Frances Osborne (formally The Hon Mrs Osborne; née The Hon Frances Howell; born 18 February 1969)[1] is a British author. She is the eldest daughter of former and current Conservative Cabinet Minister David Howell, Baron Howell of Guildford and Cary Davina Wallace.
She was educated at Cambridge University. It was here that she met Justine Thornton, wife of Ed Miliband; the pair remain close friends, and went backpacking across America together.[2] Her first book, published in September 2004 by Doubleday, is a work of non-fiction called Lilla's Feast, in which she tells the story of her great-grandmother's life.[3]
She married the current Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne on 4 April 1998. The couple have two children, Luke Benedict (b. Westminster, London, 15 June 2001) and Liberty Kate (b. Westminster, London, 27 June 2003).[1][4]
Osborne is also descended from the much-married British aristocrat Idina Sackville by her first marriage to politician Euan Wallace; Idina married thirdly (as his first wife) Josslyn Hay, 22nd Earl of Erroll.[5] Idina's life is the subject of a biography by Osborne entitled The Bolter.[6]