Is Emma Thynne, the Marchioness of Bath, society’s best-connected swan? Whether she’s draped over Cosima Vesey, daughter of the 7th Viscount de Vesci, on a yacht in St Tropez, stopping by Hotel Spendido with Mark-Francis Vandelli, or hosting the Duke of Edinburgh at her husband’s family seat, the Longleat chatelaine has one of the most enviable address books in the land.
Case in point? Her recent holiday with tennis legend Serena Williams. Taking to Instagram, Strictly Come Dancing star swapped samba for flamenco, posting a picture alongside the seven-time Wimbledon champion in what appears to be a Spanish getaway. While Serena stunned in a pink traje de flamenca, The Marchioness of Bath, 39, put an Iberian spin on the pattern of the summer, wearing a white dress with sangria coloured polka dots and ruffles. Polka dots, of course, have been all the rage with the royals of late, with the Princess of Wales leading the way in the style stakes. It’s no wonder that the ever-elegant Emma Weymouth has made the trend her own.
‘Nothing beats a Jet2 holiday,’ wrote Emma in the caption of her Instagram post, jumping on another, more social, summer trend. The great and the gilded clearly approved of the pair’s eyecatching wardrobe, complete with a pair of flamenco-ready fans. ‘You both look STUNNING!!!’ wrote model and actress Amy Jackson, while Edward Enniful called the duo ‘beauties’. Maye Musk, meanwhile, commented a series of love hearts.
Serena Williams, too, shared a photoshoot from their sun-drenched holiday. This time, she and the Marchioness were in matching scarlet gowns, backdropped by a sublime lakeside scene. ‘Lady in Red… in Golden hour? Yes please,’ the tennis star wrote in the caption of her post, which was indeed soundtracked by the Chris de Burgh ballad. Their twinning style came with the seal of approval from none other than Naomi Campbell, who commented a pair of love hearts underneath the post – in red, of course.
Emma Weymouth is, naturally, no stranger to savvy dressing. Take the ensemble she donned to host Prince Edward at Longleat back in 2023. The epitome of elegance in a classic black LBD by Roland Mouret, teamed with black pumps for a magnificent monochrome effect. An impeccably tailored dress coat by Alexander McQueen created a sophisticated silhouette, while a black veiled creation by Emily-London Headwear provided the perfect accent to the ensemble.
Prince Edward attended the Rededication of the 43rd Wessex Division Service at Longleat, the family seat of the Marquesses of Bath since the 17th century. During the visit, the royal spent time speaking to the Marquess and Marchioness of Bath, and their sons, John Thynn, Viscount Weymouth and Lord Henry Thynn.
Longleat has long been at the forefront of British society. Visitors have been welcomed onto the 450-year-old Wiltshire estate since 1949, when Henry Thynne, 6th Marquess of Bath, had the controversial idea to open its doors to the paying public. He went on to totally redefine the world of tourism in 1966 when he launched the only drive-through safari park outside of Africa. Now, the Safari Park, tucked behind the historic 130-room Longleat House, welcomes thousands of visitors a year. It is at Longleat where the Marchioness of Bath was photographed for Tatler’s January 2021 cover shoot, resplendent in couture and every inch the stately chatelaine.
Serena Williams is also a regular on the social circuit nowadays. A close friend of Meghan Markle, she can often be found in the Duchess of Sussex’s Montecito home, relaxing with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, who know her as ‘Auntie’. A proper power set, if ever there were one.
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