Edward William Fitzalan-Howard, 18th Duke of Norfolk, (born 2 December 1956), styled Earl of Arundel between 1975 and 2002, is a British peer who holds the hereditary office of

Earl Marshal Earl Marshal (alternatively marschal or marischal) is a hereditary royal officeholder and chivalric title under the Monarchy of the United Kingdom, sovereign of the United Kingdom used in England (then, following the Act of Union 1800, in the U ...

. As

Duke of Norfolk Duke of Norfolk is a title in the peerage of England. The premier non-royal peer, the Duke of Norfolk is additionally the premier duke and earl in the English peerage. The seat of the Duke of Norfolk is Arundel Castle in Sussex, although the t ...

, he is the most senior non-royal peer in the

peerage of England The Peerage of England comprises all peerages created in the Kingdom of England before the Act of Union in 1707. From that year, the Peerages of England and Scotland were closed to new creations, and new peers were created in a single Peerag ...

. He is also the titular head of the

House of Howard The Howard family is an England, English List of noble houses, noble family founded by John Howard, 1st Duke of Norfolk, John Howard, who was created Duke of Norfolk (third creation) by King Richard III of England in 1483. However, John was als ...

Background and education

Norfolk is the son of Miles Francis Stapleton Fitzalan-Howard, 17th Duke of Norfolk, and his wife Anne Mary Teresa Constable-Maxwell. He was educated at Ampleforth College, a

Roman Catholic The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics worldwide as of 2025. It is among the world's oldest and largest international institut ...

independent school, before going up to

Lincoln College, Oxford Lincoln College (formally, The College of the Blessed Mary and All Saints, Lincoln) is a Colleges of the University of Oxford, constituent college of the University of Oxford, in the United Kingdom. Lincoln was founded in 1427 by Richard Flemin ...

. He has a brother and three sisters. His only brother, Lord Gerald Fitzalan-Howard, runs the Carlton Towers estate with his wife, Emma Fitzalan-Howard. The Duke's eldest sister is the Countess of Balfour. His second sister, Lady Carina Fitzalan-Howard, is the widow of broadcaster

David Frost Sir David Paradine Frost (7 April 1939 – 31 August 2013) was an English television host, journalist, comedian and writer. He rose to prominence during the satire boom in the United Kingdom when he was chosen to host the satirical programme ...

. His third and youngest sister is the actress

Marsha Fitzalan Lady Marcia Mary Josephine Fitzalan Howard (born 10 March 1953), known as Marsha Fitzalan, is an English actress. Personal life Born in 1953, Marcia Fitzalan-Howard was the third daughter of Major-General Miles Fitzalan-Howard, 17th Duke of No ...

Career

Norfolk worked with various companies, and from 2000 to 2002 was Deputy

. Upon the death of his father in 2002, he inherited the late Duke of Norfolk's peerages and the position of

. He was a Cub Scout while at school at Ampleforth College and currently holds two appointments in the Scout Movement. He was the President of 1st Arundel (Earl of Arundel's Own) Scout Group in 2010, and still serves as President of the Arundel & Littlehampton District Scouts up to present. He is also Patron of West Sussex County Scouts. In June 2003, he was awarded the Medal of Merit for Services by the Scout Movement. He is an Honorary Fellow of

St Edmund's College, Cambridge St Edmund's College is a Colleges of the University of Cambridge, constituent college of the University of Cambridge in England. Founded in 1896, it is the second-oldest of the three Cambridge colleges oriented to mature students, which accept ...

. Norfolk was appointed Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO) in the

2022 Birthday Honours The 2022 Queen's Birthday Honours are appointments by some of the 15 Commonwealth realms of Queen Elizabeth II to Orders and decorations of the Commonwealth realms, various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of those ...

. As a member of the

House of Lords The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the lower house, the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster in London, England. One of the oldest ext ...

, he has cast only twelve votes, mostly against hunting restrictions. As hereditary Earl Marshal, he was responsible for the arrangement of the 19 September 2022

state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms, died on 8 September 2022 at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, at the age of 96. Elizabeth's reign of 70 years and 214 days was the List of monarchs in Britain by length of ...

and the accession and coronation of

King Charles III Charles III (Charles Philip Arthur George; born 14 November 1948) is King of the United Kingdom and the 14 other Commonwealth realms. Charles was born at Buckingham Palace during the reign of his maternal grandfather, King George VI, and ...

Personal life

The Duke lives at

Arundel Castle Arundel Castle is a restored and remodelled medieval castle in Arundel, West Sussex, England. It was established by Roger de Montgomery in the 11th century. The castle was damaged in the English Civil War and then restored in the 18th and earl ...

. As a result of driving offense he committed in April 2022, he was disqualified from driving for six months until September of same year. He also had several motoring convictions where he incurred an excess of penalty points, resulting in a driving ban. His barrister argued in mitigation that he needed the ability to drive to organise the coronation of King

Charles III Charles III (Charles Philip Arthur George; born 14 November 1948) is King of the United Kingdom and the 14 other Commonwealth realms. Charles was born at Buckingham Palace during the reign of his maternal grandfather, King George VI, and ...

