Bernard Fitzalan-Howard, 16th Duke of Norfolk

Bernard Marmaduke Fitzalan-Howard, 16th Duke of Norfolk (30 May 1908 – 31 January 1975), styled Earl of Arundel and Surrey until 1917, was a British peer and politician. He was the second and only surviving son of Henry Fitzalan-Howard, 15th Duke of Norfolk, who died when Bernard was only nine years old. His mother was Gwendoline Herries, 12th Lady Herries of Terregles, and he inherited her peerage when she died in 1945.

He was educated at the Oratory School and was commissioned into the Royal Horse Guards in 1931, but resigned his commission in 1933. He joined the 4th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment, in the Territorial Army in 1934, and was promoted to Major in 1939. He served briefly in the Battle of France, during which he was evacuated sick. He subsequently served as Agricultural Secretary in Winston Churchill's Cabinet from February 1941 until June 1945.

As hereditary Earl Marshal, he organised the coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, the funeral of Winston Churchill, and the investiture of King Charles III as Prince of Wales. He was a keen cricket fan, and was the manager of the English cricket team in Australia in 1962–63.

Personal life

The Duke married the Hon Lavinia Mary Strutt, daughter of Algernon Strutt, 3rd Baron Belper, and his wife Eva, on 27 January 1937 at the Brompton Oratory. They had four daughters, three granddaughters and two great-grandchildren:

Lady Anne Elizabeth Fitzalan-Howard, 14th Lady Herries of Terregles, Baroness Cowdrey of Tonbridge (12 June 1938 – 23 November 2014); she married Colin Cowdrey, Baron Cowdrey of Tonbridge, in 1985.
Lady Mary Katharine Fitzalan-Howard, 15th Lady Herries of Terregles, DCVO (14 August 1940 – 7 April 2017); she married G/Capt. Anthony Mumford in 1986.
Lady Sarah Margaret Fitzalan-Howard (23 September 1941 – 14 June 2015); she married Nigel Clutton on 25 March 1988
Lady Theresa Jane Fitzalan-Howard, Marchioness of Lothian, 16th Lady Herries of Terregles (24 June 1945); she married Michael Andrew Foster Jude Kerr, 13th Marquess of Lothian, on 7 June 1975. They have three daughters and two grandchildren.

The 16th Duke died on 31 January 1975, and is buried in the Fitzalan Chapel in the western grounds of Arundel Castle in Sussex.

Dukedom of Norfolk and Earl Marshal

As Duke of Norfolk, he was Earl Marshal and Hereditary Marshal of England. In that capacity, the Duke had helped to organise various state ceremonies such as the coronation of King George VI in 1937 and that of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. He also helped to organise the state funerals of King George VI in 1952 and of Winston Churchill in 1965. In 1969, he also took part in the planning for the investiture of Prince Charles Howard had been President of Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) in 1956–57, and was still a member of its committee in 1962. MCC invited him to manage the English team in Australia in 1962–63. Alec Bedser would be his assistant, so Howard accepted. However, due to the demands of his role as Earl Marshal, he had to return to Britain while the tour was in progress. While he was in Australia, Howard helped with preparations for the 1963 Royal Visit by the Queen. MCC Secretary Billy Griffith replaced him as tour manager. In February 1970, another of Howard's teams went to the West Indies, playing first-class matches against the Windward Islands, Trinidad and Tobago, and Barbados. They also played six non-first-class matches.

Family tree

Titles and honours

thumb|200px|right|Player's [[cigarette card featuring the Earl Marshal in coronation dress.]]

Titles

Earl of Arundel (1908–1917)
His Grace The Duke of Norfolk (1917–1975)

Honours

Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of The Garter (1937)
Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (1946)
Royal Victorian Chain (1953)
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (1968)
Territorial Decoration (1969)
Privy Council of the United Kingdom (1936)
Lord Lieutenant of Sussex (1949–1974)
Deputy Lieutenant of Sussex (1945)
Lord Lieutenant of West Sussex (1974–1975)