissdaughters of the late Sir William Nelof the most beautiful women in England. She has a cameo-like face, dark, .'beautifully shingled hair, slight and graceful figure,- and- all -the skill of a - man-in outdoor g'ames. She was brought up on her father’s estate, which'joins that of the duke in Cheshire. . The ypungest.and most beautiful five . daughters pf, the, Nelsop, the shipping »nvngnatey'she has 'her- 1 self a considerable fortune. /For some time t-he duchess has; hunted her own pack of hounds, and has-even acted as her own huntsman. She races under her own colours, plays tennis like a professional, and dances a lfit. The duke, W'ho is known as Ben d’Or among his intimates —after that famous Derby winner of that name, owned by a former duke —is also an all-roand sports-" man. He is fabulously rich, owns great estates in Cheshire and Flintshire, be- ( sides being one of London’s greatest landlords. His life has been full of adventure and exciting incident. He is 45. Tull, handsome and athletic, he rides to hounds, and is a very keen point-to-pbinter. He organised the British International polo team. During the war he served in France, and later in Egypt Avith an armoured car section, where he distinguished himself and won the D.S.O. Eaton Hall, his Cheshire seat, is one of the biggest private residences in England. It is so huge that when tlic duke is “in residence” he actually lives in a nearby building, audit is very seldom that the , mansion ,is i used. The duke had liis -wonderful yacht, Flying Cloud, redecorated 1 , and put in commission for a tour through the Mediterranean. Flying Cloud is one of the most sumptuous pri! vate yachts afloat. Within, it is a

marvel of magnificence. There is a massive carved: grand staircase, a complete self-contained suite for the dueh: ess, with bedroom and boudoir, and a drawing room, lit by a. glass dome, is’ bathroom with a bath of gold. The a. 4 luxurious as any land-treasure-house, of antique furniture, paintings and gold and wood panellings.)