Ben Goldsmith's Heartfelt Tribute to Daughter Iris on Her 22nd Birthday
Financier and environmentalist Ben Goldsmith has paid a poignant and emotional tribute to his late daughter, Iris, on what would have been her 22nd birthday. The heartfelt remembrance was shared publicly, marking another year since the tragic accident that claimed her young life.
The Tragic Accident at Cannwood Farm
Iris Goldsmith, the eldest child of Ben Goldsmith, died in July 2019 at the age of 15. The accident occurred on her father's 280-acre Cannwood Farm estate in Somerset. According to reports, Iris was playing in an off-road farm vehicle when it lost balance, flipped over, and pinned her to the ground.
A friend who had been riding with her emerged unhurt, but the vehicle proved too heavy for her to lift. By the time Ben Goldsmith arrived at the scene approximately an hour later – having been playing cricket with friends and family at Charterhouse public school in Surrey – Iris had tragically passed away.
A Father's Public Tribute
On Tuesday, Ben Goldsmith shared a touching photograph of himself giving his daughter a kiss on the forehead. Accompanying the image was a caption featuring the full text of E.E. Cummings' famous poem, I Carry Your Heart. The poem's opening lines, "I carry your heart with me (I carry it in my heart) I am never without it", served as a powerful expression of enduring love and loss.
He concluded the post with the simple, poignant statement: "Iris would have turned 22 today."
The Iris Project: A Living Legacy
In the years since her death, Ben Goldsmith has channelled his grief into creating a lasting legacy for his daughter. He established the Iris Project, an initiative that funds and supports young climate activists around the world, immortalising Iris's own love of nature.
In a 2023 interview, Goldsmith opened up about the project's significance. He explained that his children continue to be inspired by Iris, with some becoming directly involved in the environmental work done in her name.
"I think they love the idea that in Iris's name, we're helping teenagers around the world to do the kinds of things that Iris will never have the chance to do," he said. He noted that his older son, Frankie, plans to work with one of the project's prize winners in Bali, applying his engineering studies to the cause.
A Family's Continuing Journey
Ben Goldsmith, the son of billionaire tycoon Sir James Goldsmith, has six children. With his first wife, Kate Rothschild, he had Iris and two sons, Frank and Isaac. With his second wife, Jemima Jones, whom he married in 2014, he has four children: Eliza, Arlo, Vita, and Vincent.
Although Ben and Iris's mother are now divorced, they co-founded the Iris Project in their daughter's memory. Goldsmith reflected on how the project provides comfort to the family, particularly his older children who understand its purpose.
For his younger children, Iris remains a "mythological creature" and a "guardian angel." Goldsmith described how they dream about her but do not fully comprehend her absence, simply knowing "she's gone to heaven." He expressed hope that as they grow older, they too will appreciate and engage with the Iris Project, ensuring their sister's spirit and passion continue to inspire positive change in the world.
