Elizabeth Taylor's Grandchildren Grew Up To Be Gorgeous

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In 1942, bright-eyed and London-born Elizabeth Taylor made her Hollywood debut in the film "One Born Every Minute." She was a near-instant success — an incredible feat for a 10-year-old. Unlike many child stars, Taylor was able to navigate the tricky waters of show business and transition into adulthood with the same level of success.

Beyond having a long career and a famously lavish lifestyle, Elizabeth Taylor led a personal life that some would dub scandalous. With multiple sordid high-profile affairs and a stunning eight marriages, Taylor could've written the book on romance. Over the years, Taylor became a mother to four children. She and her second husband, Michael Wilding, shared two sons: Michael Wilding Jr. and Chris Wilding. She and third husband Mike Todd had a daughter named Liza Todd. And in 1964, Taylor and Richard Burton, who married each other twice, adopted daughter Maria Burton. Taylor's family tree would only continue to grow: The legendary film star had 10 grandchildren. 

Although she has since passed, the silver screen icon and activist's grandchildren are keeping her legacy alive — and did we mention they're absolutely gorgeous? Here is the truth about Elizabeth Taylor's grandkids.  

Laela Wilding has a 'great eye' like her grandmother

In 1971, Elizabeth Taylor got to meet her very first grandchild, Laela Wilding. She is Michael Wilding Jr.'s eldest daughter. Growing up in Northern California, Laela spent lots of time with her grandmother — including almost every holiday and occasional Sundays. Though they were close, there wasn't any sort of favoritism going on. Laela told Art & Understanding Magazine in 2018 that her grandmother loved all of her grandkids equally. 

Laela recounted memories of her grandmother cutting her hair. "She was very artistic. She had a great eye," Laela shared. Taylor also enjoyed helping with makeup (smoky eye was key) and styling. "She once said to me, 'If you've got it, flaunt it,'" Laela revealed to the magazine. 

Like Taylor, Laela is a creative person with a great eye. She works as a graphic designer in Portland, Oregon.

Naomi deLuce Wilding stayed with Elizabeth Taylor in her early 20s

Laela Wilding's little sister, Naomi deLuce Wilding, came into the world in 1975. Despite being just four years apart in age, they had different relationships with Elizabeth Taylor. Unlike Laela, Naomi was only able to see her grandmother over the holidays due to living in the United Kingdom. In the late '90s, Naomi decided to take a job as a fashion designer in an attempt to get a green card. After her Manhattan apartment was burglarized, Taylor stepped in to help her second-born granddaughter. 

"She said, 'I'll get you a lawyer, we'll get you a green card, and everything will be okay.' I came to stay with her and I never left [California]," Naomi told Art & Understanding Magazine. For nearly two years, she resided with her grandmother and called the experience "amazing." 

Like her big sis, Naomi is also an ambassador for the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation. Additionally, she runs the Wilding Cran Gallery, a contemporary art gallery, in Los Angeles along with her husband, Anthony Cran. Like Taylor, Naomi has grown up to be a true success.

Elizabeth Carson carries on her grandmother's legacy

Elizabeth Taylor's adopted daughter, Maria Burton, went on to have a child of her own in 1982. She decided to name her little girl Elizabeth "Eliza" Carson. When Carson was a teenager, she often stayed at her grandmother's sprawling estate. Sometimes they'd go on trips together. Carson once told Over Sixty that she even spent one whole summer vacationing with her grandmother. 

While Carson acknowledged that she loved the glitz and glamor of her grandmother's lifestyle, she appreciated her humanitarianism most of all. "She always stood up for what was right," said Taylor's third-born granddaughter. Carson has copied her grandmother in that aspect too. "I work for the Department of Child Protection in Manhattan. I'm doing social work," she shared. Like her older cousins, she, too, is an ambassador for the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation.

Caleb and Andrew Wilding keep a low profile

In the early 1980s, Taylor met her very first grandson, Caleb Wilding. Christopher Wilding and his wife, Aileen Getty — yes, as in that Getty family — adopted Caleb after Getty had several unsuccessful pregnancies. "It was traumatic because I really wanted a child," she shared with People in 1992. After adopting Caleb, Getty was able to get pregnant and gave birth to a son, Andrew Wilding.

