Claire van Straubenzee
Claire van Straubenzee | |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Charity Director |
| Spouse | Alexander van Straubenzee (m.1980) |
| Relatives |
|
| Honours | MBE |
Claire Sonia van Straubenzee, (born Claire Sonia Fenwick; July 1954) is an English former charity director. In May 2024, Claire received an MBE for services to children’s education in Uganda.[1]
Career
[edit]In 2007, Claire van Straubenzee set up the Henry van Straubenzee Memorial Fund to support educating disadvantaged children in Uganda.[2] The charity was co-run alongside her husband, Alexander van Straubenzee.[3] This followed the death of Henry van Straubenzee, Claire’s second son, in a car crash near Ludgrove School, Berkshire in December 2002 where he was employed during his gap year.[1] Henry had been due to travel onto Uganda to Bupadhengo School in Kamuli before commencing an undergraduate degree at the University of Newcastle upon the end of his gap year.[2]
The charity’s first donation consisted of a private £3,000 donation by the van Straubenzees to Budaphengo school in Kamuli where Henry was meant to teach.[2] In 2009, William, Prince of Wales, and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, became the charity’s joint patrons.[1] As of 2024, this is the only charity to have their joint patronage.[2] As of 2024, more than £3.3 million had been raised. During this time the charity helped over 35,000 children with more than 1,800 projects in 51 schools across southeastern Uganda.[2]
Claire and Alexander van Straubenzee announced in a joint statement that the Henry van Straubenzee Memorial Fund would close at the end of 2024, with their final trip to Uganda occurring in February 2024.[2] In May 2024, Claire van Straubenzee was awarded an MBE by William, Prince of Wales, in an investiture at Windsor Castle for services to children’s education in Uganda.[1]
Personal life
[edit]Claire van Straubenzee is the daughter of Anthony Fenwick and Caroline Kimball.[4] Her grandfather was Major Lawrence Kimball, the Member of Parliament for Loughborough between 1931 and 1945.[5] Her uncle was Marcus Richard Kimball, Baron Kimball, the Member of Parliament for Gainsborough between 1956 and 1983.[5]
Van Straubenzee has two surviving sons, Thomas (b.1982) and Charles (b.1988), and one deceased son, Henry (b.1984, d.2002).[3] Thomas is godfather to Princess Charlotte of Wales and Charles is godfather to Prince Archie of Sussex.[6] Both brothers were ushers at the Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.[6] Following this, Prince Harry was the best man of Charles van Straubenzee during his wedding to Daisy Jenks in August 2018.[7]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Ward, Victoria (6 May 2024). "Prince of Wales to confer MBE on mother of Harry's childhood friend who died in crash aged 18". The Telegraph.
- ^ a b c d e f Nikkhah, Roya (14 April 2024). "Family wraps up charity that was a last bond between William and Harry". The Times.
- ^ a b Robinson, Stephen (13 April 2012). "Remembering Henry". Evening Standard.
- ^ Mosley, Charles (2003). Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage. Wilmington, Delaware: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd. p. 2586.
- ^ a b Mosley, Charles (2003). Burke's Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage. Wilmington, Delaware: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd. p. 2161.
- ^ a b Bickerstaff, Isaac (8 May 2024). "How the van Straubenzees became a second family to William and Harry as Prince of Wales looks set to award an MBE to Claire". Tatler.
- ^ Davidson, Tom (5 August 2018). "Best man Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attend wedding in Frensham - Surrey Live". www.getsurrey.co.uk.