Those who live orthodox lives — and adhere to conventional marriages — may be perplexed by the free-wheeling set-up at Belvoir, ancestral seat of the Duke of Rutland, where, since separating in 2012, he and the Duchess have occupied different wings of the castle, with their respective lovers joining them as the mood and moment takes them.
Now, I can disclose, the 11th Duke, David Manners, 65, is about to startle observers once more, by parading in public, in London, with the lushly named, Brazilian-born Andrea Burle Schmidt Dubeux Webb.
The timing is made more piquant by the fact that her divorce from her husband, Bernard Webb, was being finalised in the Family Division of the High Court in London this week.
The prospect of a public appearance would once have seemed a perfectly natural development in the couple’s relationship, which began after Andrea, now 61, moved to a property on the 15,000-acre Belvoir estate in Leicestershire — and soon caught the Duke’s eye.
The 11th Duke, David Manners, 65, is about to startle observers once more, by parading in public, in London, with the lushly named, Brazilian-born Andrea Burle Schmidt Dubeux Webb. Pictured together at The Royal Caledonian Ball in 2017
The Duke of Rutland and the Duchess (pictured together in 2007) have occupied different wings of the castle since separating in 2012, with their respective lovers joining them as the mood and moment takes them
Belvoir Castle (pictured) is the ancestral seat of the Duke of Rutland
Thereafter, they were ensconced together in the Duke’s half of the castle, while the Duchess, Emma, speedily consoled herself by embarking on an affair of her own, at her end of Belvoir, with the estate’s manager, Phil Burtt.
But in 2018 Andrea’s time at the castle was abruptly curtailed. Expecting to host a shooting weekend with the Duke, she was about to dress for dinner on the Friday evening – using the Duke’s bedroom – when staff told her that she should leave.
A stand-off followed, with staff barring entry to the bedroom while Andrea insisted that she would only leave if told to do so by the Duke himself.
However, three years later, the Duke established a new company with an old chum — none other than Andrea. He assures me that it’s ready for its launch. ‘It’s on June 6 at the Brazilian ambassador’s residence in London,’ he says.
The venture is what might be termed the full Brazilian.
‘It’s promoting the work of [Brazilian artist] Roberto Burle Marx throughout the world,’ says the Duke, describing it as ‘mostly educational’, though also aiming to raise money for the preservation of the rainforest.
Asked if he and Andrea are a couple again, the Duke replies, teasingly: ‘The answer to your question is Yes and No.’