British noble, 79, seeks wife who needs to be 20 years younger, not a Scorpio & a 'good breeder'

A British aristocrat has launched a controversial public appeal to find a wife at least two decades younger than him, and is offering £50,000 (S$86,420) to the woman who meets his extensive list of requirements, according to UK media reports.

Sir Benjamin Slade, 79, a baronet descended from King Charles II and the owner of the 526 hectares Maunsel Estate in Somerset, is seeking what he describes as a “good breeder”, capable of producing two male heirs to inherit his estate and art collection.

Extensive criteria

Slade’s wishlist includes qualities far beyond the usual dating preferences, according to Somerset Live.

The first non-negotiable condition: the future Lady Slade must be at least 20 years younger than him.

He also specifies that applicants must not be Scorpios, and must not read The Guardian, a left-leaning UK publication.

The baronet insists his criteria are practical rather than discriminatory, saying large houses need wives to run them.

“Women run houses. People think it is sexist. Jane Austen said if you’ve got a big house, you need a wife.”

He also added that the right partner would help manage his active social life.

"What I just need is a nice, ordinary country girl who knows and understands things.

I am very social I go out a lot and I have to have somebody who fits in."

More criteria

His bride must also:

• Be taller than 167cm.
• Hold a shotgun licence.
• Have a driving licence, with a helicopter licence preferred.
• Be capable of running two castles, a grouse moor and a large estate.
• Possess legal and accountancy training.
• Enjoy ballroom dancing, bridge and backgammon.

The position comes with a £50,000 (S$86,420) annual salary, a bonus, a car, a house, food, holidays and general expenses.

Slade claims the age requirement is partly driven by inheritance-tax considerations.

He told reporters that a younger wife would be able to hold the estate tax-free after his passing, as reported by The Daily Mail, provided she survives for seven years.

“Death tax is 40 per cent and the only way I can pass the estate on is to leave it to the wife tax-free.”

Controversial nationality restrictions

Slade also stirred backlash by saying he will not accept applicants from countries beginning with the letter “I” that have green in their national flag, such as Ireland, India, Italy, Ivory Coast and Iran.

He additionally said he does not wish to marry “an Eskimo” and would prefer “Canadians, Americans, Germans and Northern Europeans — what (he would) like to call similar people”.

Decades-long quest for a bride

Slade has made similar marriage appeals in the past; he has opened up Tinder accounts, took out newspaper ads and even starred in a TV series all in the bid for a wife, according to the New York Post.

In 2021, he had fathered a daughter with an American poet, Sahara Sunday Spain, but called off two weddings with her and has had no contact with his child.

Sahara has called Slade “utterly shameful”.

As of now, his search is still ongoing.

Top images via sirbenjaminslade/Instagram