Churchill family. - The Churchills: in love and war

John Churchill, the 1st Duke. Blenheim Palace was a gift from a grateful nation. (Painting by Sir Godfrey Kneller, Blenheim Palace)

Sarah Churchill was imperious and arrogant, but her husband adored her. (Blenheim Palace)

Duchess Fanny, Jennies mother-in-law: at the rustle of her silken skirts the whole household trembled. (Blenheim Palace)

John, the 7th Duke of Marlborough, who reined in the family expenditure. (Blenheim Palace)

Blandford, later the 8th Duke. (Blenheim Palace)

Blandfords first wife, Lady Albertha Goosie (Hamilton), was renowned for her childish practical jokes. (Blenheim Palace)

Lady Colin Campbell, Blandfords mistress, for whom (despite his large debts) he bought a Venetian palazzo. (Giovanni Boldini, c . 1897, National Portrait Gallery)

Duchess Lily (Hammersley), second wife of Blandford. She quickly installed central heating at Blenheim. (Blenheim Palace)

Jennie Jerome one admirer described her as more panther than woman. (Getty)

Lord Randolph at the time he met Jennie. (Corbis)

Jennie and Randolph: an engagement portrait. (Churchill Archives).

Lady Randolph: Jennie at the height of her beauty. (Getty)

Jennie with her two sons, Jack and Winston. (Getty)

Jennies family: Jennie standing with Winston. From left to right: her sister Clarita, holding Oswald Frewen; her mother Mrs Leonard Clara Jerome, holding Claire and Hugh Frewen; Jack Churchill (standing in front of Jenny); Norman Leslie (standing); Shane Leslie seated on Leonie Leslies lap. (Private collection)

Nanny Everest the most important woman in Winstons young life. (Churchill Archives)

Winston aged seven ready to take on the world. (Corbis)

Winston aged six with his Aunt Leonie. A little-known photograph. (Churchill Archives)

Lord and Lady Randolph and Dr Keith in rickshaws on their world trip. Randolph is looking cadaverous and was the greatest worry to Jennie and his doctor; it was feared they would not get him home alive. (Churchill Archives)

Lord Randolph in 1890, when his illness had taken its toll. (Corbis)

Jennie aboard the hospital ship Maine at Durban with Jack, one of her first patients. (Private collection)

Winston as a young subaltern in the 4th Hussars. (Getty)

Lady Sarah Wilson: an acid-tongued aunt, loathed by Jennie and Consuelo. She acted with great bravery under fire at Mafeking and became the first woman war correspondent. (Getty)

Major Jack Churchill during the Boer War both he and Winston wore this dashing uniform of the Light Horse and both grew moustaches. (Churchill Archives)

Winston as a belligerent prisoner-of-war. Captured on 15 November 1899, he soon escaped and went on the run, later writing, I hated my captivity more than I have hated any other period in my life. (Churchill Archives)