25 Facts About Consuelo Vanderbilt

Consuelo Vanderbilt-Balsan was an American socialite and member of the Vanderbilt family.

Consuelo Vanderbilt went on to marry the wealthy French aviator Jacques Balsan and continued her charitable endeavours.

Consuelo Vanderbilt was largely dominated by her mother, who was determined that her daughter would make a great match like that of her famous namesake.

Consuelo Vanderbilt was educated entirely at home by governesses and tutors, and learned foreign languages at an early age.

Consuelo Vanderbilt was allowed to consider the proposal of just one of the men, Prince Francis Joseph of Battenberg, but she developed an instant aversion to him.

Consuelo Vanderbilt came to embody the "slim, tight look" that was in vogue during the Edwardian era.

Consuelo Vanderbilt had no interest in the Duke, being secretly engaged to Winthrop Rutherfurd, an American socialite 15 years her senior.

Consuelo Vanderbilt's mother begged, and then ultimately ordered her daughter to marry the Duke.

Consuelo Vanderbilt refused until it was claimed that Alva's health was being undermined by Consuelo Vanderbilt's stubbornness, and she appeared to be at death's door.

Alva made an astonishing recovery from her supposed illness, and when the wedding took place, Consuelo Vanderbilt stood at the altar reportedly weeping behind her veil.

Consuelo Vanderbilt married the Duke at Saint Thomas Church in Manhattan, on 6 November 1895.

Consuelo Vanderbilt later became involved with other philanthropic projects and was particularly interested in those that affected mothers and children.

Consuelo Vanderbilt was a social success with the royalty and nobility of Britain.

Consuelo Vanderbilt was considered to be politically liberal and quite progressive for an aristocrat, with her advocacy for social reforms and endorsement of the Liberal Party's welfare agenda, such as free school meals, free medical inspection for children, national insurance for workers, and old-age pensions.

Consuelo Vanderbilt was away for six months, returning in July 1900.

The artist's daughter believed that Helleu and Consuelo Vanderbilt probably had an affair between 1900 and 1901, which continued after his return to Paris, where she visited him and sat for him again.

Once it had become apparent that this could not be achieved, William K Vanderbilt paid $380,000 for a parcel of land on Curzon Street where a large townhouse, Sunderland House, was to be built for his daughter and son-in-law.

Besides the $2,500,000 that William K Vanderbilt had pledged to transfer to Consuelo's trustees after his death and which formed part of her marriage settlement, his will provided for a further $2,500,000 to be placed in trust for Consuelo's benefit, with her brothers, William K Vanderbilt, Jr.

Consuelo Vanderbilt was a frequent visitor at her chateau in Saint-Georges-Motel, a small commune near Dreux about 50 miles from Paris, in the 1920s and 1930s.

Records in Florida show that in 1932 Consuelo Vanderbilt built a house in Manalapan, just south of Palm Beach.

Consuelo Vanderbilt died in Southampton, Long Island, New York, on 6 December 1964.

Consuelo Vanderbilt was buried near her younger son, Lord Ivor, in the churchyard at St Martin's Church, Bladon, Oxfordshire, not far from her former home, Blenheim Palace.

Consuelo Vanderbilt's estate's estimated value was $1,000,000, with the majority of her income having been derived from trusts which would devolve upon her sons after her death.

In 1917, Consuelo Vanderbilt became a councillor on the London County Council for Southwark West after a vacancy opened.

Consuelo Vanderbilt stood as the candidate for the Progressive Party along with Albert Wilson, winning re-election in 1919 and holding onto the seat until her divorce with the duke.