Osla Benning

Margaret Osla, Lady Henniker-Major (née Benning; 23 August 1921 – 29 October 1974) was a Canadian debutante, who worked at Bletchley Park, was Prince Philip's first girlfriend, and later married Sir John Henniker-Major (who became the 8th Baron Henniker after her death).

Early life Osla Benning was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, on 23 August 1921, the daughter of Edith Black and James William Benning, and the goddaughter of Lord Louis Mountbatten.

She went to finishing school in Austria, and came out as a debutante in August 1939. She was featured in Tatler magazine with a photograph caption reporting that she was being presented by Lady Beatty, as by this time her parents were divorced. Benning was described in her youth as having “dark hair, alabaster white skin, an exquisite figure and a gentle loving nature”.

Prince Philip

Benning went to stay with her godfather Lord Louis Mountbatten, who mentioned to her friend (and fellow goddaughter) Sarah Baring that Prince Philip (Mountbatten's nephew) did not have a girlfriend and Baring acted as matchmaker. They had a romance, and according to Baring, "It was obvious that he was Osla's boyfriend in a simple, nice way, so to speak. Every time his ship came back, it was Osla he would ring". A few months later, by summer 1941, they were both tested on their German language skills and posted to Hut 4 at Bletchley Park, the naval section, as linguists.

At Bletchley, Benning was known as someone with a good sense of humour who liked to play practical jokes.

She married John Patrick Edward Chandos Henniker-Major (later 8th Baron Henniker and Ambassador to Denmark) on 18 December 1946.

They had two sons and one daughter: Mark Ian Philip Chandos Henniker-Major, 9th Baron Henniker (born 29 September 1947), married Lesley Antoinette Foskett. Prince Philip was his godfather. Hon. Charles John Giles Henniker-Major (2 September 1949 – 9 May 2012), married Sally Kemp Newby Hon. Jane Elizabeth Henniker-Major (born 6 July 1954)

Her husband was knighted in the 1965 New Years Honours List and succeeded as the 8th Baron Henniker in 1980.

Death Benning died of cancer in Kensington, London, on 29 October 1974, at the age of 53.