Duke of Somerset Re‑enters the Spotlight With Love Affair to Eliza Dugdale After years abroad, former socialite Eliza Dugdale has returned to the UK; the 73‑year‑old Duke of Somerset is believed to be paying her rent and supporting their ongoing relationship, raising eyebrows among aristocrats and society at large. The long‑simmering romance between a peer of the realm and a well‑known socialite has once again come to the fore, stirring whispers in the upper echelons of British society. John Seymour, who inherits the title of the 19th Duke of Somerset, was first thrust into the scandalous headlines of 2019 when The Mail on Sunday disclosed that he had maintained a clandestine three‑year liaison with Eliza Dugdale, a divorcee whose marriage had ended over thirty years earlier. At the time, Dugdale made arrangements to live on a sprawling farmhouse near the Duke's flagship estate in Wiltshire, a property that subsequently came under scrutiny once the affair hit public attention.As the story made headlines, Dugdale was compelled to abandon the pastoral setting and sought refuge on the Spanish mainland. Nearly a decade on from the initial revelation, sources close to the social circle now affirm that Dugdale, 67, has returned to the United Kingdom after a seven‑year sojourn abroad.The Duke, now 73, has once again stepped in to facilitate her re‑entry, arranging a secluded residence approximately twenty miles from Bradley Park Estate, the ancestral home that has been in his family's possession for three centuries. The modern dwelling, a detached four‑bedroom house on a private lane with limited access, is reportedly under the Duke's financial stewardship, with the rental costs covered by the aristocrat.The relationship, far from dormant, appears to be vibrant, with the pair having embarked on an exclusive three‑week retreat in Argentina earlier this year, and they are frequently seen partaking in social gatherings held within the Wiltshire county, reinforcing their visible partnership. In what one insider characterised as "an open secret," the couple has been noted to share meals and social occasions with a discreet yet affectionate intimacy.Despite the modern manifestations of their bond, the Duke remains married to Judith‑Rose, his wife for more than forty years, and the couple still co‑occupy the stately home on their estate, hosting a succession of high‑profile soirées that have become synonymous with the venerable London Season. In recent weeks the pair attended the prestigious Queen Charlotte's ball, an event of historical significance that marks the public debut of elite young women into society.Meanwhile, Dugdale has publicly asserted that she does not regard the Duke as a lover and denies that he is funding her current lodgings. She has meanwhile reiterated that although she loved the man at that time, his fidelity remains a central trait that she values. The Duke, who has remained silent to media queries about this affair, now appears, if not emotionally, at least logistically supportive.The further implications of such a romantic entanglement remain a topic of speculation, yet for the time being the duchess, her husband, and the Duchess's former life continue to exist amid an environment of social prominence and private intimacy that seems to defy conventional expectations of aristocratic decorum.