Overview
- Sir Benjamin Slade has publicly invited applications for a wife at least 20 years younger, telling women over 60 not to apply.
- The position offers £50,000 a year plus a car, housing, expenses, food and holidays to help manage his 1,300-acre estate at Maunsel House in Somerset.
- Stated requirements include being taller than 5ft 6in, holding shotgun and driving licences with a helicopter licence preferred, and being capable of running large houses and staff.
- He says he wants a “good breeder” to produce a male heir, listing preferred pursuits such as ballroom dancing, bridge, backgammon, swimming and regular exercise.
- He frames the age gap as inheritance planning to avoid a 40% tax via an insurable spouse expected to live seven years, and his ad excludes groups including Scots, Guardian readers, Scorpios and people from certain countries.