Getty received more traumatic news when Caleb was a toddler and Andrew was only 6 months old: she tested positive for HIV. She took Caleb and Andrew and fled to New York City where she used cocaine. "I just lost it," the mother of two said. For a time, Caleb and Andrew were removed from her custody. "My children are my lifeline. But they deserved better," Getty told People. While Caleb and Andrew largely stay out of the limelight nowadays, they have been photographed alongside their mother at galas and fundraisers in support of HIV/AIDS awareness and research. Andrew also has a few film credits to his name.

Quinn Tivey remembers a 'raunchy' side of Elizabeth Taylor

Quinn Tivey, Elizabeth Taylor's sixth grandchild, is the child of Liza Todd and Hap Tivey. While most people couldn't picture screen legend Elizabeth Taylor being anything but elegant, Quinn's memory of his late grandmother is a little different. "A lot of people do not know this, but Grandma could be really raunchy," he shared at Town & Country's Philanthropy Summit in 2017 (via Page Six). "I remember going to her house and getting into bed with her, wearing my pajamas, watching 'Law & Order,' eating [peanut butter and jelly] sandwiches," he continued. Grandma goals.

Quinn grew up to be an artist as well as a co-trustee of the Elizabeth Taylor Trust. After his beloved grandmother's death, he and his cousin participated in an event in her honor. It was there that Quinn knew he wanted to be more involved in the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation. "Through that experience we had the opportunity to see how crucial it was for her family to be participating in her legacy," he told Town & Country in 2017. 

Tarquin Wilding is 'grateful' to continue his grandmother's legacy

Tarquin Wilding is Laela and Naomi Wilding's younger brother and the seventh grandchild of Elizabeth Taylor. "I often think about how lucky I am to have been born into a group of such wacky, caring, sensitive people," he shared with Town & Country in 2017. "We admire my grandmother for her boundless generosity, and I believe that we all feel grateful to be able to honor and continue her legacy. Especially together." 

While Tarquin keeps a relatively low profile, we do know that he attends events for organizations near and dear to his heart, such as the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation, and has done some acting work. We also know he's started a family of his own. In 2018, Tarquin married interior designer Kasimira Wilding. The following year, they welcomed their first child, a daughter named Violet Wilding.

Lowell Wilding began archiving his legendary grandmother's life

After his marriage to Aileen Getty ended, Christopher Wilding moved on with Margaret Carlton. They had a son named Lowell Wilding, who, like the rest of his cousins, admired Elizabeth Taylor to no end. "I was always in total awe of the good my grandmother was able to accomplish in her lifetime," Lowell told the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation. It's obvious that Lowell's love and appreciation for his grandmother runs deep. "She could so easily have done nothing, like so many others. Instead she fought, she cared, and she worked for people suffering with HIV/AIDS," Taylor's eighth grandchild said. 

Lowell said his hope is to continue her legacy, as well as preserve it. He has since backed up his words with actions. As of this writing, he is working to create a new addition to the Elizabeth Taylor Trust: an Elizabeth Taylor Archive. 

Rhys Tivey is an accomplished and artsy grandson

Rhys Tivey, son of Liza Todd and Hap Tivey, is an accomplished artist in his own right. The trumpeter/singer/songwriter grew up in upstate New York before moving to the city to attend New York University, where he graduated with a jazz degree. In addition to performing throughout the Big Apple, Rhys has taught music and yoga to middle school children all over the city. He's also acted in and contributed music to various stage productions. 

Much like his brother and cousins, Rhys is proud to carry Elizabeth Taylor's torch. As he told Vegan Food & Living in 2017, "I try to do whatever I can to help [the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation] and continue my grandmother's work, sometimes representing at events and speaking on behalf of the organization." He continued, "If one thing could be learned from my grandmother's legacy, it's that fame is an incredible opportunity to be revolutionary."

The organization isn't the only cause near to Rhys' heart. The musician also told the outlet that he went vegan partly because he wants to reduce his carbon footprint. "Climate change is a giant concern, and I hope will be for everyone, especially those in my generation and younger," he said.

