| Charles Wellesley | |
|---|---|
| Born | 19 August 1945 |
| Title | Marquess of Douro Duke of Ciudad Rodrigo Grandee of Spain |
| Spouse | Princess Antonia of Prussia |
| Children | Arthur Wellesley, Earl of Mornington, Honor Wellesley, Mary Wellesley, Charlotte Wellesley, Frederick Wellesley |
| Parents | Arthur Wellesley, 8th Duke of Wellington Diana McConnel |
Arthur Charles Valerian Wellesley, Marquess of Douro, 10th Duke of Ciudad Rodrigo, Grandee of Spain, OBE (born 19 August 1945), is the son and heir of Valerian Wellesley, 8th Duke of Wellington, and his wife, Diana McConnel. He was born as Earl of Mornington in 1945, at Princess Christian Nursing Home, Windsor, Berkshire. He has three younger brothers and one younger sister.
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The Marquess was born in Windsor and educated at Eton College and later at Christ Church, Oxford.
He married Princess Antonia of Prussia (who no longer uses her royal title) on 3 February 1977 at St. Paul's Church, Knightsbridge, London. They have five children:
Lord Douro stood as Conservative candidate for Islington North in 1974, finishing in second place. He was a member of Basingstoke Borough Council from 1978–1979. He subsequently served as Conservative MEP for Surrey from 1979–1984, and as Conservative MEP Surrey West from 1984-1989.
Lord Douro has worked for a number of non profit or charitable organisations. He was a patron of British Art at the Tate Gallery (1987–1990), a member of the Royal College of Art between (1992–97), Chair of British-Spanish Tertulias (1993–98) and Trustee of the Phoenix Trust from 1996–2001). He received an OBE in 1999 for services to British-Spanish business relations. He was appointed a Deputy Lord-Lieutenant of Hampshire in 1999. In 2003 he was given a four year appointment as a Commissioner for English Heritage.
As of 1 October 2007 he has been Chairman of the Governing Council of King's College London, an institution of which his wife Princess Antonia is an alumna, and of which his ancestor Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington was instrumental in the foundation.
Besides being the eldest son of the Duke of Wellington, he also belongs to the Dutch nobility as Jonkheer, as well as a member of the Spanish nobility and Portuguese nobility.
On March 10, 2010, the Marquess of Douro claimed the title of Duke of Ciudad Rodrigo together with the accompanying title Grandee of Spain, as his father ceded them to him.[1] King Juan Carlos of Spain, through his minister, granted the succession of the dukedom to the Marquess by Royal Decree of May 21, 2010 as confirmed by the notice in the Official Bulletin of State dated June 12, 2010.[2] As a result, the Marquess of Douro is now the 10th Duke of Ciudad Rodrigo and also remains the heir apparent to the Duke of Wellington title.
| Order of precedence | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Earl Percy |
Gentlemen | Succeeded by Marquess of Stafford |
| Peerage of the United Kingdom | ||
| First |
Line of succession to the Dukedom of Wellington and the Princedom of Waterloo |
Succeeded by Lord Mornington |
| Spanish nobility | ||
| Preceded by Arthur Wellesley |
Duke of Ciudad Rodrigo 2010-present |
Incumbent |
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