Poppy Baring

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Poppy Baring

Helen Azalea "Poppy" Baring (8 November 1901 – 1980) was one of the

Bright Young Things of the 1920s.[1]
She had been the prospective bride of two princes, both times judged not suitable to the match.

Biography

Baring was born on 8 November 1901, the daughter of

Anne Willing Bingham. Their daughter married Baring in the first great international social match between an American bride and an English groom.[4]

Miss Poppy Baring (left)

In 1921

Albert, Duke of York (the future king George VI), fell in love with Baring, but she had the reputation of being "fast" and fun-loving. He proposed marriage, she accepted, but Queen Mary made it clear that the match was impossible.[5] Six years later, Baring had an affair with Prince George, Duke of Kent, but this time it was the King, George V, who objected to their romance because Poppy was not "suitable".[6][7][8] Nevertheless, Poppy Baring was Prince George's mistress for many years.[2]

Her close friend was Lois Sturt.[9] In October 1925, Baring assisted at the small, and apparently secret, wedding ceremony of Francis Hastings, 16th Earl of Huntingdon, to Christina Casati, daughter of Luisa Casati. After the marriage, Baring and Napier Sturt, 3rd Baron Alington (Lois' brother) accompanied the grooms to Dover.[10]

Poppy Baring, 1925

In 1927 Baring established a

dress shop named "Poppy's" in Down Street where she sold the latest fashions.[11][12]

On 17 December 1928 she married William Piers "Peter" Thursby, an Eton cricketer,[13] son of Reverend Harvey William Gustavus Thursby and Margaret Emily Mount.[3][4][14]

Raymund de Trafford was also a close friend of Baring, and went to stay with her soon after his release from prison in 1942.[2]

She died in 1980.

References

  1. ^ "Amusing Turns Brighten Coming-of-Age Party". The Winnipeg Tribune: 33. 16 July 1927. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  2. ^ . Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  3. ^ a b Mosley, Charles, editor. Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, 107th edition, 3 volumes. Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 2003
  4. ^ a b "Girard's Talk of the Day". The Philadelphia Inquirer: 12. 18 January 1929. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  5. . Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  6. . Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  7. ^ "Fourth Son of British King in Exile With Broken Heart". Chillicothe Gazette: 10. 21 January 1925. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  8. ^ "No More Dance-Mad Daughters for Queen Mary". The Courier-Journal: 105. 15 February 1925. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  9. ^ Busby, Paul. "Evan's Ladies No. 2". Hush, Hush: The Peculiar Career of Lord Tredegar. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
  10. . Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  11. . Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  12. ^ "Poppy Baring Sells Frocks in Smart Shop". The Winnipeg Tribune: 53. 29 October 1927. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  13. ^ "Miss Poppy Baring's Wedding". The Winnipeg Tribune: 52. 8 December 1928. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  14. ^ ""The Belle of Cowes" A Bride". The Guardian: 10. 18 December 1928. Retrieved 22 January 2018.