Princess Antonia, Duchess of Wellington

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Princess Antonia
Duchess of Wellington Princess of Waterloo Duchess of Victoria Duchess of Ciudad Rodrigo
Born	(1955-04-28) 28 April 1955 (age 66) London, England
Spouse	Charles Wellesley, 9th Duke of Wellington ​ ​ (m. 1977)​
Issue	Arthur Wellesley, Earl of Mornington Lady Honor Montagu Lady Mary Wellesley Lady Charlotte Wellesley Lord Frederick Wellesley
Names Antonia Elizabeth Brigid Louise Mansfeld
House	Hohenzollern
Father	Prince Frederick of Prussia
Mother	Lady Brigid Guinness
Occupation	Philanthropist

Princess Antonia of Prussia, Duchess of Wellington, Princess of Waterloo, Duchess of Victoria, Duchess of Ciudad Rodrigo OBE (Antonia Elizabeth Brigid Louise Mansfeld; born 28 April 1955) is a British aristocrat and philanthropist. She serves as the president of The Guinness Partnership,^[1] an affordable housing community benefit society in the United Kingdom. A member of the House of Hohenzollern by birth, she is a great-granddaughter of Wilhelm II, German Emperor.

Early life and education[]

Princess Antonia Elizabeth Brigid Louise Mansfeld of Prussia was born in London on 28 April 1955, the daughter of Prince Frederick of Prussia and Lady Brigid Guinness.^[2][3][4] She is a great-granddaughter of the German Emperor Wilhelm II on her father's side and granddaughter of Rupert Guinness, 2nd Earl of Iveagh on her mother's side.^[5] She has a twin brother, Rupert.^[5] Antonia is in the line of succession to the British throne through her descent from Queen Victoria's daughter, Victoria, Princess Royal.

She was educated at Cobham Hall School and King's College London, where she earned a bachelor's degree in English.^[6]

Career[]

In 2008 Antonia was appointed as a fellow of Eton College, serving as a member of the college's governing body.^[7] She is also a fellow of King's College, London. She opened Maggi Hambling's War Requiem & Aftermath, a cultural exhibition at King's College.^[8]

In 2007 she was appointed as the President of The Guinness Partnership, an affordable housing charitable society in the United Kingdom, and was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 2008 Birthday Honours for services to social housing.^[9][10] Prior to serving as president, she had been a member of the Partnership's Board of Trustees since 1976.^[11]

In 2009 she became the chairman of the Royal Ballet School, serving until December 2019.^[12][13] As chairman, she helped lead the school's Healthy Dancer Programme and fundraised for the school's academic programs.^[14]

Personal life[]

On 3 February 1977, she married Charles Wellesley, Marquess Douro at St Paul's Church, Knightsbridge in London. When her husband succeeded his father as the 9th Duke of Wellington, she became the Princess of Waterloo, Duchess of Victoria, Duchess of Wellington, and Duchess of Ciudad Rodrigo.

They have five children:^[4]

• Arthur Wellesley, Earl of Mornington (born 31 January 1978)
• Lady Honor Wellesley (born 25 October 1979)
• Lady Mary Wellesley (born 6 December 1986)
• Lady Charlotte Wellesley (born 8 October 1990)
• Lord Frederick Wellesley (born 30 September 1992)

References[]