David George Philip Cholmondeley, 7th Marquess of Cholmondeley, GCVO, DL (/ˈtʃʌmli/CHUM-lee; born 27 June 1960), styled Viscount Malpas from birth until 1968, and subsequently Earl of Rocksavage until 1990, is a British peer and filmmaker who acted as Lord Great Chamberlain of the United Kingdom from 1990 to 2022.
Like many members of his family, Cholmondeley was educated at Eton College.[3] He later studied at the Sorbonne in Paris.[4]
Career
Film industry
Lord Cholmondeley is a filmmaker. As David Rocksavage, he also appeared in a small part in Eric Rohmer's film 4 aventures de Reinette et Mirabelle (1987). His professional name is derived from his title of Earl of Rocksavage.
He has made the following documentaries for television:
1979, The Gentlemen Factory, about Eton College, (co-directed with Simon Dewhurst), BBC2 and Rank cinemas.
Cholmondeley became Marquess of Cholmondeley on 13 March 1990, upon the death of his father. Cholmondeley also inherited a half share of the office of Lord Great Chamberlain, and succeeded his father in exercising the function of the office for the duration of Queen Elizabeth II's reign. As Lord Great Chamberlain, Cholmondeley was ex officio a member of the House of Lords and attended the House of Lords in his ceremonial role such as at the State Opening of Parliament, although he did not sit in the House of Lords for debates as he was on a leave of absence.[5] Upon Queen Elizabeth II's death on 8 September 2022, Lord Cholmondeley ceased to be Lord Great Chamberlain and a member of the House of Lords, with the office of the Lord Great Chamberlain passing to Rupert Carington, 7th Baron Carrington.
According to the Sunday Times Rich List in 2008, Cholmondeley has an estimated net worth of approximately £60m, attributed primarily to his inherited landholdings.[7] Houghton Hall, ancestral home of the Marquesses of Cholmondeley since the establishment of the title in 1815, opens some of its rooms to the public, as well as the walled garden and extensive sculpture park.
The gardens of Cholmondeley Castle are also open to the public.
Cholmondeley was the co-author of the 2014 monograph on Houghton Hall published by Rizzoli.[8]
In 2000 Cholmondeley commissioned Garlinda Birkbeck to photograph all the residents of his estates and the buildings within them in a survey that was bound in three volumes.[9]
Position at court
In 1974, at the age of fourteen, Cholmondeley, then known as the Earl of Rocksavage, was appointed as a Page of Honour to Queen Elizabeth II.[10] He relinquished this role upon reaching the age limit in 1976.[11]
One moiety of the ancient office of Lord Great Chamberlain is a Cholmondeley inheritance.[12] This hereditary honour came into the Cholmondeley family through the marriage of the first Marquess of Cholmondeley to Lady Georgiana Charlotte Bertie, daughter of GeneralPeregrine Bertie, 3rd Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven.[13] The second, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh holders of the marquessate have all held this office.
Cholmondeley exercised the office of Lord Great Chamberlain from 1990 to 2022, during the reign of Elizabeth II; in the event Charles III ceased to be king before Cholmondeley's death, he would either exercise the office again or nominate a deputy to act on his behalf.[14][15] In March 2023, he was appointed a permanent lord-in-waiting.[16]
Marriage and children
David's son Oliver (third from left) in 2023
Lord Cholmondeley married (Sarah) Rose Hanbury, a fashion model,[17] on 24 June 2009, their engagement having been announced two days prior.[18][19] She is a daughter of Timothy Hanbury, a website designer, and Emma Hanbury (née Longman), a fashion designer. The landed gentry Hanbury family lived at Holfield Grange, Coggeshall, Essex.[20][21]
On 12 October 2009, the Marchioness gave birth to twin sons, Alexander Hugh George and Oliver Timothy George.[24][25] The elder son, Alexander, as heir apparent to the Marquessate, bears the courtesy title of Earl of Rocksavage; his brother is known as Lord Oliver Cholmondeley.
In March 2016, the Marquess and Marchioness had their third child, a daughter, Lady Iris Marina Aline Cholmondeley.[26]
27 June 1960 – 16 September 1968: Viscount Malpas[3]
16 September 1968 – 13 March 1990: Earl of Rocksavage[29]
13 March 1990 – present: The Most Honourable The Marquess of Cholmondeley[30]
As the eldest son of the heir apparent of the 5th Marquess, he was known from birth by the courtesy title of Viscount Malpas. Upon his grandfather's death, he became the heir to the marquessate and was thus known by the courtesy title of Earl of Rocksavage, before inheriting the marquessate in 1990. He also inherited the following subsidiary titles:[31]
^State Opening of Parliament 2023, Court Circular 8 November 2023
^"No. 46366". The London Gazette. 8 October 1974. p. 8535. The QUEEN has been graciously pleased to appoint David George Philip, Earl of Rocksavage to be a Page of Honour to Her Majesty in the room of David Nevile William Bland, Esquire, who relinquishes the appointment having reached the age limit for retirement
^"No. 58358". The London Gazette (1st supplement). 16 June 2007. p. 3. The Most Honourable David George Philip, The Marquess of Cholmondeley, Lord Great Chamberlain
Photos of Houghton Hall and Cholmondley Castle: As a special Millennium project, Garlinda Birkbeck was commissioned by the Marquis of Cholmondeley to photograph every house, building and person on his estates in Norfolk and Cheshire, capturing the world of his estates at the turn of the year 1999/2000.
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