Edward Fitzalan-Howard, 18th Duke of Norfolk

Edward William Fitzalan-Howard, 18th Duke of Norfolk DL (born 2 December 1956) is the son of Miles Stapleton-Fitzalan-Howard, 17th Duke of Norfolk and his wife Anne Mary Teresa Constable-Maxwell.

Edward was educated at Ampleforth, a Catholic independent school. He then attended Lincoln College, Oxford. He worked with various companies, and from 2000 to 2002 was Deputy Earl Marshal. Upon the death of his father in 2002, he inherited the late Duke of Norfolk's peerages and the position of Earl Marshal. Prior to 2002, he was known as Earl of Arundel. As a Howard, he is related to Elizabeth I, Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard. He is also, through the Fitzalans, descended from Edward I.

Personal life

Edward Fitzalan-Howard, then Earl of Arundel, married Georgina Susan Gore, on 27 June 1987 at Arundel Cathedral. Together, they have five children, three sons and two daughters:
* Henry Miles Fitzalan-Howard, Earl of Arundel, born 3 December 1987.
* Lady Rachel Rose Fitzalan-Howard, born 10 June 1989.
* Lord Thomas Jack Fitzalan-Howard, born 14 March 1992.
* Lady Isabel Serena Fitzalan-Howard, born 7 February 1994.
* Lord Philip Fitzalan-Howard, born 14 July 1996Scouting Involvement

The Duke of Norfolk was a Cub Scout whilst at school at Ampleforth College. He holds three appointments in the Scout Movement, he is the President of 1st Arundel (Earl of Arundel's Own) Scout Group and the Arundel & Littlehampton District Scouts. He is also patron of West Sussex County Scouts. In June 2003 he was awarded the Medal of Merit for Services to the Scout Movement.

He has several nephews and nieces, one of whom is called Tom Thirkell, a keen and fashionable biologist who studies Biology at Sheffield University. Tom has a twin called Pip (or Philip). He also has an older brother.

Peerages

In 2002, Edward 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 Earl Marshal, one of the Great Officers of State, makes him responsible for State occasions, such as coronations and the State Opening of Parliament. He also is, by virtue of this office, one of the hereditary judges in the Court of Chivalry and head of the College of Arms, responsible for heraldry in England and Wales as well as other parts of the Commonwealth of Nations such as Australia.

List of Peerages

* 18th Duke of Norfolk, (Premier Duke of England)
* 36th Earl of Arundel, (16th of the 3rd creation) (Premier Earl of England)
* 19th Earl of Surrey
* 16th Earl of Norfolk
* 13th Baron Beaumont
* 20th Baron Maltravers
* 16th Baron FitzAlan, Clun, and Oswaldestre
* 5th Baron Howard of Glossop

List of Hereditary Offices

* Earl Marshal
* 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.)

Titles from birth

*Edward Fitzalan-Howard, Esq. (1956–1971)
*The Hon. Edward Fitzalan-Howard (1971–1975)
*Earl of Arundel and Surrey (1975–2002)
*His Grace The Duke of Norfolk (2002–present)

Patrilineal descent

Edward's patriline is the line from which he is descended father to son.

Patrilineal descent is the principle behind membership in Ducal Houses, as it can be traced back through the generations - which means that Edward’s "historically accurate" Ducal House is Howard.

#Sir Robert Howard, 1407 - 1436
#John Howard, 1st Duke of Norfolk, 1425 - 1485
#Thomas Howard, 2nd Duke of Norfolk, 1443 - 1524
#Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk, 1473 - 1554
#Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, 1517 - 1547
#Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk, 1536 - 1572
#Philip Howard, 20th Earl of Arundel, 1557 - 1595
#Thomas Howard, 21st Earl of Arundel, 1585 - 1546
#Henry Howard, 22nd Earl of Arundel, 1608 - 1652
#Bernard Howard, 1641 - 1717
#Bernard Howard, 1674 - 1735
#Henry Howard, 1713 - 1787
#Bernard Howard, 12th Duke of Norfolk, 1765 - 1842
#Henry Howard, 13th Duke of Norfolk, 1791 - 1856
#Edward Fitzalan-Howard, 1st Baron Howard of Glossop, 1818 - 1883
#Francis Edward Fitzalan-Howard, 2nd Baron Howard of Glossop, 1859 - 1924
#Bernard Fitzalan-Howard, 3rd Baron Howard of Glossop, 1885 - 1972
#Miles Stapleton-Fitzalan-Howard, 17th Duke of Norfolk, 1915 - 2002
#Edward Fitzalan-Howard, 18th Duke of Norfolk, b. 1956

ee also

*Dukes of Norfolk family tree

-! colspan="3" style="background: #ccffcc;" | Order of precedence in England, Wales & Northern Ireland