George Spencer-Churchill, Marquess of Blandford

George John Godolphin Spencer-Churchill, Marquess of Blandford (born 28 July 1992), styled as Earl of Sunderland until 2014, is a British aristocrat and polo player. He is a model and brand ambassador for La Martina, an Argentinean polo clothing and accessories company.[1][2] As the heir apparent to the Dukedom of Marlborough, he uses the courtesy title of Marquess of Blandford.

George Spencer-Churchill
Marquess of Blandford
Full name
George John Godolphin Spencer-Churchill
Born (1992-07-28) 28 July 1992
London, England
Spouse(s)
Camilla Thorp
​
(m. 2018)​
Issue
Lady Olympia Spencer-Churchill
FatherJames Spencer-Churchill, 12th Duke of Marlborough
MotherRebecca Few Brown

Early life and family

He is the son of Jamie Spencer-Churchill, 12th Duke of Marlborough and his first wife, Rebecca Mary Few Brown.[3] He is also a descendant of Consuelo Vanderbilt (first wife of the 9th Duke of Marlborough).[4]

He and his family are notable for being involved in a high-profile legal dispute around 1993, when his paternal grandfather (the 11th Duke of Marlborough) sought to disinherit Lord Blandford's father.[5] Since his father has had a controversial past, including serving time in jail for forging prescriptions and road rage, Lord Blandford was announced as the financial beneficiary of his grandfather's estate.[6] His inheritance was to include Blenheim Palace, a 187-room mansion set in 2,000 acres in Oxfordshire.[7][8]

Education and subsequent activities

He was educated at Harrow School, where he was captain of the school's polo team.[9] From 2011 to 2014, he attended University College London, where he studied urbanisation.[10] In March 2015, he started working as an aviation broker at JLT Group in London.[11]

He began serving as a model and brand ambassador for the La Martina brand of polo clothes and accessories in 2015.[12][13] His "Blenheim Polo Team" plays at Cirencester Park Polo Club in Gloucestershire.

In December 2018 he successfully rowed across the Atlantic in a time of 35 days finishing second place in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge. Subsequently, he set a Guinness world record for the fastest all related team of 4 to cross the Atlantic from east to west. He raised over £850,000 for the children's charity starlight in the process.

Marriage and issue

Lord Blandford married Camilla Elizabeth Antonia Thorp (now styled as Marchioness of Blandford), a descendant of the Tempest baronets of Tong, Yorkshire,[14] on 8 September 2018 at St Mary Magdalene Church, Woodstock.[15] Attendees of the wedding included Lady Violet Manners, Lord and Lady Bamford, Andrew Parker-Bowles, and Lord Milford Haven. They have a daughter, Lady Olympia Arabella Kitty Spencer-Churchill (born 10 September 2020) [16]

References
  1. "Prince Harry second best to Churchill's nephew in polo battle of most eligible bachelors". Daily Express. 26 May 2015. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
  2. "La Martina Polo Ambassadors". La Martina. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
  3. "The 12th Duke of Marlborough". Tatler. 3 March 2015. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
  4. "Churchill descendant rows Atlantic". 17 January 2019. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  5. "Duke's Suit Seeks To Divide A Son, Fortune". Chicago Tribune. 2 August 1993. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
  6. "Blandford sent back to prison over road-rage attack on driver". The Independent. 10 September 2007. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
  7. "Magnificent Obsession". Vanity Fair. June 2011. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
  8. Roy, Amit (13 August 2007). "Empire strikes back at 'racist' aristocrat". The India Telegraph. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
  9. "Interview with George Spencer Churchill". POLO+10. 21 January 2015. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
  10. "The Aristocrats, Channel 4: 'You don't want to be the one who screws up'". The Telegraph. 22 November 2012. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
  11. "George Blandford profile". www.linkedin.com. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
  12. "Ambassadors of Polo". La Martina. Archived from the original on 7 February 2017. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
  13. "St. James Collection". La Martina. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
  14. Burke's Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage, 2003, vol. 1, p. 1152
  15. Announcement, The Telegraph.
  16. "Marquess of Blandford's Instagram". Instagram.
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