Frances Helen Manners, Duchess of Rutland (néeSweeny; 19 June 1937 – 21 January 2024) was a British peeress and socialite. The wife of Charles Manners, 10th Duke of Rutland, following his death in 1999, she was known as the Dowager Duchess of Rutland.
Frances Helen Sweeny was born on 19 June 1937 at Beaumont House, a nursing home in Marylebone Lane, London, to American amateur golfer, socialite and businessman Charles Francis Sweeny and his wife, Scottish debutante Margaret Whigham.[1][2] Her mother had suffered eight miscarriages and given birth to a stillborn daughter prior to her birth.[3] She was baptised in the Roman Catholic Church on 21 July 1937 at the Brompton Oratory.[4] She had one younger brother, Brian Charles Sweeny (1940–2021).
Her parents divorced in 1947 and her mother subsequently married the 11th Duke of Argyll in 1951 and scandalously divorced him in 1963.[5] Frances and her brother were largely raised by their mother's cook.[6] She attended finishing school in Florence and Paris and was acclaimed "debutante of the year" in 1955.[1]
Marriage and familyedit
On 15 May 1958, Sweeny married Charles Manners, 10th Duke of Rutland, considered one of Britain's most eligible bachelors, at Caxton Hall.[7] She wore a pink organza cocktail dress by Norman Hartnell.[6] Her mother had unsuccessfully petitioned the Vatican for an annulment of the Duke's previous marriage.[1] They had four children:
Lord Robert George Manners (18 June 1961 – 28 February 1964)
Lady Helen Theresa Margaret Manners (born 11 November 1962), married Dr. John Chipman, and had issue
Lord Edward John Francis Manners (born 29 May 1965), married Gabrielle Ross, and had issue
Having once been close to her mother, the two had a falling out after the Duchess of Argyll insisted her daughter raise her children as Roman Catholics. This, coupled with the embarrassment Frances felt over the press attention her mother's divorce was receiving, led to a two-decade rift.[6] The two would often meet in London society, barely acknowledging one another. Mother and daughter did not reconcile until 1991, two years before Margaret's death.[1]
The Duchess was widowed in 1999. She died at Belvoir Castle on 21 January 2024, at the age of 86.[8]
In popular cultureedit
Frances is portrayed by Phoebe Farnham in A Very British Scandal, a historical drama television miniseries portraying her mother's divorce from the Duke of Argyll in 1963.[9]
Referencesedit
^ abcde"The Dowager Duchess of Rutland". The Times. 25 January 2024. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
^"Manners, Frances – Duchess was a horse-breeder". Grantham Matters. 27 June 2013. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
^Spence, Lyndsy (5 February 2019). "The real scandal of the Duchess of Argyll is that she was a victim of celebrity hacking". The Scotsman. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
^"Sweeny Christening". Getty Images. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
^"The scarlet Duchess of Argyll: Much more than just a Highland fling". The Independent. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
^ abcd"The Dowager Duchess of Rutland, society beauty and devoted chatelaine of Belvoir Castle – obituary". The Telegraph. 26 January 2024. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
^Delaney, Evie (24 January 2024). "A Very British Scandal, now laid to rest? 'Frosty' Frances, daughter of Margaret, Duchess of Argyll, dies at home aged 86". Tatler. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
^"A Very British Scandal (2021)". IMDb. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
April 12, 2024
