THE Prime Minister and Oxfordshire’s political leaders led tributes to the Duke of Marlborough, John Spencer-Churchill, after his death was announced by Blenheim Palace.

As a mark of respect to its custodian, the estate will today be closed and the entrace flag is being flown at half-mast.

An official statement from the palace yesterday read: “With great sadness, we announce that the 11th Duke of Marlborough passed away peacefully this morning.

“Further announcements will be made in due course. As per his wishes, the palace will be open as normal today.”

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The Duke – whose nickname was Sunny, after his courtesy title, the Earl of Sunderland, was 88 – but the circumstances around his death had not been confirmed last night.

His funeral will be held Friday, October 24.

Sir Charles Ponsonby, chairman of Oxfordshire Youth, said: “Over 50 or so years, the Duke was a great supporter of Oxfordshire Youth and its predecessor bodies, Oxfordshire Association for Young People and Oxfordshire Association of Boys’ Clubs. I also know that Woodstock Youth Club meant a lot to him.”

Oxford Mail:

  •  The Duke coursing for hares in 1936

Oxford City Council leader Bob Price said: “The Duke has been a significant player in the Oxfordshire area for a long time, playing a crucial part in the development of Blenheim.

“As a tourist attraction the estate has been a great asset to the city and the county and his willingness to make it more open has been a great benefit for outside organisations.

“His death is a sad loss and I hope the palace will continue to be ran as it was while he was alive.”

Oxford Mail:

  •  The Duke addressing crowds as the Olympic torch relay passess through Blenheim in 2012

Tony Byrne, special advisor to the Blenheim Palace Literary Festival, said: “His Grace was always a tremendous supporter of the festival in every way. He came to all of our major events and also hosted dinners for our guests in the palace’s orangery. His death is the end of an era.”

West Oxfordshire District Council cabinet member Richard Langridge, responsible for tourism, said he hoped the Duke’s legacy at Blenheim would “remain and be enhanced”.

He said: “We are immensely proud to have it in our district and the changes the Duke oversaw during his time there were undoubtedly instrumental in its success.”

LIFE AND TIMES

  • THE 11th Duke of Marlborough owned the Blenheim Palace estate in Woodstock, worth an estimated £100m
  • A cousin of Second World war leader Sir Winston Churchill, he was born John George Vanderbilt Henry Spencer-Churchill, on April 13, 1926
  • The Duke, also a relative of Diana, Princess of Wales, had married four times and has four children
  • They are his heir Lord Jamie, 58, Lord Edward, 40, Lady Alexandra, 37, and Lady Henrietta, 56
  • In 2008, the Duke and his 64-year-old wife Rosita Douglas ended their 36-year marriage
  • The Duke’s last marriage was in December 2008 to the Iranian-born Lily Mahtani née Sahni
  • The Duke is a former president of Oxford United Football Club
  • He was president of the Oxfordshire Association for Young People and the Oxfordshire branch 
  • of the Country Landowners’ Association



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