Harry Primrose, 8th Earl of Rosebery facts for kids

Harry Ronald Neil Primrose, born in 1967, is a British nobleman. He is known as the 8th Earl of Rosebery. From 1974 until 2024, he was known as Lord Dalmeny. Today, he is the Chairman of Sotheby's in the United Kingdom.

As a member of the British nobility, he holds several important titles. These include the Earl of Rosebery and Earl of Midlothian. He is also connected to the family home, Dalmeny House, and is the chief of Clan Primrose. Harry Primrose is a Deputy Lieutenant for the area of Midlothian. He is also a member of the Royal Company of Archers.

About Harry Primrose's Early Life

Dalmeny House in Scotland, the family home of the Earls of Rosebery

Harry Primrose was born in 1967. He is the son and heir of Neil Primrose, 7th Earl of Rosebery. His great-grandfather was Archibald Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery, who was once a Prime Minister. His great-grandmother was Hannah de Rothschild, who was very wealthy.

The Earls of Rosebery own Dalmeny House in Scotland. They also used to own Mentmore Towers until 1977.

Harry Primrose went to the Dragon School, Oxford. He then studied at Eton College. After that, he studied art history at Trinity College, Cambridge.

Harry Primrose's Career in Art and Auctions

Harry Primrose started working at Sotheby's in 1990. He joined the department that sold items from country houses. In 2000, he became a director at Sotheby's. From 2003 to 2007, he was the chairman of Sotheby's Olympia.

In 2001, Harry sold a famous painting. It was Gilbert Stuart's 1796 portrait of George Washington. This painting had been on loan to the National Portrait Gallery since 1968. To keep it from being sold at auction, a donor in the U.S. paid the US$20 million that Harry had asked for. The painting is now part of the Smithsonian Institution.

In 2006, he also took charge of sales for single owners. He became deputy chairman of Sotheby's UK in 2007. In 2017, he became the chairman of Sotheby's.

As a director at Sotheby's, Lord Dalmeny has led many important auctions. These include sales at Chatsworth House and Hopetoun House. In 2004, he sold Jack Vettriano's painting The Singing Butler for £744,800. This was a record price at the time.

In 2014, the Primrose family sold another famous painting. It was Rome, From Mount Aventine by J. M. W. Turner. They sold it for £30.3 million. The money helped pay for repairs at Dalmeny House. This painting was bought by Prime Minister Archibald Primrose in 1878.

In 2019, Lord Dalmeny led the auction of Claude Monet's 1890 painting Meules. It sold for US$110.7 million at Sotheby's New York. This set a new record for an Impressionist artwork.

In 2025, Harry took part in an auction at the V&A Museum. He auctioned a stay at SHA Wellness Clinic. This was during Borne’s Wonderland Gala. Many guests attended, including his wife, the Countess. Princess Beatrice and her husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, were also there.

Harry Primrose's Personal Life

In 2013, Harry rode in the Queen's carriage. This was at Royal Ascot, a famous horse racing event.

In late 2024, Harry and his wife, Harriet, attended a dinner party. It was at the National Gallery. The party celebrated the opening of an art exhibition. Other famous people like Boris Johnson and James Blunt were also there.

Harry and his wife also went to Sotheby's Royal & Noble Jewels sale. Harry is the chairman of Sotheby's. The event included a special dinner. Many notable guests attended, including other noble families and actress Jameela Jamil.

Marriages and Family

In 1994, Lord Dalmeny married Caroline Daglish. She used to work for the Conservative Party. She is also a supporter of the Royal Caledonian Ball. They lived in both London and Scotland. They have five children together. They divorced in 2014.

In 2018, he was in a relationship with Pontine Paus.

In June 2021, Lord Dalmeny announced his engagement. He was going to marry art advisor Harriet Clapham. They got married in 2022.