Richard McKeown had a complicated childhood and now stays out of the limelight

Although not much is known about Elizabeth Taylor's youngest grandchild, Richard McKeown, we do know he was swept up in all kinds of drama as a child. According to a 2013 Wales Online report, Richard, who was born in 2001 and is named after his grandfather, was living with his mother, Maria Burton, when she filed a restraining order against Tom McKeown, young Richard's father.

In a familiar case of he-said she-said, Tom alleged Burton wasn't "functioning as a mother"; Burton filed a restraining order against Tom and alleged he was verbally abusive. A friend of Burton's claimed to the outlet that Tom was violent toward Burton. "[T]hat's why the courts have given her custody of her son," the unnamed source added. Mike McCormick, director of the American Coalition For Fathers And Children, who supported Tom, further added, "It's a tragedy not only for him, but for a child too young to express his loss." As of this writing, Richard continues to stay out of the public eye.

Quinn Tivey helped share Elizabeth Taylor's estate with the world

Elizabeth Taylor initially began using the slogan "House of Taylor" back in the '90s to denote her perfume and jewelry lines. However, following her death in 2011, the name was repurposed to refer to the entity that would oversee her estate and philanthropic work. Its three trustees were chosen by Taylor herself and include her grandson, Quinn Tivey.

In 2019, as part of his work for House of Taylor, the then-33-year-old decided to organize an auction of over 1,000 lots of archival pieces that once belonged to the screen legend. The sale, which featured clothing, artwork, and household items, took place in Beverly Hills that December and was run by Julien's Auctions. While many of Taylor's most famous jewels and clothes were previously sold by Christie's in 2011, this event, dubbed "Property from the Lifestyle of Elizabeth Taylor," featured more unusual and personal items dug up by Tivey and his family. "We've been building a private archive over the last few years," he told The Hollywood Reporter. "Along the way, we've come across items that seem perfect for a sale."

In an additional nod to Taylor, a special boxed set catalog was created for the event with all proceeds going to support The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation. "Her fight against all of the social injustices that run alongside HIV/AIDS, is such an important part of her legacy," Tivey explained. "It is something that we are proud to honor and carry forth in all the ways that we are able."

Naomi Wilding still loves to reminisce about her grandmother

When Elizabeth Taylor died, she was worth a lot of money. She sure enjoyed sharing her wealth when she was alive, especially with her many grandchildren. As Naomi Wilding told People in 2024, she looked back fondly on one trip she took from her UK home in West Wales to Los Angeles at age 6. The initial reason for the voyage was that her mother, Johanna Lykke-Dahn, was ill and she was supposed to spend time with her father, Michael Wilding Jr. Ultimately, though, she ended up living at Taylor's house for a while. "That stay coincided with Christmas," she shared. "I remember falling asleep next to the tree in the living room and waking up to the sight of dozens of boxes addressed to me under the tree."

Despite her very young age, Wilding was treated to a slew of designer goodies that would make any adult jealous. These included, as she recalled, "A silk nightdress and dressing gown by Christian Dior, dresses by YSL, Chanel, and Dior, as well as jackets and outfits by Saks [5th Ave]." There were so many presents, in fact, that she actually had to buy a trunk in order to pack everything up and take it back home with her. "They were all exquisite," she gushed. "Granny liked to spoil me!"

Eliza Carson finds comfort in Elizabeth Taylor's scent

When Eliza Carson graduated high school in 2001, she had an opportunity many would envy. The then-17-year-old took a trip to the Dominican Republic with Elizabeth Taylor and they enjoyed each other's company so much, she moved in with her famous grandmother. The duo spent the whole summer together at Taylor's Los Angeles mansion where Carson was surrounded by glamor, as well as several scents she'd never forget.

Speaking with People in 2025, a now 42-year-old Carson opened up about her personal attachment to Taylor's famous White Diamonds fragrance. "I'd add a touch of White Diamonds on my wrists before big court cases," she shared, referencing her career as a social worker. "It helped center me, like carrying a little part of her strength into the room."

