Hunt for the new mother whose great grandfather was a baron
A MOTHER missing for five days along with her partner and newborn baby is descended from wealthy landowners with close links to the Royal Family, it emerged last night.
Several sightings have been made of Constance Marten, 35, since police raised the alarm on Friday, saying her baby needed to be assessed by medical professionals.
As forces around the country remained on high alert after Miss Marten and her baby were seen close to a shipping port, new details emerged about her background. She is the granddaughter of Mary Anna Marten, whose godmother was the late Queen Mother. The family used to own the Crichel estate in Dorset.
Miss Marten’s great-grandfather was Captain Napier Sturt, the third and final Baron Alington. Her father, Napier Marten, was a page to Queen Elizabeth, and gave up the £115 million family fortune, saying a voice in his head told him ‘to shave my head and go to Australia’.
Miss Marten, her baby and partner Mark Gordon have been missing since their vehicle broke down near Junction 4 of the M61, near Bolton, last Thursday evening, after which they set off on foot.
Police believe Miss Marten was then seen in Essex, first near Harwich Port on Saturday at 9am and then in Colchester an hour later.
Miss Marten, who was wrapped in a large red garment at the Harwich Port sighting, has been urged to seek medical assistance as it appears that neither she nor the baby has been assessed by medical professionals.
Napier Marten’s parents were Toby Marten, a Lieutenant Commander in the Royal Navy, and Mary Anna, daughter and heir to the third Baron Alington.
Mary Anna had close links to the Royal Family, attending the Brownies pack at Buckingham Palace alongside Princess Margaret, The Independent reported last night. After an archaeology career which saw her travel the world, Mrs Marten was awarded an OBE in 1980 and made a trustee of the British Museum. She died in 2010.
From her father – who died in 1940 on active service in North Africa – she had inherited the sprawling Crichel House estate. After Napier Marten renounced his inheritance and set off travelling the world, the 5,000-acre estate was expected to pass to his eldest son Max – younger brother of Constance.
However, in 2013 the house was bought by American billionaire Richard Chilton.
‘Urged to seek medical assistance’