Sally Grosvenor, Duchess of Westminster

Sally Grosvenor, Duchess of Westminster (née Perry; 1909 – 30 May 1990) was the wife of Gerald Grosvenor, 4th Duke of Westminster.

Early life

The Duchess was one of three extramarital daughters of Muriel Perry. She, her twin sister Elizabeth and three years younger sister Diana were raised by a Miss Coutts and seldom visited by their mother, who was busy serving as a nurse in the First World War and who appeared to have no interest in their upbringing; she would later serve as nurse in the Second World War and be awarded eight medals and an OBE.

Perry and her twin sister ran away from the Coutts home at the age of 18.

Duchess of Westminster

On 11 April 1945, she married Gerald Grosvenor, then third in line of succession to Hugh Grosvenor, 2nd Duke of Westminster. On his succession to the dukedom in 1963, she became Duchess of Westminster and spouse of the wealthiest man in Britain. The marriage was childless, however, and on her husband's death in 1967, the title devolved upon her brother-in-law Robert. The widowed duchess started travelling around the globe, visiting South America several times.

The Duchess, who had moved back to Gloucestershire on her husband's death, died on 30 May 1990 at Frenchay Hospital, Bristol, following a stroke. Two years later, the 6th Duke opened an Andes-themed garden in Chester Zoo in honour of his aunt Sally, who was a zoo council member and who had donated seeds obtained during her 1968 visit to the Andes.

Sally Grosvenor, Duchess of Westminster, is buried in the churchyard of St Mary's, Eccleston, near Eaton Hall, Cheshire.