Fortune FitzRoy, Duchess of Grafton

Ann Fortune FitzRoy, Dowager Duchess of Grafton, GCVO (née Smith; 24 February 1920), is the widow of Hugh FitzRoy, 11th Duke of Grafton. She has been Mistress of the Robes since 1967.[1]

Her Grace

The Dowager Duchess of Grafton

GCVO
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 FitzRoy
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, whom she had first met at the age of 18 at a ball at Euston Hall. They had five children:[2]

  • James Oliver Charles FitzRoy, Earl of Euston, born on 13 December 1947, died on 1 October 2009(2009-10-01) (aged 61).[3] He was married to Lady Clare Amabel Margaret Kerr, daughter of Peter Kerr, 12th Marquess of Lothian, and they had five children, including Henry FitzRoy, 12th Duke of Grafton.
  • Lady Henrietta Fortune Doreen FitzRoy, born on (1949-09-14) 14 September 1949
  • Lady Virginia Mary Elizabeth FitzRoy, born on (1954-04-10) 10 April 1954, a god-daughter of Queen Elizabeth II.[4]
  • Lord Charles Patrick Hugh FitzRoy, born on (1957-01-07) 7 January 1957
  • Lady Olivia Rose Mildred FitzRoy, born on (1963-08-01) 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.[5] Her husband was succeeded as duke by their grandson, Henry FitzRoy, Viscount Ipswich, since their elder son died in 2009.[6] She turned 100 in February 2020.[7]

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

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][8][9] The Queen is godmother to her daughter, Lady Virginia Mary Elizabeth FitzRoy. The Duchess was appointed a Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order in the 1980 Birthday Honours.[10]

References
  1. Her Majesty's A-team DailyTelegraph
  2. Lundy, Darryl. "Ann Fortune Smith". The Peerage. Retrieved 30 May 2011.
  3. Earl of Euston obituary Daily Telegraph
  4. "'Nappy and glorious'". Daily Mail. 1 June 2012.
  5. "Death announcements - Grafton". Daily Telegraph. 7 April 2011. Retrieved 30 May 2011.
  6. "Royalty Obituaries - The Duke of Grafton". Daily Telegraph. 11 April 2011. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
  7. Fortune FitzRoy : la Maîtresse de la garde-robe a 100 ans
  8. "No. 39791". The London Gazette. 3 March 1953. p. 1243.
  9. "No. 44219". The London Gazette. 3 January 1967. p. 87.
  10. "No. 48212". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 June 1980. p. 4.
Court offices
Preceded by
The Duchess of Devonshire		 Mistress of the Robes to
Queen Elizabeth II
1967–present		 Succeeded by
Incumbent
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