EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: ‘Extremely acrimonious’ marriage splits at one of Britain’s wealthiest aristocratic families as Viscountess Cowdray leaves her husband and a fortune of £400million

Artist and sculptor Viscountess Cowdray, a devotee of silent meditation and qigong, is so committed to well-being that she has become an advisor to the Oxford Center of Mindfulness.

So I regret to report that all is not well at Cowdray Park, where the Viscountess Marina had a Buddhist temple built on the 17,000-acre estate in West Sussex.

Marina, 63, has separated from her husband, 4th Viscount Cowdray, 79, after 36 years of marriage and is being comforted by her chiropractor.

“It’s very bitter,” says a family friend. “Marina got out of the marriage. Michael [the viscount] is devastated. “The New Age stuff changed her.”

Viscount Cowdray and Marina Rose Cordle at the Goodwood Festival of Speed ​​on July 15, 2018

Lord Michael and Lady Marina Cowdray together at the Veuve Clicquot Gold Cup on 20th July 2014

Any divorce could be expensive as the Cowdrays are one of the wealthiest dynasties in Britain. Lord Cowdray, a former film producer, owns a significant part of the Pearson media empire and his fortune is estimated at more than £400m.

The split is on everyone’s lips and is also brought to the attention of the royal family. King Charles’ goddaughter, Princess Maria-Olympia of Greece and Denmark, is the girlfriend of the Cowdrays’ son, Peregrine Pearson, 28, a property developer and heir to the Viscountcy.

Lord Cowdray hosts the annual Gold Cup at his Cowdray Park Polo Club, where Princes William and Harry have played. The Gold Cup is the most prestigious European polo event.

When the couple’s eldest daughter, Eliza Pearson, 35, married in an open-air pagan ceremony led by a druid Ned Rocknroll in 2009, Princess Beatrice was among the guests.

Ned, a nephew of Virgin billionaire Sir Richard Branson, changed his surname from Abel Smith by deed poll before the lavish wedding took place at Cowdray Park. After splitting from Eliza, he married Academy Award winner Kate Winslet.

Lord Cowdray (L) and Lady Cowdray attend the Jaeger-LeCoultre Gold Cup Polo Final at Cowdray Park on July 23, 2017 in Midhurst, England

Marina, the daughter of the late Tory MP John Cordle, is Michael’s second wife. He was previously married to Fritzi (Ellen) Erhardt, the daughter of a German industrialist.

He has three daughters and two sons with Marina, as well as a son from a relationship with model Barbara Ray.

A spokesman for Lord Cowdray said he and his wife declined to comment.