September 13, 2010

The Duchess of Devonshire, née Deborah Mitford

Deborah Cavendish (AKA the The Dowager Duchess of Devonshire), is the youngest and last surviving member of the six Mitford sisters, and at 90 is publishing her memoirs

Duchess of Devonshire: The Duchess of Devonshire at home on the edge of the Chatsworth estate — The Duchess of Devonshire at home on the edge of the Chatsworth estate in Derbyshire Photograph: Christopher Thomond/Guardian

Duchess of Devonshire: The Mitford family NANCY MITFORD: THE BIG TEASE — The Mitford family (l-r top) Lady Redesdale, Nancy, Tom and Lord Redesdale, (middle) Diana and Pamela, (bottom) Unity, Jessica and Deborah. The sisters were educated at home, because their mother didn't believe in exams, and Deborah spent most of her time hunting and skating Photograph: BBC

Duchess of Devonshire: Deborah Freeman-Mitford — 1st January 1941: The young Deborah Mitford, Dowager Duchess of Devonshire. When she married Andrew Cavendish, as the second son he did not expect to become duke, but his older brother was killed in the second world war Photograph: PA

Duchess of Devonshire: The five Mitford sisters — The five other Mitford sisters - Jessica, Nancy, Diana, Unity and Pamela - in 1935 Photograph: Harpercollins

Deborah Mitford: Pamela Herman Hodge, Deborah Mitford and Lady Margaret Ogilvy — Society Women, 1938: the Hon Pamela Herman Hodge (left), the Hon Deborah Mitford (centre) and Lady Margaret Ogilvy at a point-to-point race meeting Photograph: Hulton Archive

Deborah Mitford: Deborah Mitford — Deborah Mitford awaiting the arrival of her sister Unity, from Germany in 1940 Photograph: Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Duchess of Devonshire: 7th September 1954: Duchess of Devonshire, at a banquet — Deborah attending at a banquet given by the Royal Society of St George, in 1954 Photograph: Getty Images

Duchess of Devonshire: Views Over Chatsworth House From A Hot Air Balloon — An aerial view of Chatsworth House in Derbyshire. Until the death of the 11th duke in 2004, the duchess lived in the house. Afterwards she moved about a mile away to a vicarage on the edge of the estate Photograph: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

Duchess of Devonshire: Duchess of Devonshire in her garden — The Duchess of Devonshire, at Chatsworth, sitting on garden furniture made at the estate workshops in the 1970s Photograph: Popperfoto

Duchess of Devonshire: The Duchess of Devonshire out shooting — The Duchess of Devonshire out shooting in 1980 Photograph: Getty Images

Duchess of Devonshire: The Duchess was honoured by Her Majesty the Queen by being made a Dame — The Duke and Duchess of Devonshire at Buckingham Palace in London. The duchess was honoured by the Queen by being made a Dame Commander of The Royal Victorian Order Photograph: Fiona Hanson/PA

Duchess of Devonshire: Duke And Duchess of Devonshire Celebrating their Golden wedding — The Duke and Duchess of Devonshire celebrating their Golden wedding with 1000 couples at Chatsworth Photograph: Steve Etherington/Empics

Duchess of Devonshire: The duchess with her beloved chickens — The duchess with her beloved chickens in the 1990s Photograph: Christopher Simon Sykes/Getty Images

Duchess of Devonshire: The Duchess of Devonshire at home the Old Vicarage — The Duchess of Devonshire at her home since 2004, the Old Vicarage at Edensor Photograph: Christopher Thomond/Guardian

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