David Cholmondeley, 7th Marquess of Cholmondeley


David George Philip Cholmondeley, 7th Marquess of Cholmondeley, ; born June 27, 1960), styled Viscount Malpas from birth until 1968, and subsequently Earl of Rocksavage until 1990, is a British peer and filmmaker. He also acts as Lord Great Chamberlain of the United Kingdom, a role he is entitled to hold for the duration of the present Queen's reign.

Early life and education

Lord Cholmondeley is a descendant of Sir Robert Walpole, the first Prime Minister of Great Britain. He is the son of Hugh Cholmondeley, 6th Marquess of Cholmondeley, and Lavinia, Marchioness of Cholmondeley. He is also a descendant of both the Rothschild family and the Sassoon family through his paternal grandmother, Sybil Sassoon. He has three older sisters: the Ladies Rose, Margot, and Caroline.
Like numerous members of his family, Cholmondeley was educated at Eton College. He later took classes at the Sorbonne.

Career

Film industry

Lord Cholmondeley is a filmmaker. As David Rocksavage, he also appeared in a small part in Eric Rohmer's film, 4 aventures de Reinette et Mirabelle. His professional name is derived from his title of Earl of Rocksavage.
His chosen career was put on hold when he succeeded to the marquessate in 1990.
In 1995, he directed the film adaptation of Truman Capote's novel Other Voices, Other Rooms.
In 2007, he directed The Wreck, starring Jean Simmons and James Wilby. The film was shot in Norfolk. It was later renamed Shadows in the Sun and released in 2009.

Inherited title

Cholmondeley became Marquess of Cholmondeley on 13 March 1990, upon the death of his father.
Cholmondeley does not sit in the House of Lords for debates as he is currently on "leave of absence", although he does attend the House of Lords in his role of Lord Great Chamberlain of England.

Lands and estates

The family seats are Houghton Hall in Norfolk, and Cholmondeley Castle, which is surrounded by a estate near Malpas, Cheshire.
According to the Sunday Times Rich List in 2008, Cholmondeley has an estimated net worth of approximately £60m, attributed primarily to his inherited landholdings. Houghton Hall, ancestral home of the Marquesses of Cholmondeley since the establishment of the title in 1815, opens some of its rooms to the public.

Position at court

In 1974, Cholmondeley was a Page of Honour to the Queen at the age of 14. He relinquished this role upon reaching the age limit in 1976.
One moiety of the ancient office of Lord Great Chamberlain is a Cholmondeley inheritance. This hereditary honour came into the Cholmondeley family through the marriage of the first Marquess of Cholmondeley to Lady Georgiana Charlotte Bertie, daughter of Peregrine Bertie, 3rd Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven. The second, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh holders of the marquessate have all held this office.
Cholmondeley began acting as the hereditary Lord Great Chamberlain to Her Majesty in 1990. In the Queen's Birthday Honours List for 2007, Lord Cholmondeley was made a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order for his 17 years of service as Lord Great Chamberlain.

Marriage and children

Lord Cholmondeley married Rose Hanbury, a 25-year-old fashion model, on 24 June 2009, their engagement having been announced the previous day. She is a daughter of Timothy Hanbury, a website designer, and Emma Hanbury, a fashion designer. The landed gentry Hanbury family lived at Holfield Grange, Coggeshall, Essex.
Her maternal grandmother is Lady Elizabeth Lambart, daughter of Field Marshal Rudolph Lambart, 10th Earl of Cavan, who was one of the bridesmaids at the 1947 wedding of Princess Elizabeth; her paternal grandmother, Sara, was daughter of racing driver Sir Henry Birkin, 3rd Baronet.
Four and a half months after their wedding, on 12 October 2009, the Marchioness gave birth to twin sons, Alexander Hugh George and Oliver Timothy George. The elder son, Alexander, as heir apparent to the Marquessate, bears the courtesy title of Earl of Rocksavage; his brother is known as Lord Oliver Cholmondeley.
In March 2016, the Marquess and Marchioness had their third child, a daughter, Lady Iris Marina Aline Cholmondeley.
The Marchioness is a patron of the charity East Anglia's Children's Hospices, along with the Duchess of Cambridge.

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