News from the Valley of the Kings

Some time ago I reviewed Will Cross's book The Life and Secrets of Almina Carnarvon.  I criticised the author for suggesting that the Sixth Earl was illegitimate but refusing the name who he thought was the real father.  The book devoted a lot of attention to Prince Victor Duleep Singh and I had put two and two together, but wasn't entirely sure that four was the answer.

The author and the Daily Mail have now gone public in an article with an amazingly long title, Downton's greatest secret: A lonely countess, an illicit love affair with an Egyptian prince... and an Earl who has no right to his title. The extraordinary claims about real life Lord.Cross also paints a very different picture of Carnarvon than generally appears in the literature:

But Carnarvon contracted a malady from one of the whorehouses, and after returning to England almost died,’ reveals Mr Cross. ‘He retained for life the facial marks from the effects of the disease. Thereafter, Carnarvon was sexually blighted.

His fall-back - with his valet Fernside as his confidant - was taking photographs of women. Naughty pictures became his passion, and at the height of his voyeurism he commissioned 3,000 nudes from a photographic studio.

If anybody is interested, William Cross has written a highly detailed biography of Almina Carnarvin (neé Wombwell), wife of Lord Cararvon.

I have finally finished my review of the book and published it on Egyptological.  Alternatively, you can go straight to the author's home page for the book for more details.

I have just had a message from a lady asking about her great aunt who was Carnarvon's nurse:

My grand aunt was a nurse to Lord Carnarvon and travelled with him she was I believe at the opening of the tomb with him her name was Bridget(Deila) Hurley from Tallow Co. Waterford Ireland. Have you heard of her or would you know where I could find out some more information on her?

Zahi Hawass is demanding the return of a range of objects from Lord Carnarvon's family which he alleges were removed illegally from Egypt. I had understood that prior to the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb, sponsors were entitled to a share of the finds. Essentially that is how Egyptology was financed.

British readers will remember the TV series Restoration in which viewers voted for which derelict building would receive a nulti-million pound grant for restoration.  It seems that Highclere Castle, home of the Earls of Carnarvon, should perhaps have been a candidate.  Far from the grandeaur of the state roooms, many parts of the Castle are in a disastrous state.  The Daily Mail online has the story - and photos.  (Thanks to Andie Byrne.)

Lord Carnarvon himself was no stranger to noney problems.  He even intended in 1921 to stop excavation in the Valley of the Kings and had his arm twisted by Howard Carter to fund one last year ... which of course was a fateful decision.