As the daughter of Le Mans winner Johnny Dumfries, Lady Caroline Crichton-Stuart knows all about the need for speed.
And she doesn’t waste any time when it comes to her love life either.
The Daily Mail can disclose that Lady Caroline – whose racing driver father, the 7th Marquess of Bute, died in 2021 aged 62 – has got engaged just eight months after she split up with her previous fiancee.
Her new betrothed is producer Biba Thomas, 29, who has made music videos for global stars such as Calvin Harris and Sam Fender. Lady Caroline – whose mother is the marquess’s first wife, Carolyn Waddell – proudly showed off her sparkler online.
Her previous engagement was in 2022 to artist and model Hetty Douglas, who declared: ‘Get ready for a big gay wedding.’
Hetty proposed on the Spanish party island of Ibiza while they were on holiday with pals including model Cara Delevingne.
Also in attendance was Lady Caroline’s half-sister Lady Lola, 26, and her stepmother, the fashion designer Serena Bute.
The couple had exchanged rings during a sunset beach proposal, even presenting Lady Caroline’s eight-year-old son Ben – whom she has from a previous relationship – with his own ring to include him in their union.
However, it was reported earlier this year that the fairytale romance had ended. ‘It just wasn’t meant to be,’ a friend told the Daily Mail in March.
‘They thought they wanted to be together forever, but ultimately realised they weren’t right for each other long-term.’
Following the split Lady Caroline, 41, quickly found love again with Biba. The pair went public with their relationship earlier this year, with sources claiming Biba had already been warmly welcomed into Caroline’s aristocratic family circle.
‘Biba has already met Caroline’s family and friends and they love her,’ a source said. ‘She could be The One.’
Now, it seems that prediction has come true, with both women sharing news of their engagement with friends and family over the weekend, and sharing photos on Instagram.
Lady Caroline comes from one of Scotland’s most distinguished aristocratic families.
Her father, John Crichton-Stuart – who also went by Johnny Dumfries – was not only the 7th Marquess of Bute but also a celebrated racing driver who partnered Formula 1 legend Ayrton Senna in 1986 and won the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans race in 1988.
The Marquess, once ranked 616th in the Rich List, died from cancer in March 2021 aged 62, with the title passing to Lady Caroline’s brother, 35-year-old Jack Dumfries.
He had three children with his first wife, Carolyn Waddell, including Lady Caroline, Lady Cathleen, 39, and Jack, now the 8th Marquess of Bute.
He had Lady Lola from his second marriage to Serena Wendell. The family’s ancestral seat is the spectacular Mount Stuart House on the Isle of Bute in Scotland, which the late Marquess chaired as part of the Mount Stuart Trust from 2005 until his death.
In 2007, the aristocrat sold another family property, Dumfries House in Cumnock, Ayrshire, to a consortium headed by Prince Charles for £45million, ensuring the historic estate and its priceless collection of Chippendale furniture would be preserved for the nation.
Lady Caroline, who works for the Dumfries estate in London, has maintained close friendships within society circles.
Her new fiancee Biba has built a successful career behind the camera, directing and producing music videos for some of the biggest names in the industry.
Her creative work has seen her collaborate with artists across various genres, establishing her as a respected figure in the entertainment world.
Earlier this year, Lady Caroline’s half-sister Lady Lola, 26, revealed she started planning for her memorable 25th birthday bash when she was still a child.
Lady Lola hosted the extravagant shindig in April last year at Mount Stuart House, the family seat since the 18th Century.
Society guests including Sienna Miller, Poppy Delevingne and Princess Olympia of Greece joined her for an outrageous festival-themed party.
Lady Lola, who wore a 90s-inspired silver micro-dress and was pictured dancing seductively with Dutch actor boyfriend Parker Van Noord, told the May issue of ELLE magazine: ‘I’ve literally been planning this party since I was five. My mum would dread getting stuck on a ski lift with me because it’s all I talk about. Most girls are thinking about their wedding. I was like, “I don’t want to share the attention with anyone”.’
The theme of the elaborate bash was ‘How Lola Can You Go?’
Giant inflatable mushrooms and tepees implausibly sprouted throughout the vast baronial mansion on the Isle of Bute.
There was techno music and flashing lights, dining tables groaning with lobsters, oysters and local beef, a marching band of pipers and fireworks lighting up the skies above the Firth of Clyde.
Hollywood stars mingled with fashion icons and royalty, sipping champagne through straws straight from the bottle.
The whole weekend extravaganza was described as Ibiza colliding with Saltburn, the arch movie satire about the debauchery of the upper classes.
