After the jousting tournament, the kids and I went in the palace and around the grounds. We were amazed at the size and splendor of the palace. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Spencer-Churchill family (The Dukes of Marlborough) built Blenheim Palace in the early 1700s. The 12th Duke of Marlborough and his family still use the palace as their home today. We learned a lot about Winston Churchill - his grandfather was the 7th Duke of Marlborough. Winston was born in the palace two months prematurely while his parents were visiting.
In 1892, the 9th Duke of Marlborough succeeded, and inherited a basically bankrupt family home and dukedom. He married Consuelo Vanderbilt, whose family money saved the Blenheim estate. Their marriage was not happy, however. Today the estate is funded by tourists!
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