Major Thomas William Edward Coke, 5th Earl of Leicester (16 May 1908 – 3 September 1976), styled Viscount Coke from 1941 to 1949, was a British

hereditary peer The hereditary peers form part of the peerage in the United Kingdom. As of April 2025, there are 800 hereditary peers: 30 dukes (including six royal dukes), 34 marquesses, 189 earls, 108 viscounts, and 439 barons (not counting subsidiary ...

. cited in Holkham-Hall-South-Facafe

Early life

Thomas William Edward Coke, 5th Earl of Leicester, was born on 16 May 1908. He was the son of the 4th Earl of Leicester and his wife Marion Gertrude (née) Trefusis. He was educated at

Eton Eton most commonly refers to Eton College, a public school in Eton, Berkshire, England. Eton may also refer to: Places *Eton, Berkshire, a town in Berkshire, England *Eton, Georgia, a town in the United States *Éton, a commune in the Meuse depa ...

, and the

Royal Military College, Sandhurst The Royal Military College (RMC) was a United Kingdom, British military academy for training infantry and cavalry Officer (armed forces), officers of the British Army, British and British Indian Army, Indian Armies. It was founded in 1801 at Gre ...

. He succeeded to the earldom upon on his father's death on 21 August 1949.

Courtier

He was equerry to the Duke of York between 1934 and 1937, and was invested as a Member, Royal Victorian Order (M.V.O.) in 1937. When the Duke of York became

King George VI George VI (Albert Frederick Arthur George; 14 December 1895 – 6 February 1952) was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death in 1952. He was also the last Emperor of In ...

, the Earl became Extra Equerry to the King between 1937 and 1952, and continued as Extra Equerry to

Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 19268 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until Death and state funeral of Elizabeth II, her death in 2022. ...

. He was awarded the Order of Christ of Portugal in 1955 and later with the

Royal Order of George I The Royal Order of George I () is a Greek order instituted by King Constantine I in 1915. Since the monarchy's abolition in 1973, it has been considered a dynastic order of the former Greek royal family. History The order was founded in 1915 ...

of Greece in 1963.

Military career

He served as Aide-de-Camp to the Commander-in-Chief, Middle East, in

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, reaching the rank of major, and later becoming an Honorary Colonel of the Royal Norfolk Regiment. He held the office of Deputy Lieutenant (D.L.) of Norfolk from 1944.

Marriage and family

Leicester married Lady Elizabeth Mary Yorke (born 10 March 1912, died 1985), daughter of Charles Yorke, 8th Earl of Hardwicke, and Ellen Russell, on 1 October 1931. The couple had three daughters: * Lady Anne Veronica Coke (born 16 July 1932). Lady Anne was one of

Maids of Honour A maid of honour is a junior attendant of a queen in royal households. The position was and is junior to the lady-in-waiting. The equivalent title and office has historically been used in most European royal courts. Tudors and Stuarts Traditi ...

at the coronation in 1953. She married the Scottish peer

Colin Tennant, 3rd Baron Glenconner Colin Christopher Paget Tennant, 3rd Baron Glenconner (1 December 1926 – 27 August 2010), was a British peer, landowner and socialite. He was the son of Christopher Tennant, 2nd Baron Glenconner, and Pamela Winifred Paget. He was also the neph ...

, on 21 April 1956. They have five children. She was Extra Lady-in-Waiting to

Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon (Margaret Rose; 21 August 1930 – 9 February 2002) was the younger daughter of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. She was the younger sister and only sibling of Queen Elizabeth II. Ma ...

, between 1971 and 2002. After her marriage, Lady Anne was styled as ''Baroness Glenconner'' on 4 October 1983. She was appointed Lieutenant, Royal Victorian Order (L.V.O.), in 1991. * Lady Carey Elizabeth Coke (5 May 1934 – 14 May 2018). She married Bryan Ronald Basset on 30 April 1960. They have three sons: David Francis Basset (1961–2010), Michael James Basset (b. 1963) and James Bryan Basset (b. 1968). * Lady Sarah Marion Coke (born 23 July 1944). She married Major David Finlayson Wylie-Hill Walter on 27 June 1970. They have two sons: Nicholas Robert Walter (b. 1972) and James George Walter (b. 1975). Coke was the great-uncle of the actress

Miranda Raison Miranda Caroline Raison is a British actress who is best known for playing Jo Portman in five seasons of '' Spooks'' (MI5) and Nellie Davenport in HBO's ''Warrior''. She originated the title role in Howard Brenton's ''Anne Boleyn'' at Shakespe ...

. Leicester died on 3 September 1976 at age 68. Because he had no sons, he was succeeded in the earldom by his cousin Anthony Coke, who became the 6th Earl.

References

1908 births 1976 deaths British Army personnel of World War II Royal Norfolk Regiment officers Thomas Coke Deputy lieutenants of Norfolk 5th Earl of Leicester Equerries Graduates of the Royal Military College, Sandhurst Members of the Royal Victorian Order People educated at Eton College Recipients of the Order of George I People from Holkham {{UK-earl-stub