Sir Benjamin Finds Heir at Last
Royal Anecdotes readers in America may have been following the long-running story over on our sister site, Aristocracy Anecdotes, about Sir Benjamin Slade’s search for an heir to his fabulous country estate in Somerset.
The story made the Today show in the U.S. and we were deluged with hundreds of comments and emails, many assuming I was Sir Ben himself. Since then, Aristocracy Anecdotes has received a steady flow of traffic from would-be Slades and country gentlefolk. Sir Ben received 15,000 applications.
Now we know that Sir Benjamin is close to finding his longed-for heir to the Maunsel estate in the unlikely shape of a young American pop singer, Isaac Slade (pictured right), frontman to the band, Fray.
Is young Slade Sir Benjamin’s actual heir by lineage or is he merely someone with the same last name whom Sir Benjamin is adopting?
By Gigi on June 2nd, 2007 at 6:00 pm
He’s a distant relative, Gigi, but the details are still being thrashed out. I think Ben is more concerned that someone has the money to keep the old pile going.
By John on June 3rd, 2007 at 9:23 am
Thanks, John, for the information.
An estate with buildings that date back that far will, indeed, take quite a lot of money. Fortunately, it sounds as if the young heir is ready, willing and able.
By Gigi on June 3rd, 2007 at 5:10 pm
Yes, and much better than winning the lottery. I wonder if he can engineer passing on his title as well? It’s an hereditary baronetcy, so he may well be able to specify an heir for that too.
By John on June 4th, 2007 at 9:03 am
I thought that transfer of hereditary titles passing outside the linear descent is solely in the gift of the Sovereign? Am I wrong?
By Gigi on June 4th, 2007 at 7:38 pm
It would probably have to go to the Privy Council — which is the Sovereign in effect, Gigi.
By John on June 5th, 2007 at 7:31 am
Thank you, John. It will be interesting to see if Sir Benjamin chooses to request such a transfer, and if such a request is granted.
By Gigi on June 5th, 2007 at 3:13 pm