Dodgy Duke divorces his third wife – on Facebook

THE scandal-loving Duke of Manchester has filed for divorce from his third wife Laura – and announced the news in an extraordinary Facebook rant to friends. Alexander Montagu, 53 – nicknamed the Dodgy Duke thanks to his colourful past – made a series of sensational allegations about his American wife, including the claim she had stabbed him with a knife.

‘My wife, who claims she loves me, slashed my thumb,’ he wrote. However, police investigating the incident ruled out foul play – and arrested and charged him for making a false statement. He has been placed under house arrest until his trial.

During his Facebook tirade, the Duke, who lives in Las Vegas, added: ‘Laura has gone back to her maiden name and is no longer the Duchess of Manchester. If she attempts to use the title she be COMITING FRAUD [sic].’ I hate to correct him but, according to law, Laura can continue to call herself Laura, Duchess of Manchester.

Although he is the bearer of one of Britain’s great hereditary titles – Alexander is one of only 24 people outside the Royal Family to retain the title of Duke in the UK – he was born and brought up in Australia. His family once owned four vast estates in Britain and Ireland, but Alexander, pictured above with Laura, has squandered what has remained of his fortune. He has previously demanded that a court in Nevada ‘treat him as a pauper’ due to a lack of funds – a request that was granted. In 2007, the Duke was also exposed as a bigamist at the High Court following a custody fight with second wife Wendy.