Those who live Orthodox lives (and adhere to conventional marriages) may be perplexed by the free configuration of Belvoir, ancestral seat of the Duke of Rutland, where, since they separated in 2012, he and the Duchess have occupied different wings of the White House . the castle, with their respective lovers joining them depending on the mood and the moment.
Now, I can reveal that the 11th Duke, David Manners, 65, is about to surprise observers once again by parading in public, in London, with Brazilian-born Andrea Burle Schmidt Dubeux Webb, with a exuberant.
The timing is made more interesting by the fact that her divorce from her husband, Bernard Webb, was being finalized 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 attention.
The 11th Duke, David Manners, 65, is about to surprise observers once again by parading in public in London with the exuberantly 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 they separated in 2012, with their respective lovers joining them depending on the mood and moment.
Belvoir Castle (pictured) is the ancestral seat of the Duke of Rutland
Thereafter, they took up residence together in the duke’s half of the castle, while the duchess, Emma, quickly consoled herself by embarking on an adventure of her own, at her end of Belvoir, with the estate manager, Phil Burtt.
But in 2018, Andrea’s time at the castle was abruptly curtailed. Hoping to organize a weekend of filming with the Duke, she was about to get dressed for Friday night dinner (using the Duke’s room) when her staff told her that she had to leave.
A confrontation ensued, with staff prohibiting entry to the bedroom while Andrea insisted that she would only leave if the Duke himself ordered her to.
However, three years later, the Duke founded a new company with an old friend, none other than Andrea. He assures me that it is ready for release. “It’s June 6 at the Brazilian ambassador’s residence in London,” he says.
The entrepreneurship is what could be called totally Brazilian.
“It’s promoting the work of (Brazilian artist) Roberto Burle Marx around the world,” the duke says, describing it as “mainly educational,” although it also aims to raise money for rainforest preservation.
When asked if he and Andrea are a couple again, the Duke jokingly replies: “The answer to your question is Yes and No.”