Serena Armstrong-Jones, Viscountess Linley

Serena Alleyne Armstrong-Jones, Viscountess Linley (née Stanhope; born 1 March 1970) is an Anglo-Irish aristocrat, and by marriage, a niece-in-law of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

Early life

Lady Linley was born The Hon. Serena Stanhope in Limerick, Ireland. She is the daughter of Charles Stanhope, 12th Earl of Harrington, and the former Virginia Freeman Jackson.^[1] Her parents divorced when she was 13 years old. Through her father, she descends from Charles II of England's illegitimate child, Henry FitzRoy, 1st Duke of Grafton.^[2] This makes her a distant cousin of Diana, Princess of Wales and her husband.

Marriage and children

The marriage between Serena Stanhope and David Armstrong-Jones, Viscount Linley, son of Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, took place on 8 October 1993 at St. Margaret's Church, Westminster. The bride's diamond engagement ring and wedding band are from Wartski.^[3] She wore a dress designed by Bruce Robbins,^[4] noted for its resemblance to Princess Margaret's 1960 Norman Hartnell wedding dress.^[5] Her going-away outfit was designed by Robinson Valentine.^[6]

Lord and Lady Linley have two children:

• The Hon. Charles Patrick Inigo Armstrong-Jones (born 1999)
• The Hon. Margarita Elizabeth Rose Alleyne Armstrong- Jones (born 2002)

Career

In 2010, she opened Serena Linley Provence, a shop selling soaps, scent and candles using lavender from Provence,^[7] where the Linleys have a home, the Chateau d'Autet in the Luberon.^[8]

Titles

• 1 March 1971 – 8 October 1993: The Honourable Serena Alleyne Stanhope
• 8 October 1993 – Present: Viscountess Linley

References

1. ↑ "Person Page 10274". Thepeerage.com. Retrieved 30 June 2012. 
2. ↑ Charles Mosley, editor, Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, 107th edition, 3 volumes (Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 2003), volume 2, page 1796.
3. ↑ "British engagement rings". Order of Splendor. 
4. ↑ "Royal wedding dresses through the years". The Telegraph. 7 August 2015. Retrieved 5 September 2015. 
5. ↑ "The Royal Order of Sartorial Splendor: Top 10 Best Royal Wedding Dresses: #6. HRH Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon". Orderofsplendor.blogspot.com. 14 June 2010. Retrieved 30 June 2012. 
6. ↑ Rumbold, Judy (8 July 2007). "The sainted Valentine". The Telegraph. Retrieved 5 September 2015. 
7. ↑ Ashworth Roddy (28 November 2010). "Scent of success for Lord Linley’s wife". Express.co.uk. Retrieved 6 September 2015. 
8. ↑ Purnell, Sonia (29 June 2003). "My passion for Provence". The Telegraph. Retrieved 5 September 2015. 

External links

• Serena Alleyne Armstrong-Jones, Viscountess Linley (1970–), Daughter of Viscount Petersham (National Portrait Gallery photographs)