The Rise and Fall of Sandra Rambeau: A Tale of Scandal and Seduction
Sandra Rambeau, originally named Mary Dorothy Rambo from Springfield, Missouri, captivated the world with her allure, drawing in royals, film stars, and even a Nazi general. Her journey from a humble switchboard girl to a central figure in high-society scandals is a story of ambition, manipulation, and ultimate obscurity.
From Missouri to London: The Dorchester Girl's Arrival
Arriving in Britain as one of the 'Dorchester Girls', dancers imported from Broadway to enliven London's inter-war nightlife, Sandra quickly ascended the social ladder. Within weeks, she caught the eye of Prince Bishnu Shamser Rana, a wealthy Nepalese playboy who proposed marriage despite having a wife back home. However, this romance crumbled when Sandra discovered his pregnant wife in Italy, leaving her empty-handed and back in London.
The Duke of Kent and a Drug-Fueled Affair
Her luck turned when she met the Duke of Kent, King Charles's great-uncle, who was entranced by her sexual appeal and access to hard drugs. As their relationship deepened, the duke spiraled out of control, leading to his brother, the Prince of Wales, placing him under house arrest on the Windsor estate to detoxify. After six months, the duke was sent to Serbia, where he married Princess Marina of Greece, leaving Sandra to be paid £20,000 (nearly £2 million today) by King George V's emissaries to leave Britain quietly.
Wartime Liaisons and a Nazi General
Returning to the States, Sandra briefly romanced film icons Cary Grant and Charlie Chaplin before moving to Paris. With the Nazi occupation in 1940, she seized an opportunity by marrying General Franz Ritter von Epp, a 72-year-old ally of Hitler. This ill-fated union lasted only weeks before Sandra fled back to California, where the FBI labeled her a Nazi spy, though she shrugged off the accusations.
Later Romances and Legal Battles
In 1946, the Marquess of Milford Haven, a cousin of the king, fell for Sandra after meeting her in New York, even seeking King George VI's permission to marry her. Biographer Frank Walker noted her sexual prowess, which allowed her to engage with figures like film star Errol Flynn. She later married George Hearst, son of press magnate William Randolph Hearst, but the marriage dissolved quickly, leading to a lucrative lawsuit.
The Quiet End in Obscurity
As her fortunes waned, Sandra retreated to Delano, California, far from the glamour of her past. Clinging to a diamond and ruby ring from the Duke of Kent, she died forgotten in 1987 at age 78, her once-bright star faded into history.
