Vita was born at Knole, Kent, to one of England's oldest aristocratic families, and educated privately.

She was married to gay diplomat Sir Harold Nicolson from 1913, and had a relationship started in 1922 with Virginia Woolf. She created fine gardens at Sissinghurst, Kent.

Vita and Hadji - as she used to call Harold - loved each other deeply. They were very tender to each other, but at some time in their marriage they realized they were both homosexual.

Vita had a most famous love affair with Violet (Keppel) Trefusis, shortly after Hadji confessed to her that he was homosexual.

This relationship with Violet was the most dangerous for the marriage. Violet had been Vita's closest childhood friend and adored her.

Apart from Violet, Vita had other love affairs outside marriage, both with male and female persons.

Virginia Woolf was the most important one, another was with Gwen St Aubyn.

Vita and Harold's unique relationship is explored in the delightful novel Portrait of A Marriage, written by their son Nigel Nicholson. Vita died of Cancer.