Lady Melissa Jane Trafelet (née Percy, later van Straubenzee; born 20 May 1987) is an English fashion designer and former professional tennis player.
Lady Melissa Trafelet | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Missy Percy |
| Born | Melissa Jane Percy 20 May 1987 |
| Noble family | Percy |
| Spouse(s) |
Thomas van Straubenzee
(m. 2013; div. 2016) |
| Issue | Bluebell Rose Trafelet Percy Dean Trafelet Alfred Ralph Trafelet |
| Father | Ralph Percy, 12th Duke of Northumberland |
| Mother | Jane Richard |
| Occupation | Fashion designer, tennis player |
Early life and education
editMelissa Jane Percy was born on 20 May 1987. She is the daughter of Ralph Percy, 12th Duke of Northumberland, and the former Jane Richard.[1] She is the younger sister of Lady Katie Percy and George Percy, Earl Percy, and the elder sister of Lord Max Percy. Lady Melissa grew up at Alnwick Castle in Northumberland. She attended Millfield, but left school when she was fourteen years old to pursue a professional tennis career, moving to the United States to attend a tennis academy.[2] Later she completed a course at Prue Leith's cookery school.[3]
Career
editTennis
editAfter graduating from the Cliff Drysdale Tennis Academy in the United States, she played professionally for a few years on the Women's Tennis Association circuit.[4] When she was twenty one years old, she retired and moved back to England, coaching tennis at the Harbour Club and the Queen's Club.[5]
Fashion
editIn 2016 Lady Melissa started her own women's clothing brand, Mistamina, which was incorporated in November of that year.[6] The brand, which specialises in country living, athletic-ware, and outdoor-ware for riding, shooting, and hunting,[7] was launched in September 2017.[8][9] The brand has two collections.[10][11][12] The second collection was launched in the summer of 2018.[13]
Personal life
editLady Melissa married Thomas van Straubenzee at St Michael's Church, Alnwick, on 22 June 2013.[14][15] In 2014 the couple were subjects of a painting by Christian Furr.[16] They divorced in March 2016 on the grounds of van Straubenzee's "unreasonable behaviour".[17][18][19] Lady Melissa began dating millionaire financier Remy White Trafelet in 2016.[20][21] They married at Mercer Mill Plantation in Oakfield, Georgia, on 19 December 2019.[21] On 19 February 2020 she gave birth to a daughter, named Bluebell Rose Trafelet.[22][23] On 22 February 2023, she gave birth to twin sons, Percy Dean and Alfred Ralph.[24][25]
References
edit- ^ "Who are the Glosse Posse? A look at Britain's most exclusive friendship circle". Hello!. Rogers Digital Media. 7 August 2018. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
- ^ "Melissa Percy". Women's Tennis Association. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
- ^ "My London: Lady Melissa Percy – Founder of Mistamina". LDN Fashion. 31 October 2018. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
- ^ Watkins, Rupert. "Stylistic Misdemeanour". Riddle Magazine. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
- ^ Money-Coutts, Sophia (30 November 2017). "Lady Melissa Percy's new single life and fashion empire". Tatler. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
- ^ "MISTAMINA LIMITED". Company Check. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
- ^ Veitch, Tom (7 February 2018). "Lady Melissa Percy on why shooting is her favourite fieldsport". Shooting UK. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
- ^ Rose, Hilary (15 October 2018). "Lady Melissa Percy: my childhood in the Hogwarts castle". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
- ^ Welch, Tricia (17 December 2017). "Lady Melissa Percy reveals her fashion secrets: 'I'd never copy anyone'". Express. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
- ^ "ABOUT MISTAMINA". MISTAMINA. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
- ^ "MISTAMINA". Crofton & Hall. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
- ^ Hodgkins, Laura (9 September 2018). "Brand Spotlight on Mistamina". Girl About the Farm. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
- ^ "Ladies in the field 2018". Fieldsports Magazine. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
- ^ "The wedding of Lady Melissa Percy and Thomas van Straubenzee". Tatler. 24 June 2013. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
- ^ "Princes William and Harry lead glittering guest list at close friend's society wedding". Hello!. 22 June 2013. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
- ^ "Thomas van Straubenzee and Lady Melissa Percy 2014". Christian Furr. 16 April 2014. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
- ^ Hutchinson, Lisa (2 March 2016). "Duke of Northumberland's daughter divorced after less than three years of marriage". Chronicle. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
- ^ "Duke of Northumberland's daughter gets divorced". ITV. 2 March 2016. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
- ^ Wallace, Francesca (27 April 2018). "Aristocrats, billionaires and heirs: meet Prince Harry's closest friends". Vogue. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
- ^ "Lady Melissa Percy takes Manhattan". Tatler. 1 December 2019. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
- ^ a b "Telegraph Marriage Announcements". Telegraph. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
- ^ "Telegraph Birth Announcements". Telegraph. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
- ^ Cope, Rebecca (25 February 2020). "The Duke of Northumberland's daughter, Lady Melissa Percy, has given birth to her first child". Tatler. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
- ^ "Telegraph Birth Announcements". Telegraph. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
- ^ "Congratulations to the Duke and Duchess of Northumberland as their daughter, Lady Melissa, welcomes twin sons". Tatler. 10 March 2023. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
