Walter Annenberg

His Excellency Walter Annenberg
Annenberg in 1982
United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom
In office April 29, 1969 – October 30, 1974
President	Richard Nixon Gerald Ford
Preceded by	David K. E. Bruce
Succeeded by	Elliot Richardson
Personal details
Born	(1908-03-13)March 13, 1908 Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
Died	October 1, 2002(2002-10-01) (aged 94) Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Resting place	Sunnylands, Rancho Mirage, California[1] 33°46′34″N 116°24′43″W / 33.776°N 116.412°W / 33.776; -116.412
Spouses	Veronica Dunkelman ​ ​ (m. 1938; div. 1950)​ Leonore Cohn ​ (m. 1951)​
Children	2, including Wallis
Parents	Moses Annenberg Sadie Freedman
Relatives	Janet Annenberg Hooker (sister) Enid Haupt (sister) Lauren Bon (granddaughter)
Education	University of Pennsylvania
Awards	Officier of Legion of Honour  Presidential Medal of Freedom (1986)  Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (1976)  Knight of Order of St. Gregory the Great Eisenhower Medal for Leadership and Service (1988) Linus Pauling Medal for Humanitarianism
Website	annenberg.org

Walter Hubert Annenberg KSG (March 13, 1908 – October 1, 2002) was an American businessman, investor, philanthropist, and diplomat. Annenberg owned and operated Triangle Publications, which included ownership of The Philadelphia Inquirer, TV Guide, the Daily Racing Form and Seventeen magazine. He was appointed by President Richard Nixon as United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom, where he served from 1969 to 1974.

During his tenure as U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom, he developed a close friendship with Queen Elizabeth II and other members of the royal family. After initial perceived missteps, he came to be admired for his dedicated work ethic, his wife's lavish entertaining, and personal gifts to support patriotic British causes, such as the restoration of St. Paul's Cathedral in London. He also paid for the renovation of Winfield House, the American ambassador's residence.

In his later years, Annenberg became one of the most prominent philanthropists in the United States.^[2] He established the Annenberg Foundation in 1988, and gave over $2 billion to educational establishments and art galleries, including both the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania and USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism in Los Angeles. At Sunnylands, his 220-acre (89 ha) estate near Palm Springs, California, he entertained royalty, presidents and other celebrities; it is now a museum and retreat center dedicated to furthering the Annenbergs' legacies.