A British aristocrat named Sir Benjamin Slade, 79, has gone public with an unusual search for a much younger wife, saying he wants a son who can eventually inherit his estate. Slade, described as the seventh baronet of Somerset, has also shared an extensive list of conditions he expects a future partner to meet, according to Tyla. The demands have sparked plenty of reactions online because they mix old fashioned ideas about lineage with modern day dealbreakers. At the center of it all is Slade’s insistence that his legacy needs a male heir.
Slade was born in 1945 and comes from a family that has lived for centuries in the area of Nether Stowey. He previously married noblewoman Pauline Carol Myburgh, and their marriage ended in 1989 after 12 years. Slade has claimed the relationship collapsed because his ex wife had 17 cats, a detail that has followed him in later interviews. Since that divorce, he has been linked to several partners while continuing to frame relationships through the lens of household order and long term succession.
One breakup in particular has been tied directly to his desire for children. Slade said he ended his relationship with Bridget Convey in 2017, when she was 50, because she could not have a child. After that split, he began building what he presents as a practical screening process for potential candidates. He argues that the woman should be at least 20 years younger than him, and he connects that preference to financial planning as much as to fertility.
A major part of his reasoning involves inheritance rules and taxes. Slade pointed to a 40 percent inheritance tax and said the simplest path for transferring assets is to leave everything to a spouse first, then have her distribute it later. He also referenced what he called the “seven year” rule, suggesting timing matters if the plan is going to work. In other words, his romantic search is wrapped tightly around estate strategy, not just companionship.
Then come the lifestyle demands, which are long and often oddly specific. Slade said a future wife cannot be a Scorpio, must have a driver’s license, and ideally would hold a helicopter license as well. He also said she cannot use drugs or drink alcohol. Some requirements lean into status and tradition, such as his preference for someone from a respected family who has her own coat of arms.
His exclusions get even narrower when he talks about nationality and politics. Slade said he does not want a partner from countries whose name begins with the letter “I” or whose flag includes green, with exceptions for Italy and northern India. He also ruled out Scottish women, lesbians, and communists. In the middle of those restrictions, he added that he does not mind Canadians, Americans, Germans, and Northern Europeans, grouping them as people he considers culturally similar.
The skills list is just as demanding as the background checks. Slade wants someone who can dance standard ballroom dances and who knows how to shoot a shotgun. He also said she must not read “The Guardian,” a requirement that reads like a political litmus test as much as a lifestyle preference. He specified she should not be taller than 5 feet 5 inches, but still needs to be fit and enjoy walking and swimming. As extra points, he mentioned interests like bridge, backgammon, and crossword puzzles.
Slade has also tried to frame the search in plainspoken terms, saying what he wants is a simple partner who understands his world. He described the ideal match as a country girl who gets how things work, and stressed that he is social and goes out often. That tone makes it sound like he sees the role as both romantic and managerial. The underlying message is that he wants someone who can slot into a preexisting life built around land, routine, and appearances.
In exchange, Slade says he is prepared to pay for the work that comes with that lifestyle. He stated he would pay about $67,419 a year for managing his Somerset estate, which he said covers roughly 3,212 acres, along with bonuses. He also mentioned providing a car, a house, covered expenses, food, and vacations. It is a compensation package that makes the position sound partly like employment, even while he describes it as a marriage.
One twist is that Slade already has a child, a daughter named Violet. He had Violet with American poet Sahara Sunday Spain, and he has acknowledged his daughter exists while also saying he has never met her. Despite that, he continues to insist he wants a male heir, saying he wants someone who can carry on family tradition and look after the estate long term. That insistence has fueled much of the public fascination because it raises questions about what legacy really means in modern families.
For readers who are not steeped in British titles, a baronetcy is a hereditary honor that is traditionally passed down through family lines, often with expectations about continuity and property. Estates like Slade’s are frequently tied to history and identity, which helps explain why succession can become a personal obsession. The mention of inheritance tax also reflects a real concern among wealthy landowners who structure assets to reduce what is owed when property changes hands. Meanwhile, Slade’s focus on astrology and his ban on Scorpio partners shows how horoscopes still influence some people’s dating choices, even when the rest of their criteria is intensely practical.
What do you make of Sir Benjamin Slade’s approach to love, legacy, and all those rules, and would anyone ever agree to them, share your thoughts in the comments.
