Three Times a Countess: The Extraordinary Life and Times of Raine Spencer

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To her friends, Raine was shrewd, intelligent, witty and loyal; to her enemies, pushy, overly flamboyant and ruthless. From a career spanning local politics to dealing with the fortunes of Althorp; from taking on the Spencer family estate to her final role as a board member at Harrods, Raine’s life was, by any standards, a success . Yet she could not sway the powerful media narrative which pitted her as ‘the evil stepmother’ at every turn. This book is a vindication, both of Raine herself and of a type of person - of woman - whom it became uncool to value * TLS * Yet she could not sway the powerful media narrative which pitted her as ‘the evil stepmother’ at every turn. A societal whirl of London Seasons, family feuds, politics, pomp and ‘big hair’, Gaudoin’s vibrant history of the Countess sets the record straight once and for all, drawing insight from those who knew Raine most. To her friends, Raine was shrewd, intelligent, witty and loyal; to her enemies, pushy, overly flamboyant and ruthless. From a career spanning local politics to dealing with the fortunes of Althorp; from taking on the Spencer family estate to her final role as a board member at Harrods, Raine's life was, by any standards, a success . Yet she could not sway the powerful media narrative which pitted her as 'the evil stepmother' at every turn.

She looked much the same, well into her eighties. She never had “work” on her face but slathered it with jojoba oil three times a day and always kept out of the sun. (She told one host who offered lunch on the terrace, “I don’t do outside”.) Her hairdresser reported that she had “unbelievable breasts”, like a girl’s, and she told him it was because she had never worn a bra. It was only when she was 86 that she suddenly lost weight and started to look frail. “I’ve got a little cancer, dear and it’s spread to the bones,” she confided to a friend. She died at home on October 21 2016.Scottish Business Digest Serica could revive North Sea’s Kyle oil field: 5 need-to-know business stories When using any of our marketplaces – e.g. jobs, courses, energy comparison etc. We may receive money from third parties who are listed on our marketplaces e.g. an employer paying to advertise a job, or a course or energy provider paying a commission to us. We are experiencing delays with deliveries to many countries, but in most cases local services have now resumed. For more details, please consult the latest information provided by Royal Mail's International Incident Bulletin.

Spain: Parliamentary ceremony in Madrid to mark the 18th birthday of Crown Princess Leonor of Spain. Notwithstanding, she was a perfect lady, not revengeful, and always polite, charming and popular. She made a new life for herself, worked as a Director at Harrods, and found a new husband, but no one could replace Johnny, and her last marriage to a French Count did not last very long. But who was the real Raine? What was hidden behind the immaculately manicured public facade and her overwhelmingly negative tabloid image?Gaudoin's book is revealing and hugely entertaining. Highly recommended. * Daily Mail, *Royal Books of the Year* * Equity release may involve a lifetime mortgage or a home reversion plan. To understand the features and risks, ask for a personalised illustration. From a career spanning local politics to dealing with the fortunes of Althorp; from taking on the Spencer family estate to her final role as a board member at Harrods, Raine’s life was, by any standards, a success . She was indeed an extraordinary woman, whose life is told here with great panache by Tina Gaudoin, a former magazine editor. Gaudoin occasionally goes into little rants about how Raine was always under-estimated because she was a woman, but they only add to the fun. This is a sparkling biography of a fascinating woman.

Equity release may impact the size of your estate and it could affect your entitlement to current and future means-tested benefits. Perceptively examines the life of one of the twentieth century's original tough, ambitious women -- Lindy WoodheadTo her friends, Raine was shrewd, intelligent, witty and loyal; to her enemies, pushy, overly flamboyant and ruthless. Of course, I love the tasty bits of gossip, I’m sure most people do, but this book shows you so much more. Raine Spencer was not just a very pretty face. In one of the longest interviews he ever gave, the Friends actor confided that he was ‘a dark soul’ who dreamed of meeting the right woman and starting a family Acid Raine“ was the somewhat unkind name coined by Princess Diana for her stepmother Countess Raine Spencer. Before I read this book – Three Times A Countess – I am ashamed to say I had completely preconceived opinions of Raine Spencer, no doubt fuelled by my guilty secret of sometimes reading the Daily Mail.