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]

Early life

The Duchess was born 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 business (a bank) (formerly known as Smith's Bank of Nottingham and was later titled as the National Provincial Bank and then part of NatWest), a Conservative MP, and the founder of the Landmark Trust. She also has another brother who is younger than she, Jeremy Fox Eric Smith (born 1928).^[2]

Marriage and children

On 12 October 1946, she married the then Earl of Euston who 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]
• 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 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, as their elder son died in 2009.

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 has been Mistress of the Robes since 1967.^[1] The Queen is godmother to her daughter, Lady Virginia Mary Elizabeth FitzRoy. The Duchess was appointed GCVO in 1980.

References