EMMA’S ORDERS

from Ceawlin that morning; it simply reads, ‘Lots of luck today’ followed by a litany of heart emojis. I can’t help but feel elated that she has a good guy, firmly fighting her corner, given the somewhat chequered relationship the couple have with her in-laws, to put it mildly. The eccentric Lord Bath, renowned for dressing like a wizard, his questionable art and his harem of ‘wifelets’, is now 86 and did not attend their wedding five years ago. He has been estranged from his son ever since Ceawlin deigned to remove the marquess’s more controversial murals (the images have apparently now been put up elsewhere in the house). Lady Bath, meanwhile, was also absent from proceedings after allegedly making comments to her son that his marriage to mixedrace Emma would disrupt the family bloodline. But Lady Bath denied the allegations, saying she had been on ‘anti-racism marches’ in Paris, her former home, and had ‘absolutely nothing’ against her daughter-in-law, suggesting the claims were a publicity stunt for a TV documentary series about Longleat ( All Change at Longleat eventually aired on BBC One in 2015).

Given the natural passage of time and the advent of a second grandchild, I ask if relations with her in-laws, who still live (separately) on the estate, but have no contact with the couple, have in any way thawed. ‘No, nothing’s changed,’ says Emma, smiling yet clearly uncomfortable. ‘But we’re so busy we don’t have much time to reflect upon it. I’m always looking forward and I’m super close to my mum and sister who live nearby. Most mornings we go for a walk or a run. When we go away, they always look after John and Henry.’

Is Emma bored with the comparisons to the new Duchess of Sussex? Again she laughs – glad, I suspect, to be talking about someone else’s family. ‘Like everyone, I watched the royal wedding on TV and was thrilled for Harry and Meghan. I was taken aback by the amount of interest, due to my colour, that exploded when we got engaged. From top: Emma with two of Longleat’s southern white rhinos, which are playing a key role in an attempt to save the world’s rarest rhino, the northern white, from extinction via egg harvesting and IVF; at the safari park with husband Ceawlin It has developed into a good conversation which has changed the way Britain is adapting. I am glad to be part of that, though I didn’t do it on purpose! I just happened to fall in love. It has been positive and the warmth we have had has been incredible.’

Inevitably, when Ceawlin succeeds his father and becomes the Marquess of Bath, Emma will make history as Britain’s first black marchioness. And it’s a responsibility she takes seriously. ‘I’ve had lots of letters from young girls so I’m aware of the historical importance. One hopes that in the future it won’t be seen as such a big deal. Ultimately, it’s important that everyone is allowed to live the life they want and aren’t defined by anything. I wouldn’t presume to compare myself to Meghan, but she too broke the mould by being the first black woman to marry into the royal family. I want to emphasise how positively this has been welcomed: she has been embraced by the royal family and by Britain.’

As for any tips she may have for our newest duchess? ‘Advice?’ she says, laughing. ‘I don’t think she needs any from me. She seems to have it all perfectly under control!’ For more information about Sky Safari and other events, visit longleat.co.uk