The Tragic Love Story Behind James Bond’s Wife: A Heartbreaking Tale
The Tragic Love Story Behind James Bond’s Wife: A Heartbreaking Tale
Whether you’re a die-hard fan or a casual viewer, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service has left an indelible mark on the James Bond franchise. As the only Bond film starring George Lazenby, it stands out in the series. While James Bond is known for his many romantic escapades, this 1969 film focuses on his blossoming romance with Countess Tracy di Vicenzo, the daughter of crime boss Marc-Ange Draco.
The Heartbreaking End of a Bond Love Story
Despite Bond’s reputation as a womanizer, he falls deeply in love with Tracy. The film concludes with their marriage, but their happiness is short-lived. Bond’s archenemy, Ernst Stavro Blofeld, and his henchwoman Irma Bunt fire a gun into their car, instantly killing Tracy. This tragic love story has left a lasting impact on the Bond franchise, with Tracy being referenced in several other films before the 2006 reboot.
The Real-Life Inspiration: Muriel Wright
It is believed that the character of Tracy was inspired by one of Ian Fleming’s previous relationships. Muriel Wright, born in 1909, was the daughter of Henry FitzHerbert Wright, a former cricketer, lawyer, and Conservative MP for Leominster. Muriel grew up at the family home of Yeldersley Hall, Derbyshire.
A Fateful Meeting and Tragic End
Muriel first met Ian Fleming in 1935 during a skiing holiday at the Austrian ski resort of Kitzbühel. Nicknamed ‘Mu’ by her family and close friends, Muriel was immediately smitten with Fleming, although her feelings were not fully reciprocated. According to Andrew Lycett’s biography, Ian Fleming: The Man Who Created James Bond, Fleming strung her along, much to the dismay of her family.
Like Tracy, Muriel met a tragic end. While working as an air raid warden during World War II, she was stationed in Belgravia. In March 1944, a nearby bomb explosion blew a piece of masonry through her window, striking her on the head and killing her instantly.
Fleming’s Grief and the Birth of a Bond Girl
Following Muriel’s death, Ian Fleming was filled with remorse. He refused to dine at restaurants the couple had previously attended. Andrew Bailey, who now lives in Muriel’s old family home, noted how Fleming was ‘racked with grief’ over her death and started wearing her bracelet on a keyring in her memory.
Bailey told Derbyshire Live in 2017, ‘It’s been suggested that she inspired the character of the one and only Mrs. Bond.’ He added, ‘She was a well-bred English rose who was both aristocratic and sporty. She was an accomplished skier, polo player, and even modeled lingerie, so she really did fit the bill of the archetypal Bond girl.’
The Legacy of Tracy and Muriel
The tragic love story of Tracy and Bond, inspired by Muriel Wright, has left a lasting impact on the James Bond franchise. It serves as a reminder of the real-life inspirations behind some of our favorite fictional characters and the heartbreaking stories that shape them.
