The Girl with the Widow's Peak

This memoir recounts Lady Ursula d'Abo's glamorous life, including royal events and friendships with notable figures, offering a unique historical perspective.

In The Girl with the Widow's Peak, Lady Ursula d'Abo shares her captivating memoirs, offering readers an intimate glimpse into her glamorous life. Born into nobility in November 1916, she recounts her formative years at Belvoir Castle, a grand estate that functioned on a feudal scale until the outbreak of World War II. Her vivid storytelling paints a picture of the numerous servants that populated her childhood, from liveried footmen to the pig man, and reflects on her close bond with her father, the 9th Duke of Rutland, as they undertook the sensitive restoration of Haddon Hall.

The narrative takes a historical turn as Lady Ursula details her role in the Coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in 1937, where she served as one of the Six Maids of Honour, elegantly dressed by Norman Hartnell. Her experiences extend beyond the castle walls, as she recounts her participation in the royal couple's first state visit to Paris and Versailles in 1938. Yet, the memoir does not shy away from the challenges of wartime, highlighting her significant contributions as she managed a munitions factory in Springfield, Grantham.

Lady Ursula’s friendships with notable figures such as Rex Whistler, the Maharajah of Jaipur, and Paul Getty add depth to her story. The blend of personal anecdotes and historical context in The Girl with the Widow's Peak creates a narrative that is both engaging and enlightening, allowing readers to experience a world that is as fascinating as it is real.