Expert: Mark Smith - 6/5/2011

Question
Hello- to get right to the point, is it possible to "erase" a member of the Aristocracy from encyclopedias,etc. (including Wikipedia) when they've been disinherited?   My employer over here in Canada says she is a member of the Royal Family by marriage because her niece, Serena Stanhope, married Princess Margaret's son. She goes into great, believable detail about her family upbringing all over the world (and all world class figure skaters to boot) but she doesn't seem to be on the list of the 11th Earl of Harrington's offspring. She says she has been disinherited and we figured that's why.  Thankyou; We are very afraid we may be working for a confidence trickster.

Answer
Hello Megan.
Firstly she is not a member of the Royal Family; she may have Royal connections through the marriage of a relative, but that does not make her Royal.
If you give me her name I'll check out her noble credentials. You can resend the question privately so it won't be seen on the public board by anyone else. Even if she is genuine and has been disinherited she will still show up as the daughter of the 11th Earl.
Mark