Lady Colin Campbell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lady Colin Campbell
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Campbell in 2013
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| Born |
George William Ziadie
17 August 1949 St Andrew, British Jamaica
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| Other names | Georgia Arianna Ziadie |
| Citizenship |
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| Alma mater | Fashion Institute of Technology |
| Occupation |
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| Spouse(s) |
Lord Colin Campbell
(m. 1974; div. 1975) |
| Children | 2 (adopted) |
| Relatives | Sir Peter Jonas (cousin) |
| Family |
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Georgia Arianna, Lady Colin Campbell (born 17 August 1949), also known as Lady C, is a British Jamaican author and TV personality. She is known for writing books about the British royal family. These books include biographies of Diana, Princess of Wales and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. She also wrote about Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex.
Lady Colin Campbell grew up in Jamaica. Her family, the Ziadies, were well-known and wealthy. She moved to New York City to study at the Fashion Institute of Technology. There, she started working as a model. She later married Lord Colin Ivar Campbell, but their marriage ended quickly.
Besides writing, Lady Colin Campbell is a reality TV star. She has appeared on many shows. These include I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! and Celebs Go Dating. She enjoys being recognized by the public.
She lives at Castle Goring in Worthing, England. This historic castle is the family home of the Shelley baronets. Lady Colin Campbell bought the castle in 2013. She has appeared on TV shows to help pay for the castle's repairs.
Early Life
Lady Colin Campbell was born in Jamaica on 17 August 1949. Her birth name was George William Ziadie. She was one of four children. Her father, Michael George Ziadie, owned a department store. Her mother was Gloria Dey.
Her family, the Ziadies, became rich through trade. They had moved to Jamaica from Lebanon. Lady Colin Campbell is a cousin of the opera director Sir Peter Jonas. She left Jamaica to attend the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City.
Marriage and Family
On 23 March 1974, she married Lord Colin Ivar Campbell. He was the younger son of the eleventh Duke of Argyll. They had known each other for only five days. She once said he had a very strong personality.
However, their marriage did not last long. They split up after nine months. They divorced after 14 months. This happened because of false stories spread about her early life. She successfully sued several newspapers for printing these untrue stories. She said her former husband sold the false story for money.
In 1993, Lady Colin Campbell adopted two boys from Russia. Their names are Michael and Dimitri. They later appeared on an MTV reality show called The Royal World.
In 2013, she bought Castle Goring. This is a very old country house in Worthing, Sussex. It is a Grade I listed building. The castle was once the home of the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley's family.
Writing Career
Lady Colin Campbell wrote special radio plays for the BBC in the 1980s. These plays were based on famous stories like Dick Whittington and Sleeping Beauty.
She is most famous for her books about the royal family. Her 1992 book, Diana in Private: The Princess Nobody Knows, shared details about Diana, Princess of Wales's personal struggles. At first, some people did not believe her claims. But later, some of what she wrote was proven true. This book became a New York Times Best Seller in 1992.
Her 1993 book, The Royal Marriages, was criticized by some. They said it lacked proof for its claims. One journalist said Lady Colin Campbell was either a great gossip or made things up.
Her 2012 book, The Untold Life of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, also received criticism. Some writers called her ideas "bizarre" and "complete nonsense." The book was released around the tenth anniversary of the Queen Mother's death. This timing was also criticized.
In 2020, she released Meghan and Harry: The Real Story. This book is about Meghan and Prince Harry's lives and their relationship with the royal family. One magazine called it "aristocratic gossip."
Lady Colin Campbell has written other books too. One is about her own mother. Another is about Queen Elizabeth II's marriage. She has been called a "polarizing figure" and an "amusing dinner partner."
Television Appearances
Lady Colin Campbell has appeared on many British TV shows. In November 2015, she joined the show I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! She left the show early due to health reasons. She later said she felt pressured to leave.
In 2016, a documentary called Lady C and the Castle was shown on ITV. This program followed her journey. It showed her trying to turn her old castle into a place for weddings.
In 2017, she appeared on Salvage Hunters at her castle. She also appeared on Through the Keyhole. On this show, Keith Lemon toured Castle Goring.
In August 2019, Lady Colin Campbell was on Celebs Go Dating. This show was on E4. In early 2021, she competed in the MTV series Celebs on the Farm.
Health
In late 2016, Lady Colin Campbell had a serious illness called sepsis.
