David Cholmondeley, 7th Marquess of Cholmondeley

David George Philipp Cholmondeley, 7th Marquess of Cholmondeley, KCVO, DL ; born 27 June 1960, styled Viscount Malpas from birth until 1968, and subsequently Earl of Rocksavage until 1990, is a British peer and filmmaker who acts as Lord Great Chamberlain of the United Kingdom.

Early Life and Education

Lord Cholmondeley is a descendant of Sir Robert Walpole (1676-1745), the first Prime Minster of Great Britian. He is the son Hugh Cholmondeley, 6th Marquess of Cholmondely, and Lavinia, Marchioness of Cholmondeley (nee Leslie). 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 (married Tony Huston), and Caroline (married Baron Rodolphe d'Erlanger).

Like many members of his family, Cholmondeley was educated at Eton College. He later took classes at the Sorbonne in Paris.

Career

Lord Cholmondeley is a filmmaker. As David Rockssavage, he also appeared in a small part in Eric Rohmer's film, 4 aventures de Reinette et Mirabelle (1987). 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 (working title), 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. Lord 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.

Lands and Estates

The family seat are Houghton Hall in Norfolk, and Cholmondeley Castle, which is surrounded by a 7,500-acre (3,000-hectare) estate near Malpas, Cheshire.

According to the Sunday Times Rich List in 2008, Cholmondeley has an estimated net worth of approximately $60 million, attributed primarily to his inherited landholdings. Houghton Hall, ancestral home of the Marquesses of Cholmondeley since the establishment of the title in 1815.

Position At Court

In 1974, at the age of fourteen, Cholmondeley, then known as the Earl of Rocksavage, was appointed as a Page of Honour to Queen Elizabeth II. 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 General Peregrine Bertie, 3rd Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven. The second, fourth, fifth, and seventh holders of the marquessate have all held this office.

Cholmondeley began exercising the office of Lord Great Chamberlain in 1990.

He and heirs will exercise it for the remainder of the present reign.

Marriage and Children

Lord Cholmondeley married (Sarah) 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 (nee Longman), a fashion designer. The landed gentry Hanbury family lived at Holfield Grange, Coggeshall, Essex.

Her maternal grandmother is Lady Elizabeth Lambart, daughter of Field Marshall Rudolph Lambart, 10th Earl of Caven; Lady Elizabeth was one of the bridesmaids at the 1947 wedding of Princess Elizabeth; her paternal grandmother, Sara, was the daughter of racing driver Sir Tim Birkin, 3rd Baronet.

Four-and-a-half months after their wedding, on 12 October 2009, the Marchioness gave birth to twins 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 child, a daughter, Lady iris Marina Aline Cholmondeley.

A friendship between the Marquess and Marchioness and Prince William and his wife, the Duchess of Cambridge, has been reported; the Marchioness is a patron of the charity East Anglia's Children's Hospices (EACH), along with the Duchess.

Titles and Styles

-27 June 1960-16 September 1968: Viscount Malpas

16 September 1968-13 March 1990: Earl of Rocksavage

13 March 1990-present: The Most Honorable The Marquess of Cholmondeley

As the eldest son of the heir apparent of the 5th Marquess, he was known from birth by the courtesy title of Viscount Malpas. Upon his grandfather's death, he became the heir to the marquessate and was thus known by the courtesy title of Earl of Rocksavage, before inheriting the marquessate in 1990. He also inherited the following subsidiary titles:

-Baron Cholmondeley of Witch Malbank

-Baron Newburgh

-Earl of Cholmondeley

-Earl of Rocksavage

-Viscount Malpas

Honours

In the Queen's Birthday Honours List for 2007, Lord Cholmondeley was made a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO) for his 17 years of service as Lord Great Chamberlain.

He was awarded the UK Version of the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002

He was awarded the UK Version of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012

He serves as Deputy Lieutenant of the County of Norfolk. This gives him the post-nominal letters "DL" for life

(https://en.wikipedia.org)