MACDONALD-BUCHANAN / THRING engagement

[Richard R]

From the Telegraph of 18 Sept 2020: Mr J.I.H. Macdonald Buchanan and Miss A.C. Thring - The engagement is announced between James, son of the late Mr James Macdonald Buchanan and Mrs Macdonald Buchanan, and Arabella, daughter of Mr J.G.W. Thring and the late Mrs Thring, of Castle Cary, Somerset.

James Iain Harry (b 1963) s of (Alexander) James (Jim) (1931-2017) s of Maj Sir Reginald Narcissus MACDONALD-BUCHANAN KCVO MBE MC (1898-1981) and Hon Catherine BUCHANAN (1895-, d of 1st & last Baron WOOLAVINGTON (1849-1935) of James Buchanan whiskey fame) and his former wife Elizabeth Vivian (1939-2020) d of Maj Hon Hugh Adeane Vivian SMITH MBE (1910-78, scion of the BICESTER barons and of the ABEL SMITH gentry family with all the connections (royal, noble etc) that implies, including kinship with The QUEEN) and Lady Helen Dorothy PRIMROSE (1913-98, d of 6th Earl of ROSEBERY (1882-1974) and his wife a scion of the WESTMINSTER, SUTHERLAND and DEVONSHIRE dukes etc etc). He m 1st 1996, Julia (b 1960) d of Anthony Everard Savile CROSSLEY (1920-93 gs of 1st Baron SOMERLEYTON (1857-1935)) and Jean Margaret Gillian RUSSELL, and had a son and a dau: Angus Anthony b 1997 and Flora Iona b 1999.

Arabella Caroline (b 1969) d of John Gale Wake THRING (b 1943), scion of that gentry family of Alford House, and Dianne Elizabeth (c1944-2015) d of William Henry JONES of Wembury Park, Newchapel, Surrey and Audrey _.

[dpth...@gmail.com]

I agree that it must be this James, but the announcement makes it seem as if his mother were still living. Is it possible that it was a different Elizabeth Macdonald-Buchanan who died earlier this year? That announcement had only sketchy information: "Elizabeth Macdonald-Buchanan died on 22 May. Private funeral on Isle of Eriskay. Memorial services on Eriskay and in London to be arranged at a later date." Source: The Telegraph, 27 May 2020; announcement placed by James Macdonald-Buchanan.

Arabella's great-great-grandfather was brother of Lord Thring.

[Richard R]

The parents were divorced and so it's possible, even after death, that the mother would no longer be referred to as 'Mrs JAMES Macdonald-Buchanan' and hence separated naming in the engagement announcement. So, given the lack of certainty on either side, I'm sticking with what I posted while accepting I may be proved wrong at some point!

[dpth...@gmail.com]

I understand, and don't disagree. I just worry because James is "the late", and while this "late" could also be meant to apply to "Mrs Macdonald Buchanan" it is an awkward way to do it.