Family

, the Duke of Norfolk is recognised by the Vatican as England's senior representative of the faith. The Duke, then

Earl of Arundel Earl of Arundel is a title of nobility in England, and one of the oldest extant in the English peerage. It is currently held by the Duke of Norfolk, and it is used (along with the earldom of Surrey) by his heir apparent as a courtesy title ...

, married Georgina Susan Gore on 27 June 1987 at Arundel Cathedral. Together, they have three sons and two daughters: * Henry Miles Fitzalan-Howard, Earl of Arundel (3 December 1987) who married Cecilia Mary Elizabeth ''dei Conti'' (of the Counts) Colacicchi, '' Nobile'' di Anagni on 16 July 2016. They have three daughters. * Lady Rachel Fitzalan-Howard (10 June 1989) * Lord Thomas Fitzalan-Howard (14 March 1992) * Lady Isabel Fitzalan-Howard (7 February 1994) * Lord Philip Fitzalan-Howard (14 July 1996) The Duke and Duchess separated in 2011, but were reconciled by 2016, only to split up again; their divorce became final in 2022. On 12 November 2022, the Duke married Francesca Herbert (née Bevan), former wife of The Hon. Henry Herbert, second son of the 7th Earl of Carnarvon.

Titles, styles, honours and arms

Titles and styles

In 2002, he inherited the Dukedom of Norfolk, as well as a number of earldoms, baronies, hereditary offices, and titles attached to the Dukedom, from his father. His office of

, one of the

Great Officers of State Government in medieval monarchies generally comprised the king's companions, later becoming the royal household, from which the officers of state arose. These officers initially had household and governmental duties. Later some of these offic ...

, makes him responsible for State occasions, such as

coronations A coronation ceremony marks the formal investiture of a monarch with regal power using a crown. In addition to the crowning, this ceremony may include the presentation of other items of regalia, and other rituals such as the taking of special ...

and the

State Opening of Parliament The State Opening of Parliament is a ceremonial event which formally marks the beginning of each Legislative session, session of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. At its core is His or Her Majesty's "Speech from the throne, gracious speech ...

. He is also, by virtue of this office, one of the hereditary judges of the Court of Chivalry and head of the

College of Arms The College of Arms, or Heralds' College, is a royal corporation consisting of professional Officer of Arms, officers of arms, with jurisdiction over England, Wales, Northern Ireland and some Commonwealth realms. The heralds are appointed by the ...

, responsible for heraldry in England and Wales as well as other parts of the

Commonwealth of Nations The Commonwealth of Nations, often referred to as the British Commonwealth or simply the Commonwealth, is an International organization, international association of member states of the Commonwealth of Nations, 56 member states, the vast majo ...

List of peerages

* 18th

(Premier Duke of England) * 36th

(Premier Earl of England) * 19th Earl of Surrey * 16th

Earl of Norfolk Earl of Norfolk is a title which has been created several times in the Peerage of England. Created in 1070, the first major dynasty to hold the title was the 12th and 13th century Bigod family, and it then was later held by the Mowbrays, who we ...

* 13th Baron Beaumont * 26th Baron Maltravers * 16th Baron FitzAlan * 16th Baron Clun * 16th Baron Oswaldestre * 5th Baron Howard of Glossop

List of hereditary offices

* Hereditary Marshal of England * Chief Butler of England (One of three claimants to this office before the 1902 Court of Claims. The dispute was never resolved.)

Honours

UK Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal ribbon

6 February 2002: Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal * QEII Diamond Jubilee Medal ribbon

6 February 2012:

Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal () or The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal was a commemorative medal created in 2012 to mark the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II's accession in 1952. There are four versions of the medal: one iss ...

UK Queen EII Platinum Jubilee Medal ribbon

6 February 2022: Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal * UK Royal Victorian Order ribbon

2 June 2022: Knight Grand Cross of the

Royal Victorian Order The Royal Victorian Order () is a dynastic order of knighthood established in 1896 by Queen Victoria. It recognises distinguished personal service to the monarch, members of the royal family, or to any viceroy or senior representative of the m ...

UK King Charles III Coronation Medal BAR

6 May 2023: King Charles III Coronation Medal

Arms

Ancestry

References

External links

*
Edward Fitzalan-Howard, 18th Duke of Norfolk
{{DEFAULTSORT:Norfolk, Edward Fitzalan-Howard, 18th Duke of 318 *36 306 123 *26 Barons Howard of Glossop Barons Beaumont Edward Fitzalan-Howard, 18th Duke of Norfolk Fitzalan-Howard Deputy lieutenants of West Sussex Earls Marshal Crossbench hereditary peers 1956 births Living people People educated at Ampleforth College English Roman Catholics 20th-century Roman Catholics 21st-century Roman Catholics Earls of Norfolk (1644 creation) Knights Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order Excepted hereditary peers