Lady Annabel Goldsmith, a socialite whose name was immortalised when a nightclub in Mayfair was named after her, died at the age of 91.
Lady Annabel was the mother of six children, including Tory politician Zac Goldsmith and filmmaker Jemima Goldsmith.
Her first husband, hospitality entrepreneur Mark Birley, established the London private members' club Annabel's in 1963. The exclusive venue would eventually welcome royalty and rock stars.
Lady Annabel was the younger daughter of the eighth Marquess of Londonderry. Her youngest child, Ben, told the BBC that she was "quite simply irreplaceable".
He went further: "We are bereft, not for her - because her life has been extraordinary and complete - but for us, because of the immense hole in our lives she leaves behind."
The statement went on to say, "I spoke to her every day for 45 years; she truly had my back, and we loved each other very much. "I'll miss her terribly."
Her children issued a joint statement saying, "It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our mother, Lady Annabel Goldsmith, who died peacefully in her sleep this morning at the age of 91."
Lady Annabel had six children: three from her first marriage and three from her second marriage to businessman Sir James Goldsmith. In an interview with The Times in 2006, she stated, "I was a hands-on mother, and I am a hands-on grandmother," adding, "We go on vacation; I talk every day. I don't judge working women, but I was so in love with my children that I never wanted them to leave my sight."
She had Rupert, Robin, and India Jane with her first husband, Mr. Birley, and Jemima, Zac, and Ben with Sir James.
Lady Annabel's first marriage ended when she discovered Mr Birley had been unfaithful. She later told Vanity Fair, "Like a butterfly, he had to seduce every woman."
However, she told the magazine: "It's quite difficult to live with a perfectionist, but the thing is, life with Mark was fun." She remained close to Mr Birley, with whom she communicated frequently until his death in 2007.
She was born Annabel Vane-Tempest-Stewart in 1934, the second daughter of Robert Stewart, Viscount Castlereagh, and experienced tragedy at a young age when her mother died of cancer when she was only 17 years old. Following her mother's death, her father became alcoholic and died of liver failure two months after the birth of Lady Annabel's first son, Rupert.
Rupert disappeared off the coast of West Africa in 1986, at the age of 30, and was presumed drowned. Lady Annabel described his death as "the worst thing that has happened to me" during an interview with The Guardian. She told the newspaper, "It was worse than my parents dying, but I reminded myself that I have six children. I have lost one. I need to be strong for the rest of them."
She wrote several books, including her autobiography, Annabel: An Unconventional Life, and one about her pet dog Copper's life.
In 2009, she told The Guardian that her happiness in life did not stem from being elite, adding, "Give me dogs, give me children, give me books, and I'll be happy."
