ZAC Goldsmith’s 15-year-old niece died in a quad bike accident at her family’s farm in Somerset on Monday – leaving her parents “devastated”, it was revealed last night.
Ambulance crews raced to the home of Ben Goldsmith, the Tory MP‘s brother, in the village of North Brewham following reports that Iris Annabel was involved in a crash.
Last night, the tragic teenager – daughter of Ben and ex-wife Kate Rothschild – was described as “beautiful, charming, intelligent.”
A family friend told the Daily Mail: “This is the most awful accident. Iris was a complete firecracker – an absolute delight.
“Everyone in the family loved her to bits.
“She was beautiful, charming, intelligent, wonderful company and absolutely the loveliest person you could meet.
“Ben and Kate are completely devastated. They are numbed to their core and united in their grief.
“Iris captured the charm of Ben and the sense of Bohemian charisma of Kate. All the family are rallying round Ben and Kate.”
Iris was reportedly riding with a friend in a “ranger vehicle” – an off-road buggy with a roll cage likened to a cross between a quadbike and a Jeep.
The schoolgirl had just finished her GCSEs and was starting the summer at her dad’s farm when the tragedy happened.
She was studying at Wycombe Abbey, a £12,980-a-term independent girls’ boarding school in High Wycombe, Bucks.
Iris had marked as a top pupil nationally in academic results.
She was a kind, gentle and caring student who adored her school and her friends and was impeccably behaved
James Hook
Last night, James Hook – head of her old school The Harrodian in Barnes, South West London, told of his shock at her death.
He said: “The school community is united in its grief over the tragic and sad news of the passing of its former pupil Iris Goldsmith.
“Our thoughts, love and sympathies are with her family and friends at this awful time.
“Iris was the most wonderful, dedicated and talented pupil during her seven years at Harrodian.
“She was a kind, gentle and caring student who adored her school and her friends and was impeccably behaved.
“It is tragic that such a talented and vivacious child has been taken from us so young.”
Iris was the heiress to two of Britain’s most powerful dynasties – the Goldsmith and Rothschild families.
She was the first child of Ben and his ex-wife Kate Emma Rothschild, who are believed to have a joint fortune of more than £300million.
The two families are worth billions of pounds and they have maintained a powerful influence over Britain’s financial and political systems for decades.
A local from Iris’ quiet village told MailOnline: “Everyone in the village is devastated by this.
“I heard Iris died in a crash involving a quad bike in a field next to the farm.
“She is the daughter of Ben Goldsmith and his ex-wife Kate Rothschild.
“The whole village has been affected by this, as you can imagine.
“Our hearts go out to her parents and family. It’s a very sensitive time.”
An inquest is expected to be opened soon.
Ben, 38, and Kate, 37, have two other children: Frank, 13 and Isaac, 11.
The pair separated in 2012 and Kate started a romance with US rapper Jay Electronica.
She is now in a relationship with entrepreneur Paul Forkan.
Ben remarried catering company boss Jemima Jones two years later and they now have two young children – Eliza and Arlo.
The whole village has been affected by this, as you can imagine. Our hearts go out to her parents and family. It’s a very sensitive time
North Brewham village resident
He is the youngest child of billionaire tycoon Sir James Goldsmith and Lady Annabel Vane-Tempest.
Ben’s older brother is the Tory MP for Richmond and North Kingston.
Zac ran for London Mayor in 2016 and lost to Sadiq Khan after securing 43 per cent of the vote.
His sister is Jemima Khan, the former wife of retired cricketer and current Pakistan Prime Minister, Imran Khan.
The Old Etonian is an advisor to Environmental Secretary Michael Gove.
He was appointed as a non-executive director at the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs last year.
A spokesman for South Western Ambulance Service said: “We were called on Monday at 3.15pm to attend an incident involving a vehicle at an address in North Brewham, Somerset.
“We sent the following resources to attend the incident: an air ambulance crew, a critical care team, a land ambulance crew, and two other paramedics.”
