The Netflix documentary series Churchill at war, explores his role as a leader during World War II, his time as British Prime Minister, and his relationship with his wife and children. During his life as a public figure and wartime leader, Churchill was married to his wife, Clementine, daughter of Sir Henry Hozier and Lady Blanche Ogilvy. Despite the heavy demands of public life, as seen in Netflix docuseries and other depictions of Churchill on TV and film, their marriage was close and they remained together until Churchill's death in 1965.
Winston Churchill met his wife, Clementine, in 1904, but they only officially began a relationship in 1908. Churchill proposed to Clementine at a party in Blenheim Place in August 1908, and they were married on 12 September 1908. During his time as wartime British Prime Minister, Churchill was strongly supported by his wifewho served in several organizations supporting war veterans. Over the course of their marriage, Winston and Clementine Churchill had several children, all of whom played prominent roles in the public eye and in Churchill's life after the events of World War II.
Winston Churchill had 5 children
Churchill and his wife, Clementine, had 4 daughters and 1 son
During their marriage, Winston and Clementine Churchill had five children; four of them lived to adulthood. The Churchills had four daughters and one son; Diana, Randolph, Sarah, Marigold and Mary. Churchill was described as devoted to his children; Although he was often away from home and kept busy with his work in politics, he enjoyed spending time with his children, playing and putting on theater performances with them (via National Churchill Museum).
During Churchill's time as British Prime Minister during World War II, Diana, Randolph, Sarah and Mary served in the military.; Mary notably accompanied her father to the Potsdam Conference after the war (via Truman Library).
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Winston Churchill's children |
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|---|---|---|
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Name |
Date of birth |
Date of Death |
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Diana Churchill |
July 11, 1909 |
October 20, 1963 |
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Randolph Churchill |
May 28, 1911 |
June 6, 1968 |
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Sarah Tuchet-Jesson, Baroness Audley |
October 7, 1914 |
September 24, 1982 |
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Churchill marigold |
November 15, 1918 |
August 23, 1921 |
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Mary Soames, Baroness Soames |
September 15, 1922 |
May 31, 2014 |
Tragically, the Churchills' third daughter, Marigold, lived only two years and nine months; she died of septicemia in 1921 while on vacation in Kent, England. Churchill and his wife, Clementine, were devastated by Marigold's death and buried her in a private ceremony at Kensal Green Cemetery (via The times). In 2020, Marigold's remains were exhumed and reburied in the Churchill family plot at St. Martin's Church in Bladon, Oxfordshire. His original grave marker remains in Kensal Green Cemetery. Marigold's death is said to haunt Churchill for the rest of his life.
What happened to Winston Churchill's children
Churchill's children led different lives after the war
As seen throughout Churchill at war, Churchill was dedicated to his political work and his family; Having had a difficult relationship with his parents, he promised to be there for his children (via International Churchill Society). In particular, Churchill had a strained relationship with his father; Although he worked hard to please him, his father, Randolph Churchill, considered his son a “failure” (through The telegraph). Churchill's four surviving children married and had 10 children between thembut they faced difficulties throughout their adult lives.
The eldest daughter, Diana, suffered from mental health problems later in life, which were further affected by the deterioration of both her marriages; she was supported by her family and received psychiatric help. Diana Churchill later became involved in the Samaritans charity, but died of an overdose in 1963; his death was later ruled a suicide (via Daily Mail).
Churchill's only son, Randolph, had a brief and unsuccessful stint in politics, but was most acclaimed in journalism, later completing two volumes of his father's biography. Randolph Churchill suffered from health problems in later life due to excessive alcohol consumptionand died of a heart attack in 1968 (via The Churchill Project).
Sarah Churchill went on to act, her best-known film being the 1951 Royal Wedding. Her acting career was negatively impacted by a drinking problem, which led to her being arrested for drunken conduct in 1958 (via The New York Times). Sarah later moved into art, creating works around her father, before he died in 1982. The youngest daughter, Mary, married Christopher Soames in 1947 and had five children; they remained married until his death in 1987.
Mary Soames became a successful author, releasing several books about her parents' livesand she remained active in the public eye until her death in 2014 (via Independent). Netflix Churchill at war depicts the lasting legacy that the British minister had, which has since been continued through his grandchildren and descendants.
Source: National Churchill Museum, Truman Library, The times, International Churchill Society, The telegraph, Daily Mail, The Churchill Project, The New York Times, Independent