Aristocrat who marketed for ‘castle-trained’ spouse fumes about ‘too posh’ remedy

After his 1994 divorce, Sir Benjamin Slade attracted headlines when he advertised for a ‘castle-trained’ wife and ‘good breeder’ to give him a male heir for his sprawling Somerset estate

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A controversial aristocrat has complained about “class hatred” after losing a £1.2M divorce court battle with his ex wife. Sir Benjamin Slade claims he was victimised by the judge for being “too posh”.

The 80-year-old faced a High Court showdown with the former Lady Pauline Slade over her wishes to sell Old Farm, a home valued at £585k, on his sprawling 2,000 acre estate in Somerset. The property was put into a trust fund after the couple divorced in 1994 – with a stipulation she could live there rent free.

She has now expressed a desire to sell the property to cover her debts and boost her income – but his lawyers argued she had no claim to the proceeds of the house and only had a right to live there for life.

But a judge, Master Julia Clark, has now ruled against Sir Benjamin, having found that one of the main purposes of the divorce trust – made up of £651k and the home – was to provide her with income “during her lifetime”.

The baronet, who descended from Charles II and previously hit the headlines after advertising for a “castle-trained” wife to “bear his heir” has now claimed his upper class heritage was to blame for losing the battle.

After the verdict, he said he would continue to fight against the ruling. He added: “The whole thing has become a nightmare and the verdict is a just a joke.

“But I expected it. There is a lot of class hatred and as a white male with my background you are going to be punished. It is classic.

“I feel there is also a bit of reverse misogyny in play. It was a female judge who has just sided with my ex wife.”

After moving out of the property, Lady Slade argued she had no wish to buy a “replacement property”, but simply wanted the Old Farm to be sold up for her benefit.

The judge concluded that the purpose of the trust was to provide Lady Slade with income during her lifetime from the ‘trust fund’, and it included the property.

Reacting to the verdict, Sir Benjamin added: “There is a prejudice against people with money. I have had this before. She is not a poor vulnerable woman though.

“She is very rich, lives in a £3M apartment and has inherited a fortune. She has tonnes of money but this is the class system working against me.

“What do you do? They were determined on war. She is a bit like a female version of Donald Trump and the Israelis.”

Sir Benjamin had previously hit the headlines advertising for a new wife would need to be at least 20 years younger – “meaning women in their 60s need not apply.”

In return, the new Lady Slade would be paid £50,000-a-year to help run his sprawling 1,300-acre Somerset estate.

Sir Benjamin also stipulates that his new wife must not be a Scorpio, use drugs or be an alcoholic. He was also after a “good breeder” so he can have a male heir.

He previously said: “I don’t mind Canadians, Americans, Germans and Northern Europeans – what I like to call similar people. I don’t think marrying an Eskimo is for me. “

His list of requirements also stated that his wife does not read the Guardian, be Scottish and is taller than 5ft 6ins.

They must be able to ballroom dance, play bridge and backgammon and do crosswords.

Sir Benjamin has a daughter, Violet, with Sahara Sunday Spain, but said previously he was still looking for a male heir who has genetic similarity to one of his further paternal ancestors.

The preferred candidates were told they must have a shotgun and driving licence while a helicopter licence “would be beneficial”.

He also stated she must be able to run two castles and having estate and legal and accountancy training ‘would be useful’.

In return he promised the candidate would be paid £50,000 plus a bonus per year and this included a car, house, expenses, food and holidays.