David Manners, 11th Duke of Rutland

David Charles Robert Manners, 11th Duke of Rutland (born 8 May 1959), is a British hereditary peer and landowner.

His Grace

The Duke of Rutland
Rutland in 2015
Tenure 4 January 1999 – present
PredecessorCharles Manners, 10th Duke of Rutland
BornDavid Charles Robert Manners
(1959-05-08) 8 May 1959
NationalityBritish
ResidenceBelvoir Castle
Haddon Hall
Spouse(s)
​
​
(m. 1992; sep. 2012)​
IssueLady Violet Manners
Lady Alice Manners
Lady Eliza Manners
Charles Manners, Marquess of Granby
Lord Hugo Manners
HeirCharles Manners, Marquess of Granby
ParentsCharles Manners, 10th Duke of Rutland
Frances Sweeny

Biography

Rutland is the elder son of the 10th Duke of Rutland by his second wife, the former Frances Sweeny, now the Dowager Duchess. He was educated at Stanbridge Earls School, near Romsey in Hampshire, which has since closed. He succeeded his father in the titles on 4 January 1999.[1]

He has a younger brother, Lord Edward Manners, a sister, Lady Teresa Manners, and a half-sister, Lady Charlotte Manners.[1]

Rutland's ancestral home is Belvoir Castle in the northern part of Leicestershire. The Sunday Times Rich List 2013 estimated his personal fortune at £125 million, but he had to sell a painting to keep Belvoir Castle maintained.[2]

The Duke was a high-profile supporter of the UK Independence Party (UKIP) and has hosted fundraising events at Belvoir Castle. He has stood in six House of Lords by-elections from 2005 to 2016.

In the summer of 2005, Rutland bought the Manners Arms Country Hotel and Restaurant in Knipton near Grantham, which had been built for the 6th Duke of Rutland as a hunting lodge during the 1880s. The Duchess took a leading part in the renovation work they carried out on the property.[3]

In July 2018, the Duke came under scrutiny for advertising positions for actors to perform unpaid at Belvoir Castle.[4] Performers' union Equity criticised the advertisement, saying it was "unacceptable" to ask actors to work unpaid; the advertisement was later removed.[5]

Marriage and children

Rutland married Emma Watkins, daughter of a Welsh farmer from Knighton, Powys, on 6 June 1992 at Belvoir Castle. They separated in 2012.[6] The couple have five children:

The Duchess runs the commercial activities of Belvoir Castle, including shooting parties, weddings and a range of furniture.[7]

Coat of arms
Coat of arms of David Manners, 11th Duke of Rutland
Coronet
A Coronet of a Duke
Crest
On a Chapeau Gules turned up Ermine a Peacock in its pride proper
Escutcheon
Or two Bars Azure a Chief quarterly of the last and Gules, in the first and fourth, two Fleur-de-lis, and in the second and third, a Lion passant guardant, all Or
Supporters
On either side a Unicorn Argent armed, maned, tufted and unguled Or
Motto
Pour Y Parvenir ("So as to accomplish it")

References
  1. Burke's Peerage, volume 3 (2003), p. 3446
  2. "Rich List 2013: No.=41 - Duke of Rutland (£125m)". Business Live. 28 January 2013.
  3. "Manners, David - The Duke is a top gun". 25 July 2013.
  4. "Duke of Rutland advertised for actors to work for free". BBC News. 26 July 2018.
  5. "Actors asked to work without pay at Duke of Rutland's castle". BBC News Online. BBC. 26 July 2018. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  6. Hutton, Caroline (11 June 2017). "A Life in the Day: the Duchess of Rutland" – via www.thetimes.co.uk.
  7. Grice, Elizabeth (16 July 2012). "Emma Rutland". The Daily Telegraph.
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