The Green Writing Room

The first Sir Winston Churchill (1)

The first Sir Winston Churchill was the father of John Churchill, the 1st Duke of Marlborough. He was a Royalist, and at the end of the Civil War in England, he lost his fortune.

However, when King Charles II was restored to the throne, although he never got his money back, he was welcome again at Court. He invented the family motto, ‘Fiel Pero Desdichado’ which means ‘Faithful but Unfortunate’. See how many times you can find this motto as you look around the Palace. It may help if you look for our two friendly wyverns Grinling and Gibbons first because where they are; the motto is seldom far away.

1st Duke of Marlborough (2)

This is a portrait of John Churchill, the 1st Duke of Marlborough, but it’s not a painting. It is part of a large tapestry called the Blenheim Tapestry.

The Duke appears in all the tapestries in the Palace except one. You can always spot him because he wears a red coat with gold buttons and he has gold spurs. He usually rides a grey horse, but sometimes he rides a brown one. You know it’s the Duke if he is carrying his Baton (stick) of Office in his hand.