Socialite Lady Annabel Goldsmith Dies Age 91, Influential London Nightclub Icon

Lady Annabel Goldsmith, a prominent socialite known for inspiring the iconic Mayfair nightclub Annabel's, has died at age 91. Born into aristocracy as the daughter of the 8th Marquess of Londonderry, she became Lady Annabel at 15 and was a defining figure in London's swinging sixties. Her first husband, Mark Birley, opened Annabel's in 1963, making it a hotspot for celebrities, royalty, and high society, with Lady Annabel famously recalling its packed dance floor and notable guests like the Kennedys and Frank Sinatra. She had six children, including journalist Jemima Goldsmith and former Conservative MP Zac Goldsmith, who expressed deep sadness at her passing. Lady Annabel was also a close confidante of Princess Diana, revealing Diana's final words about marriage before the fatal Paris car crash. Despite her privileged life, she endured personal tragedies, including the death of her eldest son and a tiger attack on another, and she remained a significant figure in British high society until her death.