The Duke, his Brazilian lover and a call to police when she was banned from his shooting party
FOR the country set, the Duke of Rutland’s annual shoot on his 15,000 acre estate is one of the hottest tickets in town.
You’d expect the duke’s Brazilian lover, who lives in his castle grounds, to be top of the invitation list. And so, it seems, would she.
But, as she got ready to welcome guests, Andrea Webb was said to have been told by staff at 19th-century Belvoir Castle that she had been ‘ disinvited’ from the party– and the ensuing row allegedly ended only when police were called.
Miss Webb had reportedly refused to leave as requested unless the duke, David Manners, told her himself that she should go and could not attend the partridge, pheasant and duck shoot.
Eventually she relented and left the castle in Leicestershire, followed by the police officers who had arrived. It is far from the only colourful incident in the love life of the 11th Duke of Rutland, who separated from his wife of 20 years, Emma Manners, in 2012 when she found out that he had been having an affair.
Rather than go their separate ways, the duke and duchess, who have five children together, moved into different wings of Belvoir Castle, on the estate which has been in the family for more than 1,000 years.
The duchess’s lover has moved in with her in the castle, while Miss Webb lives in a house on the estate.
However, the peace of the somewhat unconventional arrangement was shattered on Friday last week.
Miss Webb had been due to co- host the duke’s annual shooting weekend for more than 20 guests, but in the runup it is understood the couple – whose relationship has been described as ‘tempestuous’ – had a series of disagreements.
A source said that Miss Webb was unaware of the outcome until she turned up at the duke’s wing of the castle on Friday last week in the late afternoon, intending to dress in his bedroom in preparation for the guests’ arrival.
Staff allegedly told her to leave as the 58-year-old duke did not want her in the castle and she was not welcome to attend the shooting weekend.
An argument is said to have broken out between Miss Webb and the staff, who were standing by the duke’s bedroom door, with Miss Webb insisting that the duke should tell her himself welcome. that apparently someone two that Police at officers It the she was being castle. was arrived at from called this no Leicestershire longer point after by
bedroom to Police leave, but went and she asked to is the understood Miss duke’s Webb to wanted again the have duke insisted to tell she her face- to- face. Eventually he arrived, reportedly confirming she was not welcome at the shoot and asking her to leave.
She did so, and was followed out of the stately home by the officers, it is understood.
The absence of Miss Webb at the shooting weekend was noted by some of the guests, who included shipping magnate Sir Benjamin Slade and Francis Fulford, the Devon landowner who found fame on the Channel 4 reality show The F***ing Fulfords in which his wife Kishanda hurled a television into a lake because she was fed up with their children watching it.
The duke and Miss Webb, who is believed to be in her 40s, declined to comment on the incident yesterday.
Leicestershire Police said: ‘Police were called at around 4.25pm on Friday 8 December
to a report of a domestic incident at a property in Belvoir, Leicestershire. Officers attended the location and the matter was resolved between the involved parties. No further action is to be taken in relation to the incident.’ Sources said the dispute had been settled ‘amicably’. The duchess, 53, revealed their living arrangements in 2012, telling of her heartbreak that the duke, who inherited the title from his father in 1999, had been having an affair. But for the sake of their children and business they decided to both remain in the castle after separating, she said. of The the and duchess castle, the duke which is chief is chairman is executive also a wedding venue and has been used for a filming location for period dramas such as ITV’s Young Victoria.
The duchess – a Welsh farmer’s daughter – is now in a relationship with Phil Burtt, who was originally hired by the duke and duchess as shoot manager. He once said of the arrangement: ‘David lets me get on with it. He trusts me.
We’re all friends and we have the occasional meal together.’
The duke and duchess’s daughters have been nicknamed ‘No Manners’ after rows with neighbours over their partying in London, where they are regulars on the social scene.
‘Staff told her to leave’ ‘A domestic incident’