| The Duke of Norfolk | |
|---|---|
| Portrait by Allan Warren | |
| Spouse(s) | Anne Constable-Maxwell |
| Noble family | House of Howard |
| Father | Bernard Fitzalan-Howard, 3rd Baron Howard of Glossop |
| Mother | Mona Stapleton, 11th Baroness Beaumont |
| Born | 21 July 1915 |
| Died | 24 June 2002 (aged 86) |
Major-General Miles Francis Stapleton Fitzalan-Howard, 17th Duke of Norfolk KG, GCVO, CB, CBE, MC, DL, GCPO (21 July 1915 – 24 June 2002), was the eldest son of Bernard Fitzalan-Howard, 3rd Baron Howard of Glossop, and his wife Mona Stapleton, 11th Baroness Beaumont.
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Educated at Ampleforth College and Christ Church, Oxford,[1] Miles Fitzalan-Howard was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Grenadier Guards in 1937.[2] During Second World War, he was awarded the Military Cross for reconnaissance of mined roads. He was at the time on foot and under enemy fire. He was quoted in his obituary in The Independent as saying: "Anyone can be the Duke of Norfolk, but I'm rather proud of that medal."[3]
He was appointed head of the British mission to Russian forces in Germany in 1957 and Commander of 70 Brigade (King's African Rifles and the Kenya Regiment) in 1961 just before Kenyan independence.[2] He went on to be General Officer Commanding 1st Division in 1963, Director of Management and Support Intelligence at the Ministry of Defence in 1965 and Director of Service Intelligence at the Ministry of Defence in 1966 before retiring in 1967.[2]
The Duke inherited the Barony of Beaumont from his mother, the 11th Baroness, in 1971,[1] and the Barony Howard of Glossop from his father, the 3rd Baron, in 1972.[1]
He inherited the Dukedom of Norfolk from his second cousin once removed Bernard Fitzalan-Howard, 16th Duke of Norfolk in 1975[1] and added his mother's maiden name of Stapleton before his own that year. He also inherited the Great Office of Earl Marshal and Hereditary Marshal of England, which is attached to the Dukedom of Norfolk, thereby becoming responsible for State occasions.[1] He became, by virtue of this office, the hereditary judge 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 British Commonwealth of Nations such as Australia.
The Dukes of Norfolk remained Roman Catholic despite the Reformation (see recusancy). The Duke, as senior Roman Catholic peer of the United Kingdom, represented The Queen at the installation of Pope John Paul I and Pope John Paul II and at the funeral of Pope John Paul I.[1]
One of 8 children (all of whose first names started with the letter "M"), the Duke married Anne Mary Teresa Constable-Maxwell in 1949. They had 2 sons and 3 daughters:[1]
The Duke died on 24 June 2002 and is buried at Fitzalan Chapel on the western grounds of Arundel Castle.
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Thomas Pearson |
General Officer Commanding the 1st Division 1963–1965 |
Succeeded by Richard Ward |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by The Duke of Norfolk |
Earl Marshal 1975 – 2002 |
Succeeded by The Duke of Norfolk |
| Peerage of England | ||
| Preceded by Mona Fitzalan-Howard |
Baron Beaumont 1971 – 2002 |
Succeeded by Edward Fitzalan-Howard |
| Preceded by Bernard Marmaduke Fitzalan-Howard |
Duke of Norfolk 1975 – 2002 |
|
| Peerage of the United Kingdom | ||
| Preceded by Bernard Edward Fitzalan-Howard |
Baron Howard of Glossop 1972 – 2002 |
Succeeded by Edward Fitzalan-Howard |
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