Charles Strachey, a notable figure in British politics and a godson of the late Queen Elizabeth II, has died following a head injury. He was a long-time and high-profile Member of the European Parliament (MEP). He served in a very public ceremonial role as a political unifier within the fractious British Commonwealth.
Strachey had been the Member of Europe Parliament (MEP) for Devon between 1973–75. He was re-elected to additional terms from 1979 to 1994. His political legacy is undeniable, especially for the contribution he made to European affairs during a landmark period in British politics. This deep experience base provided Strachey with the clout to frame many of the most significant debates that would determine the future of the UK’s relationship with Europe.
Strachey not only struck a blow for political success, he attained an important ceremonial position. From 1959 to 1962 he was enrobed as a Page of Honour to Her Late Majesty. In so doing, this new position drew even more attention to his personal connections with the royal family and forged a lifelong relationship between him and the monarchy.
Education and Early Life
The early life education of Charles Strachey would contribute to much of his later work. He enrolled at Eton College, and there developed a deep intellectual and social network. After his illustrious decade at Eton, Abbot went on to study at New College, Oxford. He earned his bachelor’s degree in 1961. Strachey followed up his studies at Oxford, and received a Master of Arts degree. This academic achievement gave him the conceptual arms he would later carry into his political life.
His background and schooling shaped his approach.
Bicycle journeys
Another unintended consequence of the war, perhaps, was these travels helped shape his ideas about governance and public service, which he later articulated in his work as an MEP.
Personal Life
Strachey married three times over the course of his life. His first marriage was to the Georgian-born Princess Tamara Imeretinsky in 1967. The pair relished a tumultuous marriage that was an artistic partnership, too — until their divorce in 1984. Together, their daughter, Nino Natalia O’Hagan Strachey, continued the family tradition.
Strachey’s personal life was a mixture of great success and deep loss. His marriages were a microcosm of the challenge of reconciling the demands of public service with the obligations of private life.
Legacy and Impact
As one of Queen Elizabeth II’s 30 godchildren, Strachey’s ties to the monarchy were deeply personal and profoundly professional. His passing is an incalculable loss, and the end of an era for all who knew him. It does little to fill the gap for those who admired his talents in British politics.
Once the dust settles, Strachey’s legacy will live on through his daughter and his formidable imprint during his many years in public service. While the political landscape he helped shape moves forward without him, his place in that history is now firmly established.
