Basic Information
| Full Name | Kiki Preston |
|---|---|
| Birth Name | Alice Gwynne |
| Birth Place | Hempstead, New York |
| Father | Edward Erskine Gwynne Sr. |
| Mother | Helen Steele |
| Education | England; raised in Paris |
| Marriage Spouse | Horace R. Bigelow Allen |
| Marriage Spouse | Jerome “Gerry” Preston |
| Child | Ethan Allen |
| Child | Alice Gwynne Allen |
| Community | Happy Valley set |
| Residence | Lake Naivasha, Kenya |
| Activities | horse breeding, big game hunting |
| Nickname | the girl with the silver syringe |
| Alleged Lover | Rudolph Valentino |
| Alleged Lover | Prince George, Duke of Kent |
| Alleged Child | Michael Temple Canfield |
| Death Date | December 23, 1946 |
| Death Place | Stanhope Hotel, New York City |
| Death Cause | suicide by jumping |
| Net Worth Estimate | $3 million |
| Cultural Mentions | White Mischief; African Nights; Altitude, Alcohol and Adultery |
Early Life and Lineage
Alice Gwynne “Kiki” Preston was born in 1898 in Hempstead, New York, into a prominent family. Her father, Edward Erskine Gwynne Sr., stood as a nephew of Cornelius Vanderbilt II, and her mother, Helen Steele, descended from Justice Samuel Chase and Commodore Joshua Barney. She grew up between Paris and England and returned to the United States after her father’s 1902 bankruptcy and death.
Marriages and Children
| Spouse | Marriage Dates | Children |
|---|---|---|
| Horace R. Bigelow Allen | 1919–1924 | Ethan Allen (b. 1920), Alice Gwynne Allen (b. 1922) |
| Jerome “Gerry” Preston | Apr 1925–May 1934 | None |
After her second husband’s death in 1934, she bore rumors linking her to Prince George, Duke of Kent, and allegedly mothered Michael Temple Canfield.
Happy Valley and Social Sphere
Kiki immersed herself in Kenya’s Happy Valley set from the late 1920s, breeding horses and hosting big‑game hunts near Lake Naivasha. She entertained Hollywood stars and statesmen, including Gary Cooper and Winston Churchill, and earned the nickname “the girl with the silver syringe” for her open use of heroin, cocaine, and morphine.
Tragedy and Final Years
She endured profound losses—her brother’s near‑fatal crash in 1929, Gerry Preston’s death in 1934, and multiple family deaths—before committing suicide on December 23, 1946, by leaping from her Stanhope Hotel apartment in New York City at age 48.
Cultural Impact
| Medium | Depiction |
|---|---|
| Literature | Featured in James Fox’s White Mischief |
| Stage | Portrayed in the play African Nights (2004) |
| Television | Subject of documentaries on Happy Valley scandals |
Her notoriety endures in novels, plays, and documentaries that examine early 20th‑century decadence and royal intrigue.
Family and Legacy
| Name | Relationship | Role / Notability |
|---|---|---|
| Edward Erskine Gwynne Sr. | Father | Vanderbilt heir; bankrupt socialite |
| Helen Steele | Mother | Descendant of Samuel Chase and Joshua Barney |
| Edward Erskine Gwynne Jr. | Brother | European writer and columnist |
| Ethan & Alice Gwynne Allen | Children | Ethan died in 1942; Alice married Geoffrey B. Russell |
| Michael Temple Canfield | Alleged Son | Adopted by Cass Canfield; linked to Prince George |
Her aristocratic roots, scandalous lifestyle, and tragic end cast a long shadow over Happy Valley and British royalty’s hidden histories.
FAQ
Who was Kiki Preston?
She was an American socialite and Vanderbilt heiress who gained notoriety for her involvement with Kenya’s Happy Valley set and open narcotics use.
How many times did she marry?
She married twice—first to Horace R. Bigelow Allen (1919–1924) and then to Jerome “Gerry” Preston (1925–1934).
What was her connection to Prince George?
She allegedly introduced Prince George to narcotics and rumors persist that she bore his illegitimate son, Michael Temple Canfield.
When and how did she die?
She died by suicide on December 23, 1946, by jumping from her New York City hotel apartment at age 48.
How has her story persisted?
Her life inspired books, stage plays, and documentaries that explore scandal, privilege, and the Happy Valley community.
References
| Source | Description |
|---|---|
| https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiki_Preston | Kiki Preston was born Alice Gwynne in 1898 to a prominent family descending from the Vanderbilts, Samuel Chase, and Joshua Barney, and later became part of the Happy Valley social set in Kenya. |
| https://www.factsnippet.com/site/facts-about-kiki-preston.html | Her father, Edward Erskine Gwynne Sr., declared bankruptcy in 1902 and died the same day a lawsuit was heard. |
| https://www.factinate.com/people/facts-kiki-preston | Kiki Preston’s father was a nephew of Cornelius Vanderbilt II, and her socialite status was supported by family trusts and inheritance. |
| https://worldroyals.medium.com/the-girl-with-the-silver-spoon-f7613562a97d | Although no official net worth is recorded, posthumous web estimates suggest she may have had access to around $3 million through family fortunes. |
| https://www.celebrityhow.com/networth/KikiPreston-6406262 | CelebrityHow cites an unverified net worth estimate of approximately $3 million for Kiki Preston. |
| https://lucindariley.co.uk/seven-sisters-series/the-sun-sister/happy-valley/ | Recent interest in the Happy Valley history, including Lucinda Riley’s novels, continues to explore Kiki Preston’s role in the scandalous colonial community. |
| https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiki_Preston | German Wikipedia coverage further examines her alleged relationship with Prince George, Duke of Kent, and rumors about their son Michael Temple Canfield. |
| https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlQ4p4OjZSM | Documentary ‘The Girl With the Silver Syringe’ explores Kiki Preston’s notoriety for narcotic addiction and her life among the Happy Valley set. |
