Lady Sitwell shares secrets of lovechild she had at 17
SHE’S the society model who became the face of Royal Ascot, but Martha Sitwell has been keeping a secret for the past quarter of a century.
Now, the ex-wife of baronet Sir George Sitwell has spoken for the first time about her 25-year-old son.
The socialite, who gave birth to Conor de Blank when she was just 17, decided that the baby should be raised by her aunt.
Lady Sitwell tells me: ‘People weren’t thrilled that I was having a baby at that age. I had huge help from my aunt. He lived between me and my aunt and by the time I was married he was at boarding school.’
Martha, 42, the daughter of late gastronome Justin de Blank, adds: ‘I do think that I made mistakes with him that I wouldn’t make now because I am older and wiser. I don’t think he’s had a perfect life with me at all. I’ve led quite an unstable life which is one the reasons I asked my aunt to help because she’s given him a bit more stability.’
Lady Sitwell refuses to disclose the identity of her son’s heavily tattooed father, whom she is pictured kissing, above, with baby Conor on his lap while she clutches a cigarette.
‘The father is not in my life, we had a long relationship and I’ve always made it very clear that he and my son can get in touch with each other and their relationship is between them.’
Martha’s close friend, aristocratic chef Gizzi Erskine, also has a special attachment to her son as she is his godmother. Although Martha remains tight-lipped on what Conor does for a living, she says he likes to work with his hands. ‘My son has got a job that he adores. He looks like Marlon Brando and is ridiculously good looking and is extremely nice. I’m blessed to have him’.
Martha, married Sir George in 2007 and lived with him at the family’s £3.25million Grade II-listed Weston Hall in Northamptonshire. But her relationship with the former film producer and great-nephew of poet Dame Edith Sitwell turned frosty and she held a ‘divorce party’ in 2017 to mark the end of their ten-year union.
Despite Martha previously denouncing marriage as ‘pure misery’, she admits Sir George and her son shared a bond. ‘As much as my ex-husband could get on with anyone, I think they did,’ she said.