Former Vogue editor's grandson found hanged after reading Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World

The grandson of a former Vogue editor hanged himself after reading Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World.

Maximillian Bromage, 19, grandson of Clare Rendlesham, was found dead at his family’s townhouse in South Kensington on 6 August.

A copy of the dystopian Huxley novel, in which a character is found hanged in a lighthouse retreat, was left in his bedroom. His mother, Jaqumine Bromage, said: “I haven’t been able to read it yet. I will, when I am ready. One is never going to know what was going through his mind. I just cannot believe I am never going to see him again.”

Maximillian’s grandmother, Lady Rendlesham, who died in 1987, made her name working for Vogue in the 1960s and went on to open the first Yves Saint Laurent store in the UK.

Mrs Bromage, who worked at the fashion house until 1999, said her son had a very thoughtful nature, adding: “Teenagers are very vulnerable at that sort of age.”

Maximillian had dropped out of Aberystwyth University to retake an A-level. An inquest at Westminster Coroner’s Court heard that he had made a 20-minute call to his girlfriend, Cammie, just after midnight on the night he died.

Two of Maximillian’s notebooks were found at the scene. One contained love letters to Cammie, the other was a diary which contained “dark thoughts but also very positive ones”. Coroner Darren Stewart recorded an open verdict, saying he could not be sure that Maximillian had meant to kill himself.