Robin Douglas-Home

Cecil Robin Douglas-Home (8 May 1932 – 15 October 1968) was a Scottish aristocrat, jazz pianist and author.

Robin Douglas-Home
Born	Cecil Robin Douglas-Home 8 May 1932 London, England
Died	15 October 1968 (aged 36) West Chiltington, West Sussex, England
Nationality	Scottish
Occupation	Pianist, author
Spouse(s)	Sandra Paul ​ ​ (m. 1959; div. 1965)​
Children	1
Parent(s)	The Hon. Henry Douglas-Home Lady Margaret Spencer
Relatives	Alec Douglas-Home (uncle) Charles Douglas-Home (brother)

Life

Robin Douglas-Home was the eldest son of the Honourable Henry Douglas-Home from his first marriage to Lady Margaret Spencer. His uncle was the former British Prime Minister Sir Alec Douglas-Home and his younger brother Charles Douglas-Home was the editor of The Times. He was first cousin of John Spencer, 8th Earl Spencer, father of Diana, Princess of Wales.

Douglas-Home was a jazz pianist and a leading society figure during the 1950s and 1960s. In the 1950s, he had a relationship with Princess Margaretha of Sweden but, according to the press, they were refused permission to marry by her mother, Princess Sibylla, notwithstanding a subsequent statement from King Gustaf VI Adolf saying, "The King has not imposed any ban on the marriage in question".[1] However, Princess Margaretha's nanny and confidante Ingrid Björnberg states categorically in her memoirs that the breakup of the couple was not due to Princess Sibylla refusing to permit them to marry, but because Princess Margaretha did not wish to marry him.[2]

Douglas-Home married the fashion model Sandra Paul in 1959 and they had a son in 1962, Sholto. The couple were divorced in 1965 coinciding with his romance with Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon. His divorce was the subject of a BBC television documentary by Alan Whicker.

Douglas-Home was author of an authorised biography of Frank Sinatra (1962) and published four novels, including Hot for Certainties (1964) which won the Authors' Club Best First Novel Award. He also wrote a number of articles for journals and magazines such as Queen and Woman's Own.

Douglas-Home committed suicide in 1968 at his country home in West Chiltington, West Sussex, aged 36, having suffered for some years from clinical depression.

Bibliography

Non-fiction

• Sinatra (Michael Joseph, 1962)

Fiction

• Hot for Certainties (Longman's Green and Co, 1966)
• When the Sweet Talking's Done (Leslie Frewin, 1968)
• The Faint Aroma of Performing Seals (Leslie Frewin, 1969)

Ancestry

Ancestors of Robin Douglas-Home

16. Cospatrick Douglas-Home, 11th Earl of Home 8. Charles Douglas-Home, 12th Earl of Home 17. Hon. Lucy Elizabeth Montagu-Scott 4. Charles Douglas-Home, 13th Earl of Home 18. Cpt. Charles Conrad Grey 9. Maria Grey 19. Caroline Nesbit Macan 2. Hon. Henry Douglas-Home 20. George Lambton, 2nd Earl of Durham 10. Frederick Lambton, 4th Earl of Durham 21. Lady Beatrix Frances Hamilton 5. Lady Lillian Lambton 22. John Bulteel 11. Beatrix Bulteel 23. Euphemia Emily Parsons 1. Robin Douglas-Home 24. George Spencer, 2nd Earl Spencer 12. Frederick Spencer, 4th Earl Spencer 25. Lady Lavinia Bingham 6. Charles Spencer, 6th Earl Spencer 26. Col. Sir Horace Seymour 13. Adelaide Seymour 27. Elizabeth Malet Palk 3. Lady Margaret Spencer 28. Henry Baring 14. Edward Baring, 1st Baron Revelstoke 29. Cecilia Anne Windham 7. Hon. Margaret Baring 30. John Crocker Bulteel 15. Louisa Bulteel 31. Lady Elizabeth Grey

References

1. "The Princess & the Pianist". Time. 20 May 1957. Retrieved 25 April 2009.
2. Björnberg, Ingrid. 1975. Dagbok från Haga och Stockholms slott. Stockholm: Bonniers. p 163

External links