Lawford was born on September 7, 1923 the only child of Lieutenant-General Sir Sydney Turing Barlow Lawford, KBE (1865-1953) and May Aylen (née May Sommerville Bunny, 1883-1972). At the time of Lawford's birth, however, his mother was married to her second husband,

Dr. Capt. Ernest Vaughn Aylen, one of Sir Sidney's officers, while his father was married to the former Muriel Williams. At the time, May and Ernest Aylen were living apart. May confessed to Aylen that the child was not his, a revelation that resulted in a double divorce.

Peter Lawford's Family Tree