Queen’s confidant splits from wife of 25 years
DURING this summer’s ITV documentary in which Princes William and Harry paid tribute to their mother, Harry Herbert revealed the Queen was so concerned about Diana in her low points that she took him aside quietly at Balmoral to check on her welfare.
Sadly, Herbert’s similarly beautiful wife, Francesca, is now the one left feeling low as, I can disclose, the couple have separated after 25 years of marriage.
Old Etonian Herbert, 58, is the younger brother of the Earl of Carnarvon, who owns Highclere Castle, where Downton Abbey was filmed. The break-up has meant that Herbert has had to sell his own ‘Downton’ — Clanville House, an impressive Queen Anne property in Hampshire near Highclere.
‘They have begun divorce proceedings and sold their house as part of the divorce,’ a close friend of Herbert’s confirms, insisting: ‘There is no third party involved.’
They put their Grade IIlisted, six-bedroom house, which has a 19th-century stable block, on the market for £3.5 million.
The Queen will be greatly saddened to learn of the breakup as Herbert is like a son to her. His father, the 7th Earl of Carnarvon, who was known as Porchy, was her racing manager and they were close friends. Hit Netflix series The Crown caused controversy by suggesting the extent of their friendship enraged Prince Philip.
A gregarious figure, Herbert is one of the biggest movers and shakers in horse racing. In addition to running the Highclere Thoroughbred Racing syndicate, he works for the Qatari royal family. His brother-in-law, John Warren, is the Queen’s racing manager.
Known as Chica, Francesca, 54, is universally popular. She has three children with Herbert: William, 17, art student Chloe, 23, and Frankie, 21, a top model.