Two crooks from Chicago stole the 45-carat Marlborough Diamond in London 43 years ago. They were arrested and did time, but the gem has never been found.
Royal biographer Hugo Vickers will present "Gladys Deacon, the Second Duchess of Marlborough" on Sunday, March 5, at Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum.
LENOX, Mass. — Hugo Vickers, biographer, lecturer, broadcaster and an acknowledged expert on the royal family, will recount Gladys Deacon who followed Consuelo Vanderbilt as wife of the 9th.
2. MODEL GENTLEMAN
In my teens, I spent long hours in the attic at home during the school holidays making models of people. I’m particularly proud of this one I created in the summer of 1968: Barbie’s boyfriend Ken, dressed up as a Knight of the Garter.
The ostrich plumes come from the Privy Councillor hat of Sir Samuel Hoare [the late politician]. I stitched the robes myself. He must be the best dressed of all the Kens in the world.
3. RHAPSODY IN BLUE
Hugo cherishes a model of Barbie s boyfriend Ken, created in 1968 (pictured)
I campaigned in my teens for my late aunt Dame Joan Vickers when she became an MP – this is a portrait of her. On deciding to go into politics she asked Winston Churchill for his advice and he told her to wear a pretty hat.