James Spencer-Churchill. 12Th Duke of Marlborough
You can’t talk about the Dukes of Marlborough without mentioning Sir Winston Churchill. He was born in the palace in 1874, and his portrait is everywhere. James is Winston’s distant cousin, but the family connection is deep. Winston’s father was Lord Randolph Churchill, the younger son of the 7th Duke. So, James is like the keeper of the Churchillian flame.
But James isn’t trying to be Winston. He’s not giving wartime speeches or smoking giant cigars. He’s just quietly proud to keep the history alive. He’s said that walking through the palace feels like “holding a conversation with the past.” That’s a lovely, poetic way to look at it. Even if that conversation sometimes involves a plumber named Dave.
And let’s be honest: Winston would probably approve of James’s no-nonsense attitude. He’d likely say, “Keep the roof fixed, carry on, and don’t be a prat about the title.” And James is doing just that.
The Duke Next Door
Here’s my favorite part: James and his wife, Emma, raised their children in a normal school and encouraged them to earn their own money. One of his sons worked as a waiter. Yes, a waiter. While his dad was a Duke. That is so refreshingly normal it should be illegal. It gives you hope that titles don’t always turn people into giant, purple-blooded loons.
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James also has a wicked sense of humor. When a tourist once asked him, “Are you the duke?” he replied, “I’m the one who cleans the toilets, so yes.” That’s comedy gold. He’s not allergic to hard work, and he doesn’t take himself too seriously. That’s a rare and wonderful thing in the world of ermine robes and ceremonial swords.
He also rides a bicycle around the palace grounds. A duke on a bicycle! It’s the most British thing ever. I half-expect him to stop for a cup of Earl Grey and feed the squirrels.