The Duke had purchased the yacht around 1921 and christened her the Flying Cloud. When he entertained onboard, there was a small orchestra so the guests could dance, and adding to the festive atmosphere, the rigging was illuminated when he entertained. The Duke’s bedroom included a canopied bed and hand-blocked curtains. The staterooms were paneled and the luxurious salons were decorated with Queen Anne furnishings and Italian silk fabrics. They descended down a graceful staircase that entered into very elegant lodgings. It was a four-masted stay-sail, slick black, 282-foot long, 676-ton schooner with a crew of 40. The yacht was liked a country house at sea-among the largest private yachts in the world. They entered through what resembled an old manor house with a heavy wood door, Greek columns and overhead was a carved shell decoration. The three guests were given a tour of the Flying Cloud. Moreover, I say it because wealth makes Westminster the last representative of a departed civilization.” Also saying about him: “Elegant: that is detached.” It is beyond all envy and assumes the proportions of a catastrophe. When Chanel referred to the Duke as the richest man in England she made clear what she meant: “I say this because, first of all, wealth of such magnitude ceases to be vulgar. His, was an immediate attraction to the charismatic Coco, and Chanel was intrigued with the very elegant tall, blond man with striking blue eyes-the richest man in England. He decided not to go to the Casino and instead to party with them. The Duke spotted Vera across the room and proceeded towards her table-he was asked to join their party. (Bend’or was the name of his grandfather’s derby-winning stallion.) She was there with her dear friend Vera Bate who was a friend of Bend’or. The two principle players: Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel and Hugh Richard Arthur Grosvenor, 2nd Duke of Westminster, nickname, Bend’or. The setting: Monte Carlo, Hôtel de Paris during the Christmas season, December,1923. For ten years, I did everything he wanted. The greatest pleasure he gave me was to watch him live. “ Ten years of my life have been spent with Westminster.
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