Duke of Beaufort

For the French title, see Duke of Beaufort (France).
Dukedom of Beaufort
Creation date 2 December 1682
Created by King Charles II
Peerage Peerage of England
First holder Henry Somerset, 3rd Marquess of Worcester
Present holder David Somerset, 11th Duke
Heir apparent Henry Somerset, Marquess of Worcester
Remainder to the 1st Duke's heirs male of the body lawfully begotten
Subsidiary titles Marquess of Worcester

Earl of Worcester

Duke of Beaufort is a title in the Peerage of England. It was created by Charles II in 1682 for Henry Somerset, 3rd Marquess of Worcester, a descendant of Charles Somerset, 1st Earl of Worcester, illegitimate son of Henry Beaufort, 3rd Duke of Somerset, a Lancastrian leader in the Wars of the Roses. The name Beaufort refers to a castle in Champagne, France (now Montmorency-Beaufort). It is the only current Dukedom to take its name from a place outside the British Isles.

They are descendants in the male line from the House of Plantagenet through John of Gaunt and Edward III. Beaufort Castle was a possession of John of Gaunt, and the surname Beaufort was given to Gaunt's four illegitimate (later legitimated) children by his mistress and third wife, Katherine Swynford.

The Duke of Beaufort holds two subsidiary titles: Marquess of Worcester (created 1642) and Earl of Worcester (1514). The title Marquess of Worcester is used as a courtesy title by the Duke's eldest son and heir. The title Earl of Glamorgan is used by the eldest son of the heir-apparent to the Dukedom. The Earl of Glamorgan's eldest son is known as Viscount Grosmont. The Earldom of Glamorgan and Viscountcy of Grosmont derive from an irregular creation by Charles I in favour of Edward Somerset in 1644, who later succeeded his father as 2nd Marquess of Worcester. Although the Earldom of Glamorgan and Viscountcy of Grosmont were not recognised as substantive titles at the restoration of Charles II, because of irregularities in the patent of creation, they have nevertheless continued to be used as convenient courtesy titles in order to distinguish the bearer from the Marquess of Worcester as heir apparent, the Earldom of Worcester not being distinctive enough for this purpose. All subsidiary titles are in the Peerage of England.

Field Marshal The Lord Raglan, born Lord FitzRoy Somerset, was the youngest son of the 5th Duke.

The family seat was once Raglan Castle, Monmouthshire but is now Badminton House near Chipping Sodbury in Gloucestershire.

Contents

Coat of arms

The heraldic blazon for the coat of arms of the dukedom is: Quarterly, 1st and 4th, azure three fleurs-de-lys or (for France); 2nd and 3rd, gules three lions passant guardant in pale or (for England), all within a bordure company argent and azure. This can be translated as: a shield divided into quarters, the top left and bottom right blue with three golden fleurs-de-lis (for France), and the top right and bottom left red with three golden lions passant with their faces toward the viewer, one above the other (for England). A border around the shield of segments alternating blue and white.

Earls of Worcester (1514)

For previous creations of the same title, see Earl of Worcester.
Other titles (2nd onwards): Baron Herbert (1461)

Marquesses of Worcester (1642)

Other titles: Earl of Worcester (1514) and Baron Herbert (1461)
  • Henry Somerset, Lord Herbert (b. bef. 1660), eldest son of the 3rd Marquess, died in infancy

Dukes of Beaufort (1682)

Other titles: Marquesses of Worcester (1642) and Earl of Worcester (1514)
Other titles (1st–10th Dukes): Baron Herbert (1461)
  • Henry Somerset, Lord Herbert (b. before 1660), eldest son of the 1st Duke, died in infancy
  • Charles Somerset, Marquess of Worcester (1660–1698), second son of the 1st Duke, predeceased his father
Other titles (5th–10th Dukes): Baron Botetourt (1305; abeyance ended 1803)

Heir-apparent: Henry Somerset, Marquess of Worcester (b. 1952), eldest son of the 11th Duke

Lord Worcester's heir-apparent: Robert Somerset, Earl of Glamorgan (b. 1989), his eldest son

Family tree

¨ ¨ ¨

 
 
 
 
 
 
 Henry Somerset,
1st Duke of Beaufort
1629–1700
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Charles Somerset,
Marquess of Worcester
1660–1698
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Henry Somerset,
2nd Duke of Beaufort
1684–1714
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Henry Somerset,
3rd Duke of Beaufort
1707–1745
 
 Charles Somerset,
4th Duke of Beaufort
1709–1756
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Henry Somerset,
5th Duke of Beaufort
1744–1803
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Henry Somerset,
6th Duke of Beaufort
1766–1835
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Henry Somerset,
7th Duke of Beaufort
1792–1853
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Henry Somerset,
8th Duke of Beaufort
1824–1899
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Henry Somerset,
9th Duke of Beaufort
1847–1924
 
 Rt. Hon. Lord Henry Somerset
1849–1932
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Henry Somerset,
10th Duke of Beaufort
1900–1984
 
 Henry Somerset
1874–1945
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Capt. Henry Somerset
1898-1965
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 David Somerset,
11th Duke of Beaufort
b. 1928
 

External links

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* Extant dukedoms, listed by precedence, from highest to lowest