frances, manners, duchess, rutland, frances, helen, manners, duchess, rutland, née, sweeny, june, 1937, january, 2024, british, peeress, socialite, wife, charles, manners, 10th, duke, rutland, following, death, 1999, known, dowager, duchess, rutland, gracethe,. Frances Helen Manners Duchess of Rutland nee Sweeny 19 June 1937 21 January 2024 was a British peeress and socialite The wife of Charles Manners 10th Duke of Rutland following his death in 1999 she was known as the Dowager Duchess of Rutland Her GraceThe Duchess of RutlandBornFrances Helen Sweeny 1937 06 19 19 June 1937Marylebone London EnglandDied21 January 2024 2024 01 21 aged 86 Belvoir Castle Leicestershire EnglandSpouseCharles Manners 10th Duke of Rutland m 1958 died 1999 wbr ChildrenDavid Manners 11th Duke of Rutland Lord Robert Manners Lady Theresa Chipman Lord Edward MannersParentsCharles Sweeny Margaret Whigham Contents 1 Early life 2 Marriage and family 3 In popular culture 4 ReferencesEarly life editFrances Helen Sweeny was born on 19 June 1937 at Beaumont House a nursing home in Marylebone Lane London to American amateur golfer socialite and businessman Charles Francis Sweeny and his wife Scottish debutante Margaret Whigham 1 2 Her mother had suffered eight miscarriages and given birth to a stillborn daughter prior to her birth 3 She was baptised in the Roman Catholic Church on 21 July 1937 at the Brompton Oratory 4 She had one younger brother Brian Charles Sweeny 1940 2021 Her parents divorced in 1947 and her mother subsequently married the 11th Duke of Argyll in 1951 and scandalously divorced him in 1963 5 Frances and her brother were largely raised by their mother s cook 6 She attended finishing school in Florence and Paris and was acclaimed debutante of the year in 1955 1 Marriage and family editOn 15 May 1958 Sweeny married Charles Manners 10th Duke of Rutland considered one of Britain s most eligible bachelors at Caxton Hall 7 She wore a pink organza cocktail dress by Norman Hartnell 6 Her mother had unsuccessfully petitioned the Vatican for an annulment of the Duke s previous marriage 1 They had four children David Charles Robert Manners 11th Duke of Rutland born 8 May 1959 married Emma Watkins and had issue Lord Robert George Manners 18 June 1961 28 February 1964 Lady Helen Theresa Margaret Manners born 11 November 1962 married Dr John Chipman and had issue Lord Edward John Francis Manners born 29 May 1965 married Gabrielle Ross and had issueHaving once been close to her mother the two had a falling out after the Duchess of Argyll insisted her daughter raise her children as Roman Catholics This coupled with the embarrassment Frances felt over the press attention her mother s divorce was receiving led to a two decade rift 6 The two would often meet in London society barely acknowledging one another Mother and daughter did not reconcile until 1991 two years before Margaret s death 1 As chatelaine of the 350 room Belvoir Castle in Leicestershire Frances oversaw the revitalization of the gardens which had been neglected since World War II 1 She bred Arabian horses 6 The Duchess was widowed in 1999 She died at Belvoir Castle on 21 January 2024 at the age of 86 8 In popular culture editFrances is portrayed by Phoebe Farnham in A Very British Scandal a historical drama television miniseries portraying her mother s divorce from the Duke of Argyll in 1963 9 References edit a b c d e The Dowager Duchess of Rutland The Times 25 January 2024 Retrieved 25 January 2024 Manners Frances Duchess was a horse breeder Grantham Matters 27 June 2013 Retrieved 5 June 2019 Spence Lyndsy 5 February 2019 The real scandal of the Duchess of Argyll is that she was a victim of celebrity hacking The Scotsman Retrieved 11 March 2021 Sweeny Christening Getty Images Retrieved 5 June 2019 The scarlet Duchess of Argyll Much more than just a Highland fling The Independent Retrieved 12 January 2015 a b c d The Dowager Duchess of Rutland society beauty and devoted chatelaine of Belvoir Castle obituary The Telegraph 26 January 2024 Retrieved 26 January 2024 May 15 1958 Delaney Evie 24 January 2024 A Very British Scandal now laid to rest Frosty Frances daughter of Margaret Duchess of Argyll dies at home aged 86 Tatler Retrieved 24 January 2024 A Very British Scandal 2021 IMDb Retrieved 26 January 2024 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Frances Manners Duchess of Rutland amp oldid 1214385661, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
