Lady Annabel Goldsmith, the celebrated British socialite whose name became synonymous with London’s high society nightlife, has died peacefully in her sleep at the age of 91. Her passing on the morning of October 18, 2025, was confirmed by her family, who described her as “quite simply irreplaceable.” The woman behind the legendary Mayfair nightclub Annabel’s, Lady Annabel Goldsmith’s life was a tapestry of privilege, glamour, personal tragedy, and enduring influence across generations.
Born Annabel Vane-Tempest-Stewart in 1934, she was the daughter of Viscount Castlereagh, who would later become the 8th Marquess of Londonderry, placing her at the heart of Britain’s aristocracy from a young age. According to the BBC, she became Lady Annabel in 1949 when her father inherited the marquessate. Her upbringing was marked by both tradition and the kind of social connections that would later define her public persona.
At just nineteen, Lady Annabel married Mark Birley, a charismatic entrepreneur who would go on to found Annabel’s, the exclusive London nightclub that bore her name. The club, which opened in 1963 beneath Aspinall’s gambling club on Berkeley Square, quickly became a magnet for royalty, rock stars, actors, and the international jet set. The Guardian once described it as “the ne plus ultra of London—and global—nightclubs,” a discreet haven where the famous and infamous could mingle away from prying eyes. Princess Diana and the Duchess of York famously attended the club dressed as policewomen, and even Queen Elizabeth II made a rare nightclub appearance there in 2003.
Annabel’s was more than just a venue; it was a cultural institution. As The Independent noted, the club’s velvet curtains and hush-hush invitations defined an era of glamour, with guests ranging from Frank Sinatra and John Wayne to Princess Anne and the Rolling Stones. Following Lady Annabel’s death, the club paid tribute to its namesake on Instagram, calling her “a woman of incomparable grace, wit and charm” who “defined an era of elegance and conviviality that lives on within these walls.”
Lady Annabel’s personal life, however, was not without its share of drama and heartbreak. Her marriage to Mark Birley ended in the 1970s after she began an affair with Sir James Goldsmith, a flamboyant financier and politician. The two married in 1978, and Lady Annabel became a fixture in the circles of both British high society and international power brokers. Despite the dissolution of her first marriage, she and Birley remained close, speaking nearly every day until his death in 2007, according to WWD.
The Goldsmith and Birley families together produced six children, each of whom would go on to make their own mark. Rupert, her eldest with Birley, tragically drowned off the West African coast in 1986. Robin Birley, her second son, survived a harrowing tiger attack as a child and later became a successful entrepreneur, opening private clubs and bakeries in London and New York. India Jane Birley established herself as an artist.
Lady Annabel’s children with Sir James Goldsmith—Jemima, Zac, and Ben—would also rise to prominence. Jemima Goldsmith, known professionally as Jemima Khan, is a renowned television producer and writer, responsible for projects such as the miniseries “The Case Against Adnan Syed” and the film “What’s Love Got to Do With It?” She was once married to Imran Khan, the former cricketer and Prime Minister of Pakistan. Zac Goldsmith served as a Conservative MP for Richmond Park, ran for mayor of London in 2016, and is now a member of the House of Lords. Ben Goldsmith, the youngest, is an environmentalist and financier, heading the investment firm Menhaden.
Lady Annabel’s influence extended well beyond her family. She was a campaigner and advocate for causes ranging from countryside preservation to animal charities and efforts to reduce the impact of HIV/AIDS on children in South Africa, according to the BBC. Her memoir, Annabel: An Unconventional Life, published in 2004, offered a candid look at her aristocratic childhood, the swinging social scene of 1960s London, and her later years as a matriarch and grandmother.
Despite her reputation as a grande dame of British society, Lady Annabel was quick to dismiss the notion that happiness came from elite status. In a 2009 interview with The Guardian, she remarked, “My happiness in my life has nothing to do with being elite. Give me dogs, give me children, give me books and I’ll be happy.” She also emphasized the importance of loyalty and family, saying, “Loyalty is top of my list. Family has always been so important to me, and really that’s all about loyalty.”
Lady Annabel’s passing has left a profound sense of loss among those closest to her. Her son Ben Goldsmith shared a heartfelt tribute, stating, “We are bereft, not for her—because her life has been extraordinary and complete—but for us, because of the immense hole in our lives she leaves behind. I spoke to her every day for 45 years. She truly had my back and we loved each other very much. I will miss her terribly.”
Her relationships with notable figures further cemented her place in British history. She was a close friend and confidante of Princess Diana, even giving evidence at the 2007 inquest into Diana’s death. During that inquiry, she recounted a conversation with Diana in which the princess dismissed rumors of an impending marriage to Dodi Fayed, quipping that she needed marriage “like a rash on my face.”
In her later years, Lady Annabel retreated from the spotlight, enjoying a quieter life in Richmond, surrounded by her children, grandchildren, and beloved dogs. She remained a symbol of grace and resilience, wearing her privilege lightly and preferring the comforts of home to the trappings of fame.
Lady Annabel Goldsmith is survived by her five living children and numerous grandchildren. Her extraordinary journey—from aristocratic daughter to the inspiration behind London’s most exclusive club, to matriarch of a remarkable family—has left an indelible mark on British society. Those who knew her best remember not just the glamour, but the warmth, loyalty, and understated wisdom that defined her long and storied life.
