Cressida and Harry, pictured in 2017, dated at university before rekindling their romance following her split from Prince Harry.
Harry Wentworth-Stanley, associate director of estate agents Savills, is the son of Nick Wentworth-Stanley, a debonair Old Etonian, and Claire, now Marchioness of Milford Haven, who inherited the title after her second marriage to Harry’s stepfather. Marquess of Milford Haven.
Before his relationship with his now-wife became official, Harry, who is strikingly handsome and 6ft 4in tall, was considered one of London’s most eligible bachelors.
She inherited her looks from her mother, Claire, a beauty that continues to amaze. There was a brother, James, four years her senior, and a younger sister, Louisa. When Harry was young, his mother and father divorced. In 1997, Claire married Marks George of Milford Haven, a cousin of the Queen, and divorced with two children herself.
The family settled at Great Trippets, an estate on 1,000 acres on the Sussex Downs. For a while, life was perfect. Claire remained on good terms with her ex-husband, Nick Wentworth-Stanley, who went on to marry Dutch beauty Millie Breninkmeier, with whom he had three more children.
Shortly before Christmas 2006, the Marquess and Marchioness and their children went to live with Nick and his wife in Worcestershire. Harry’s older brother, James, was recovering from a relatively minor procedure. The operation was a success, but James became very anxious in the days that followed.
Harry Wentworth-Stanley, associate director of estate agents Savills, is the son of Nick Wentworth-Stanley, a debonair Old Etonian, and Claire, now Marchioness of Milford Haven, who inherited the title after her second marriage to Harry’s stepfather. Marquess of Milford Haven. Pictured, the Marquess and Marchioness in 2017
One evening, the family learns that James has taken his own life. They were shocked by the tragedy.
Claire was devastated by her son’s suicide. Interestingly, it was Harry, then 17, who helped him through this. Eighteen months after James’ death, she said in an interview, ‘You have to set an example for other children. If you are strong, it allows them to be strong. If you fall to bits, they will.
Harry’s father is Nick Wentworth-Stanley, pictured, a debonair Old Etonian
‘The day after James died, his brother Harry said his biggest fear was that it would destroy me, and it would destroy everyone else. It suddenly made me realize how important I am.’
A family is established James Place In his memory, a suicide prevention charity for men which now runs centers in London and Liverpool.
The couple had a serious relationship while both were students at Leeds University. The couple were known to their crowd – for reasons that are not entirely clear – as ‘water-cress’. The romance fizzled out in 2011 after leaving for a gap year in Argentina after graduation.
Friends have previously said Cressida wasn’t over Harry when another Harry – Prince Harry himself – began pursuing her in the summer of 2012 and a romance began. There were concerts, rugby matches, skiing trips and relaxing nights at Kensington Palace.
However, after living together for three years, the couple separated in 2014.
The following year Harry Wentworth-Stanley and Cressida were photographed on a Valentine’s Day date, although their relationship became public and official in 2017.
Harry proposed during a trip to America in August last year and the couple’s smiles in the Instagram announcement told followers everything they needed to know about their love for each other.
Harry as a young boy with his stepfather the Marquess of Milford Haven (left), sister Louise (front), mother Claire (centre), the Marquess’ brother Lord Ivar Mouthbatten, his children Ella and Alix and then wife Penny (right). Cowdray Park in 2001
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