C.Z. Guest

C.Z. Guest was a renowned American socialite, Polo player, and Garden designer, known for her exceptional equestrian skills and her marriage to Winston Frederick Churchill Guest, a cousin of Winston Churchill. She was a frequent guest at Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle, and was friends with Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Guest was also a regular at New York City's high-society events, often attending parties hosted by Vogue (magazine) and The New York Times. Her life was heavily influenced by her relationships with prominent figures, including Truman Capote, Andy Warhol, and Aristotle Onassis.

● Early Life and Education

C.Z. Guest was born on February 19, 1920, in Boston, Massachusetts, to a wealthy family, and spent her childhood at the family's estate in Beverly, Massachusetts. She was educated at Milton Academy and later attended Miss Porter's School in Farmington, Connecticut. Guest's early life was marked by her love for horses and the outdoors, which was encouraged by her parents, who were friends with Paul Mellon and Rachel Lambert Mellon. She often spent her summers at the family's farm in Virginia, where she would ride horses and learn about Agriculture from Thomas Jefferson's descendants. Guest's family was also friends with the Kennedy family, and she would often visit the Kennedy Compound in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts.

● Career

C.Z. Guest's career as a socialite and Polo player took off in the 1950s, when she began competing in Polo tournaments at Palm Beach and Newport, Rhode Island. She was a member of the United States Polo Association and played alongside notable players like Prince Charles and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge. Guest was also a successful Garden designer, and her work was featured in House & Garden (magazine) and Architectural Digest. She was a frequent guest on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and was friends with Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr.. Guest's social circle included Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Lee Radziwill, and Truman Capote, who often visited her at her estate in Old Westbury, New York.

● Personal Life

C.Z. Guest married Winston Frederick Churchill Guest in 1947, and the couple had two children, Alexander Guest and Cornelia Guest. The family spent their summers at their estate in Old Westbury, New York, where they would host parties and Polo matches, often attended by Nelson Rockefeller, William F. Buckley Jr., and Averell Harriman. Guest was a close friend of Dorothy Kilgallen and Babe Paley, and the three would often lunch at Le Cirque and attend parties at The Plaza Hotel. She was also friends with Andy Warhol and Halston, who often visited her at her apartment in New York City. Guest's personal style was influenced by Coco Chanel and Christian Dior, and she was often featured in Vogue (magazine) and Harper's Bazaar.

● Equestrian Career

C.Z. Guest's equestrian career spanned over three decades, during which she competed in numerous Polo tournaments and Horse shows. She was a member of the United States Equestrian Team and competed in the Olympic Games in Rome and Tokyo. Guest was also a successful Horse breeder and owned several champion horses, including Tom Fool (horse) and Buckpasser. She was friends with William Shatner and Bo Derek, who shared her passion for horses and the outdoors. Guest's equestrian career was marked by her wins at the Palm Beach Polo Club and the Newport Polo Club, where she played alongside Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and Prince Charles.

● Later Life and Legacy

C.Z. Guest passed away on November 8, 2003, at the age of 83, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most prominent socialites and Polo players of her time. Her estate in Old Westbury, New York, was sold to Nelson Peltz and Clare Peltz, who have continued to host Polo matches and parties on the property. Guest's children, Alexander Guest and Cornelia Guest, have followed in her footsteps, with Alexander Guest becoming a successful Polo player and Cornelia Guest becoming a Fashion designer and Philanthropist. C.Z. Guest's life and legacy have been celebrated in numerous books and articles, including The New York Times and Vogue (magazine), and she remains one of the most fascinating and influential figures in American society. Category:American socialites