EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: The Duke of Rutland goes into business with his Brazilian-born ‘ex’ as she finalises her divorce – four years after she was told to leave his castle

Those who live Orthodox lives – and adhere to conventional marriages – may be dismayed by the free-flowing setup at Belvoir, the ancestral seat of the Duke of Rutland, where he and the Duchess have occupied different wings of the Duke of Rutland since their divorce in 2012 . the castle, with their respective lovers joining them depending on the mood and the moment.

Now I can reveal that the 11th Duke, David Manners, 65, is about to startle observers again by parading in public in London with the lavishly named Brazilian-born Andrea Burle Schmidt Dubeux Webb.

The timing is made even more piquant by the fact that her divorce from her husband, Bernard Webb, was finalized this week in the Family Division of the High Court in London.

The prospect of a public appearance would once have seemed a completely natural progression in the couple’s relationship, which began after Andrea, now 61, moved to a property on the 15,000-acre Belvoir estate in Leicestershire – and quickly caught the attention of the public. duke pulled.

The Duke of Rutland and the Duchess (pictured together in 2007) have occupied different wings of the castle since their divorce in 2012, with their respective lovers joining them depending on the mood and the moment.

Belvoir Castle (pictured) is the ancestral seat of the Duke of Rutland

They were then ensconced together in the Duke’s half of the castle, while the Duchess, Emma, ​​quickly consoled herself by embarking on an affair of her own on her side of Belvoir with the estate’s manager, Phil Burtt.

But in 2018, Andrea’s time at the castle was abruptly cut short. She was expecting to host a shooting weekend with the Duke and was about to get dressed for Friday night dinner – in the Duke’s bedroom – when staff told her she had to leave.

A standoff ensued, with staff blocking access to the bedroom while Andrea insisted she would only leave if the Duke himself ordered her to do so.

Three years later, however, the Duke founded a new company with an old friend: none other than Andrea. He assures me it’s ready for launch. “It will be at the Brazilian ambassador’s residence in London on June 6,” he says.

The company is what one might call completely Brazilian.

‘It promotes the work of [Brazilian artist] Roberto Burle Marx around the world,” says the Duke, who describes it as “above all educational” but also aims to raise money for rainforest conservation.

When asked if he and Andrea are a couple again, the Duke teasingly replies: “The answer to your question is yes and no.”