Irene Astor, Baroness Astor of Hever

Irene Astor was born Lady Irene Violet Freesia Janet Augusta Haig on 7 October 1919 (in fact, her father was created Earl Haig when she was 12 days old), the youngest of four children of military officer Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig (1861–1928), and Dorothy Maud Vivian (1879–1939). Her brother was George Haig, 2nd Earl Haig (1918–2009).[1]

During World War II she worked for the Red Cross, and was also involved in the Girls' Training Corps.[1]

She married Gavin Astor, later the 2nd Baron Astor of Hever, eldest son of John Jacob Astor, 1st Baron Astor of Hever (1886–1971), and Violet Mary Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound (1889–1965) on 4 October 1945. She became Lady Astor of Hever when her husband succeeded to the barony on the death of his father in 1971.[2] They had five children.

Irene was chairman of the Sunshine Fund for Blind Children from 1947 to 1989. She raised over £14 million as chairman.[1] From 1977 until her death, she served as vice president of the Royal National Institute for the Blind.[3]

She died on 12 August 2001.[1]

She and her husband had five children:

• John Astor, 3rd Baron Astor of Hever (born 16 June 1946); married twice. His first marriage was in 1970 to Fiona Diana Lennox Harvey; the couple had three daughters and divorced in 1990. He married, secondly, Hon. Elizabeth Constance Mackintosh, daughter of John Mackintosh, 2nd Viscount Mackintosh of Halifax, in1990; the couple have two children.
• Hon. Bridget Mary Astor (16 February 1948 – 8 January 2017); married twice. Her first marriage was in 1980 to Count Arthur Tarnowski; the couple had two sons before divorcing in 1986. Her second marriage was in 1989 to Geofrey Richard Smith; the couple had one daughter.
• Hon. Elizabeth Louise Astor (born 1 March 1951); married twice. Her first marriage was in 1979 to David John Shelton Herring; they divorced in 1981. She married, secondly, David Joseph Ward in 1985; the couple have two children.
• Hon. Sarah Violet Astor (born 30 September 1953); married George Edward Lopes in 1975 and has three children. Their son Harry Marcus George Lopes is married to Laura Rose Parker Bowles, daughter of Andrew Henry Parker Bowles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.
• Hon. Philip Douglas Paul Astor (born 4 April 1959); married twice.[2] His second marriage was in July 2012 to Justine H. Picardie.