Who was Deborah, the last of the Mitford sisters?

The last of the letter writing Mitford sisters has passed away. Deborah 'Debo' Cavendish, the Duchess of Devonshire died peacefully at the age of 94. So we've looked back over the amazing life of one England's original It girls.

By Francesca MenatoPublished: 25 September 2014

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It Girl

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The Mitfords were some of the best known It girls of the forties.

Comfortable in the presence of celebrities and major global figures, she was once asked, who was more interesting to meet, Elvis or Hitler.

To which she responded, 'Why, Elvis of course!” she said. “What an extraordinary question!'

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The Housewife Duchess

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Deborah was known by many as 'the housewife duchess' with an early passion for country persuits.

From chicken-keeping to cooking she was happy in the home. One that she shared for many years with Lord Andrew Cavendish, the younger son of the 10th Duke of Devonshire, who she married in 1941.

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Mitford Sister

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The Mitford sisters were notorious in society for their style, controversial social lives and political associations.

Five in total - they lost a brother in WWII and another sister to suicide - the girls included prolific writers Nancy and Jessica, Pamela and Diana.

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Head of Chatsworth Estate

Inheriting the Chatsworth Estate in 1950, Deborah took on a crumbling, war-weary property.

She managed to deal with the 80% death taxes and black mushrooms growing on the walls and turn it into one of the most successful stately homes in the world.

It was even the setting for the 2005 Pride and Prejudice film.

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Nine

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Amongst other nicknames, including Debo, she was called Nine by her eldest sister Nancy, who affectionally claimed this was the mental age at which she had stopped developing.

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