Quote from Osipi
There have been many, many times that American women from "old money" from "good families" have married into the class system in Britain and bringing in money to keep up and restore the old family "piles" (estates) in the UK. One being Frances Work, an American heiress and socialite that married James Roche, 3rd Baron Fermoy in 1880. Very interesting woman to read up about.
She was also Diana, Princess of Wales' great grandmother.
A bit OT but I found this interesting when looking for the year Frances Work married into British high society. The portrait listed looks very uncannily like her great granddaughter Diana. The family resemblance is amazing.
https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl...96&vet=1&w=302
End Quote from Osipi
I'm sorry to go off topic like this Osipi, but I am almost sure that the portrait you posted in the above link is of Diana's greatly loved grandmother Cynthia Spencer. I've seen it before.
Frances Work, Diana's great grandmother certainly provided the basis for the Roche family fortune, and she was an heiress. However, she was hardly from 'old money' or a 'good family' in the good breeding sense it's been used on this forum in the last dozen or so posts. Her father Franklin was a self made Ohio native who married a local girl. Fannie Work was their only child and her marriage to the poverty stricken ladies man Baron Roche was miserable. She divorced him within six years.
So much surrounding whether Royal marriages last is sheer luck IMO.
Look at Diana, aristocrat, from one of Britain's oldest and most distinguished families. Considered eminently suitable. Well bred. Did well in charity work and public duties but Miserable and disastrous marriage for herself and Charles.
Sarah Ferguson, middleclass, connections to gentry and aristocracy. Got on swimmingly with the BRF at first. Considered suitable because she 'fitted in to country life'. Marriage a disaster, infidelity, though the couple remain friends. Not suitable really as a Royal duchess.
Sophie Wessex. Very middleclass. Parents a car salesman and a secretary. Happily married and does Royal duties well.
Camilla Duchess of Cornwall. Aristocratic and gentry connections. Well bred. Played controversial part in Charles's first marriage. Now settled down and doing well with her patronages. Happy marriage.
All these women were English born, of 'good' families, two of ancient lineage, three of them had personal and family links to the BRF before marriage, but what a mixed bag!