Winston Churchill

Blenheim Palace is famous for many things, and one of its leading claims to fame is that it happens to be the birthplace of a certain Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill—twice prime minister of Great Britain, accomplished writer, artist, and skilled bricklayer.

One may be surprised at hearing Winston Churchill referred to as a style icon, in much the same way that one might express surprise at his being described as “wonderfully pretty” (Lord Randolph’s description of his prematurely born son in a letter to his mother-in-law), but icons tend to develop rather than to be born, and that is certainly true of Winston Churchill.

Stylish Parents

His parents, Lord Randolph Spencer-Churchill and American socialite Jennie Jerome, met at Cowes week in August 1873. Theirs was a whirlwind romance, and Randolph was so besotted that he proposed to Jennie after their second meeting. Randolph’s parents the Seventh Duke and Duchess of Marlborough were not quite so enamoured of the whole idea and initially refused to give their blessing. This was but a minor hitch as far as Randolph was concerned. Eventually the desired blessing was obtained, and the happy couple were married in April 1874, less than a year after they had first met.

Randolph and Jennie’s style credentials were second to none. Jennie was always at the leading edge of fashion and a fearless horsewoman at