As Carson recalled, Taylor always had flowers in her home, as well as gorgeous blooms in her garden, but it's her signature perfumes she'll never forget. "I remember stepping through the heavy double wooden front doors onto the plush white carpet and being instantly greeted by that familiar, sweet fragrance," she said, referencing both White Diamonds and Gardenia. "Even now, that scent brings me right back to those moments — and to her."

The Wilding sisters are outspoken advocates, like their grandmother

Elizabeth Taylor was no stranger to making headlines and in 1992, she got folks talking when she appeared at that year's Oscars wearing a red ribbon on her dress. The small accessory was meant to show her support for the fight against HIV/AIDS and as her granddaughter, Laela Wilding, told People in 2017, "She wore it proudly and she wore it the rest of her life." Her sister, Naomi Wilding, agreed, noting how Taylor went on to dedicate much of her energy to "educating people and destigmatizing [the disease]." As Laela explained, Taylor only really enjoyed being a public figure once she realized she could use her platform to help others. "Her activism gave her a sense of purpose and gave a sense of purpose to everything that came before," she mused. It was a mission she devoted herself to wholeheartedly, even starting The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation (ETAF) in 1991.

Following Taylor's death, both Wilding siblings proudly picked up their grandmother's efforts. Speaking with HuffPost in 2016, Laela shared, "I, along with many family members, have made a promise to help continue her work as an HIV and AIDS advocate." She and Naomi are both ETAF ambassadors and are regularly involved with many of its various initiatives. What's more, Laela is also on the board of directors at Our House of Portland, a non-profit helping low-income HIV+ people.

Quinn Tivey is continuing Elizabeth Taylor's activism

Similarly to Laela and Naomi Wilding, Quinn Tivey has been proudly keeping his grandmother's activism alive, even writing about his mission in a 2013 essay for HuffPost. "I've been striving to continue on the path that my grandmother helped to establish in the fight against HIV/AIDS," he shared, listing just a few of his major accomplishments. In addition to working with The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation (ETAF) as an officer, he also helped found a Los Angeles branch of generationCURE, a youth group working towards eradicating the AIDS pandemic within this generation. As he explained, his mission is about more than just raising funds to find a cure. Rather, he also wants to spread statistics and awareness to drive home the importance of always using protection during sex and of getting tested. "At 27 years old, I've noticed that many of my friends don't seem to regard HIV/AIDS as a major concern in their lives," he wrote. "This is bewildering."

It's a goal he's fully committed to and continues building towards. In 2021, a 35-year-old Tivey wrote an essay for People about his work at ETAF and its new HIV Is Not A Crime initiative which works to reverse legislation in over 30 states where those who are HIV positive can be charged with a crime. "I'm honored to see ETAF continue [Taylor's] work," he enthused. "Educating legislators, raising awareness for the public, disproving myths, and decreasing fear and stigma."

Naomi and Laela Wilding are forever inspired by their famous grandma

Elizabeth Taylor was a glamorous Hollywood icon, but to sisters Naomi and Laela Wilding she was simply a doting grandparent. As Naomi told Today in 2021, "Just because somebody is a superstar doesn't also mean that they can't be a loving, squishy, delicious grandma who was always welcoming us in." However, Taylor didn't just spoil her grandchildren, she also made sure to impart lifelong lessons when she could. Perhaps the most important was the idea of never backing down from what you think is right. "[The] idea of following your heart and being true to whatever love you have — not to be afraid of being hurt," explained Naomi. Taylor's activism and philanthropy continue to inspire the sisters, whether it be her work with HIV/AIDS or her drive to achieve equal pay. Noting how Taylor managed to secure an unheard of $1 million salary for 1963's "Cleopatra," Laela praised her grandmother's strength and its lasting impact. "That inspires me," Laela mused. "And I have a teenage daughter, and she inspires my daughter (with) the self-confidence she presents."

It's a sentiment similar to that shared by another of Taylor's grandchildren, Eliza Carson, who told Town & Country in 2016 that her grandmother's humanitarian efforts have informed her entire career. In addition to being an ambassador for The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation, Carson also chose to work full-time as a social worker. "She always stood up for what was right," Carson said of Taylor.

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