Cliveden House is currently owned by the National Trust, which acquired it from the Astor family in 1942, though the Trust took full control in 1966; the estate is leased and run as a luxury hotel by Iconic Luxury Hotels, the operators of Chewton Glen. Throughout its history, the estate has seen ownership by powerful figures like the Duke of Buckingham and Frederick, Prince of Wales, before becoming famous as the home of Lord and Lady Astor and the setting for the Profumo Affair.
National Trust ownership. In 1942 the Astors gave Cliveden to the National Trust with the proviso that the family could continue to live in the house for as long as they wished.
Yes, Meghan Markle stayed at the Cliveden House Hotel in Taplow, Berkshire, the night before her wedding to Prince Harry in May 2018, spending the night there with her mother, Doria Ragland, before heading to the ceremony at Windsor Castle. The luxurious hotel, known for its historical significance and beautiful grounds on the National Trust estate, served as her base for getting ready.
Cliveden House has been a popular filming location for many movies and TV shows, notably standing in for Buckingham Palace in The Beatles' Help! (1965), serving as Lady Penelope's mansion in the 2004 Thunderbirds film, and inspiring the fountains in Disney's Cinderella (2015). Other productions filmed there include Sherlock Holmes, A Little Chaos, Mrs. Henderson Presents, and Carrington, with scenes shot in its opulent rooms and famous gardens.
Staying At The UK’s POSHEST Hotel Built On Scandal! Cliveden House
How did the Cavendish family make money?
The family, until the 15th century only middling gentry, but with financial roles at court, rose to prominence under the Tudor dynasty, when Sir William Cavendish was a courtier who made a great deal of money handling the disposal of the spoils of the Dissolution of the Monasteries.
Why was Maggie Smith written out of Downton Abbey?
Maggie Smith left Downton Abbey because she found the role draining, felt her character's arc was complete, and wanted to move on to other projects, with her departure culminating in the Dowager Countess's death in the second film, A New Era, a decision producer Gareth Neame found easy as Smith often expressed wanting to be "killed off". She signed contracts annually, never committing to stay forever, and expressed a desire to return to the stage and screen, feeling the show had reached a natural end with her character's story.
Cliveden House is owned by the National Trust, which holds the freehold, but it's operated as a luxury hotel under a long-term lease by Iconic Luxury Hotels, part of the L+R Hotels group. While the National Trust manages the extensive grounds and gardens for public access, Iconic Luxury Hotels runs the prestigious five-star hotel within the historic mansion, continuing its legacy of luxury and history.
Meghan Markle revealed she was diagnosed with postpartum pre-eclampsia, a rare and serious condition involving high blood pressure after childbirth, calling it a "huge medical scare" she managed privately. She shared this on her "Confessions of a Female Founder" podcast, noting it occurred after giving birth to one of her children and highlighted the challenges of facing a life-threatening condition while managing new motherhood publicly.
Workers acknowledged that the royal would email staff members as early as five in the morning, but she would also inform them that they were not obliged to respond at that time. Her working day might not be the employees' working day, according to rumors about what Markle writes in emails.
You generally need to pay an admission fee or be a National Trust member to walk the main grounds and formal gardens at Cliveden, as it's a National Trust property, but National Trust members get free entry, and sometimes there are specific free activities like volunteer-led history walks or seasonal family trails. For non-members, there's a per-person charge for the estate.
Where did Meghan Markle stay the night before her wedding?
Meghan Markle stayed at the luxurious Cliveden House Hotel in Taplow, Berkshire, the night before her wedding to Prince Harry, accompanied by her mother, Doria Ragland, while Prince Harry stayed separately at Coworth Park with Prince William. The historic country house hotel, located near Windsor, offered privacy and amenities like spas, pools, and extensive grounds for the royal bride and her mother to prepare.
The Beatles filmed part of their 'Help! ' film at Cliveden in 1965. The estate's iconic Fountain of Love and Golden Clock Tower were recreated for the 2014 remake of Cinderella starring Lily James and Cliveden was mentioned in Downton Abbey by Lady Mary as the location of a house party she attended.
The Astors at Cliveden. William Waldorf Astor, a well-known American millionaire, bought Cliveden in 1893 for $1.2m. The estate entered a new era with the arrival of the Astors, who were a household name and put Cliveden firmly on the society map.
In a 2023 interview with The Times, Dench had previously said that grieving for her felt “unbelievably cathartic. You fortify yourself and use what you are going through as energy. Like petrol. It has helped me cope with the pain.”
What happened to Mark from the Grosvenor Hotel Torquay?
Mark Jenkins, the charismatic but troubled manager from Channel 4's The Hotel (filmed at Torquay's Grosvenor Hotel), faced financial struggles, eventually leading to the hotel's sale and administration after his management, but he continued his entertainment career, appearing on The Island with Bear Grylls and touring with his show. He tried to revive his hotel career at The Cavendish Hotel and later worked on other projects, maintaining a presence in entertainment and social media, though the Grosvenor Hotel itself faced deeper financial issues, notes Company Rescue.
In 2007, a deal was completed that returned Four Seasons to private ownership in a partnership between Microsoft's Bill Gates and Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal, one of the major shareholders of Four Seasons.
The present holder of the title is Hugh Grosvenor, the 7th Duke, who inherited the dukedom on 9 August 2016 on the death of his father, Gerald. The present duke is a godfather of Prince George of Wales. The Duke of Westminster's seats are at Eaton Hall, Cheshire, and at Abbeystead House, Lancashire.
