Meet the Cowdrays: The aristocratic family at the beating heart of the British polo scene – and whose eldest son is actress Sophie Turner’s boyfriend
From days at the polo and nights out in London, it's certainly been a busy summer for Sophie Turner and her boyfriend Peregrine Pearson.
Turner has been dating Pearson since October last year and officially announced their fledgling relationship on Instagram in January, when the pair posted pictures of a skiing trip with friends.
The actress and the heir to the Cowdray estate look intimate and relaxed together as their relationship goes from strength to strength
Now, the couple are seemingly indulging in more low-key pursuits, with Sophie Turner uploading an Instagram snap earlier this week of herself dressed in green gingham and jeans, smiling widely as she sits on a picnic rug amid rolling fields – tagging Pearson as her companion. So far, so very English.
But who exactly are his family, whose sprawling, 16,500 acre estate in West Sussex has been owned by the Pearsons for more than a century, and is renowned for its excellent polo club, where the likes of Princes William and Harry have played?
Here, Tatler reveals all…
David M. Benett1/7Viscount Cowdray
Following a career in film production, Michael – a father of five – took over the running of the 16,500 acre Cowdray Estate in West Sussex in 1995 (where he currently lives). Since then he has created a diverse estate business based on his passion for sustainable and environmental land management. The estate now encompasses businesses as diverse as polo, golf, holiday cottages, a farm shop and a therapy and retreat centre. Pride of place however is Michael's former home, Cowdray House, which now operates as an exclusive 22 bedroom exclusive venue. Away from Cowdray, Michael supports a range of environmental and social causes including being a trustee of the Tibet House Trust for more than 20 years.
PA2/7Viscountess Cowdray
Keenly interested in spiritual matters, Viscountess Cowdray practises Silent Meditation and Qigong with her husband and oversees a programme of events at Cowdray Hall that includes 'Presence in Stillness'. The Viscountess, Marina, is also an advisor to the Oxford Centre of Mindfulness. The Daily Mail’s Richard Eden announced that the couple had decided to separate earlier this year following 36 years of marriage.
Courtesy of the Cowdray Estate3/7The Hon Eliza Pearson
The eldest of Viscount and Viscountess Cowdray’s five children, Eliza married a Norwegian financier, Leif Kvaal, at a full-moon ceremony in Ibiza. The couple have three daughters. Allegedly, they currently spend most of their time 'on the side of a mountain' in Ibiza. Evangelical about holistic agriculture and permaculture, Eliza is very interested in regenerative farming. Like both of her sisters, Eliza is a qualified yoga teacher. Prior to her current husband, she was married to Edward Abel Smith – known back then as Ned Rocknroll – for two years. Abel Smith is both the nephew of Virgin Group co-founder Richard Branson and the current husband of actress Kate Winslet. Proving that younger brother ‘Perry’ isn’t the only Pearson to dabble in celebrity attachments.
Rex Features4/7The Hon Emily Pearson
Emily is married with a daughter and lives on the expansive Cowdray Estate. She is a certified holistic health coach and was one of the founders of the much-loved vegan restaurant in Notting Hill, Farmacy, and also, Cowdray Express, a cafe on the estate offering healthy homemade breakfasts, lunches and snacks. A keen practicer of yoga, she is an internationally certified teacher. Emily used to play polo and is a keen rider.
5/7The Hon Catrina Pearson
Primarily a musician (she recorded an EP, Time Tells Me, at former Rolling Stones producer Chris Kimsey's studio), the Cowdrays' youngest daughter, 32, is also a film-school graduate who worked on Bruce Parry's series Quest – but music is where her heart is.
- Dave Benett/Getty Images6/7
The Hon Peregrine ‘Perry’ Pearson
Now undoubtedly the most famous member of the aristocratic family, after finding himself amid a maelstrom of press attention owing to his romantic exploits. Last year, Peregrine was photographed kissing Game of Thrones actress Sophie Turner outside the Gare du Nord in Paris. The frenzy was only heightened because Turner is currently going through a divorce with her pop star husband, Joe Jonas. In January the two went Instagram official as, Turner shared a picture with Perry, as the two went on a skiing rendezvous in Courchevel. As the eldest son and heir, Perry, is involved with running the family estate. However, he is currently concentrating on his role as a director of a property development company in London. He is also a Le Chameau – the wellington boot brand – ambassador. Prior to his Hollywood romance, Pearson dated King Charles III's goddaughter Princess Maria-Olympia of Greece and Denmark, for three years.
7/7The Hon Montague ‘Monty’ Pearson
The youngest of the brood, Monty is a helicopter pilot and he supposedly enjoys flying drones. He studied film production and graphic design. He’s hard to miss: Monty is 6’4” and a keen polo spectator.
