Cecil Beaton at Blenheim PalaceThe ninth Duke of Marlborough and his second wife, the American intellectual Gladys Deacon, were enthusiastic hosts during the seven or so years they lived at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire in the 1920s.
Moving to the magnificent stately home after their marriage in 1921, the Duke left seven years later, and evicted his wife two years after that.
However, during their brief stay, Cecil Beaton was a regular visitor, and came back frequently as the guest of subsequent Dukes.
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