Lavinia Fitzalan-Howard, Duchess of Norfolk
Encyclopedia
Lavinia Mary Fitzalan-Howard, Duchess of Norfolk LG
CBE
(22 March 1916, Kingston Hall, Nottinghamshire
–10 December 1995, Arundel Castle
, West Sussex
) was a British
peeress.
Born Lavinia Mary Strutt, she was the only daughter of Algernon Strutt, 3rd Baron Belper
and his wife, Eva
and was educated at Abbot's Hill School
. On 27 January 1937, she married Bernard Fitzalan-Howard, 16th Duke of Norfolk
(but did not convert to Roman Catholicism, her husband's religion) and they had four daughters, only one (the youngest) of whom has children:
At the coronation
in 1937, Fitzalan-Howard was one of four duchesses who held the canopy above the Queen
during the latter's anointing
and took the part of the Queen during the rehearsals of the coronation in 1953 at Westminster Abbey
.
The Duchess was involved with many charities and was appointed a CBE
in 1971 for her work. Among firsts for women, she was the first woman Lord Lieutenant
as Lord Lieutenant of West Sussex
from 1975 (a post she took over from her husband after his death that year), first woman steward of Goodwood
from 1975 and the first non-royal Lady Companion of the Order of the Garter
. For many years, the traditional curtain-raiser to the English international cricket
season was a match between Lavinia, Duchess of Norfolk's XI
and the visitors, played at Arundel Castle
.
The Duchess was the Princess Anne
's predecessor in the presidency of the Riding for the Disabled Association
. The presidency passed from the Duchess to the Princess in 1986.
Order of the Garter
The Most Noble Order of the Garter, founded in 1348, is the highest order of chivalry, or knighthood, existing in England. The order is dedicated to the image and arms of St...
CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(22 March 1916, Kingston Hall, Nottinghamshire
Kingston Hall, Nottinghamshire
Kingston Hall is a country house in Kingston on Soar, Nottinghamshire.It was built between 1842 and 1846 to designs by the architect Edward Blore for Edward Strutt, 1st Baron Belper...
–10 December 1995, Arundel Castle
Arundel Castle
Arundel Castle in Arundel, West Sussex, England is a restored medieval castle. It was founded by Roger de Montgomery on Christmas Day 1067. Roger became the first to hold the earldom of Arundel by the graces of William the Conqueror...
, West Sussex
West Sussex
West Sussex is a county in the south of England, bordering onto East Sussex , Hampshire and Surrey. The county of Sussex has been divided into East and West since the 12th century, and obtained separate county councils in 1888, but it remained a single ceremonial county until 1974 and the coming...
) was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
peeress.
Born Lavinia Mary Strutt, she was the only daughter of Algernon Strutt, 3rd Baron Belper
Algernon Strutt, 3rd Baron Belper
Algernon Henry Strutt was 3rd Baron Belper from 1914 to 1956.He entered the British Army in August 1908 and gained the rank of Lieutenant in the service of the 2nd Life Guards...
and his wife, Eva
Eva Primrose, Countess of Rosebery
Dame Eva Isabel Marion Primrose, Countess of Rosebery was the daughter of Henry Bruce, 2nd Baron Aberdare and his wife, Constance.-First marriage:...
and was educated at Abbot's Hill School
Abbot's Hill School
Abbot's Hill School is an independent girls' school in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire in the United Kingdom.-Abbot's Hill House:It had been the home of John Dickinson who was his own architect in its building, just east of his paper mill, Nash Mills. Construction was commenced in 1836...
. On 27 January 1937, she married Bernard Fitzalan-Howard, 16th Duke of Norfolk
Bernard Fitzalan-Howard, 16th Duke of Norfolk
Bernard Marmaduke Fitzalan-Howard, 16th Duke of Norfolk, , styled Earl of Arundel and Surrey until 1917, was the eldest surviving son of Henry Fitzalan-Howard, 15th Duke of Norfolk, who died when Bernard was only 9 years old...
(but did not convert to Roman Catholicism, her husband's religion) and they had four daughters, only one (the youngest) of whom has children:
- Lady Anne Elizabeth, later 14th Lady Herries of Terregles (b. 1938), married Colin CowdreyColin CowdreyMichael Colin Cowdrey, Baron Cowdrey of Tonbridge, CBE , better known as Colin Cowdrey, was the Captain of Oxford University, Kent County Cricket Club and the England cricket team in a career that lasted from 1950 to 1976...
. - Lady Mary Katherine (b. 1940), married Anthony Mumford.
- Lady Sarah Margaret (b. 1941), married Nigel CluttonNigel CluttonNigel Clutton is a former English footballer who played as a forward. He made a professional appearance for his hometown club, Chester....
. - Theresa Jane, Marchioness of LothianMichael AncramMichael Andrew Foster Jude Kerr, 13th Marquess of Lothian, PC, QC , known as Michael Ancram, is a United Kingdom Conservative Party politician. He is a member of the House of Lords, former Member of Parliament, and a former member of the Shadow Cabinet...
(b. 1945), married Michael Kerr, 13th Marquess of LothianMichael AncramMichael Andrew Foster Jude Kerr, 13th Marquess of Lothian, PC, QC , known as Michael Ancram, is a United Kingdom Conservative Party politician. He is a member of the House of Lords, former Member of Parliament, and a former member of the Shadow Cabinet...
.
At the coronation
Coronation of the British monarch
The coronation of the British monarch is a ceremony in which the monarch of the United Kingdom is formally crowned and invested with regalia...
in 1937, Fitzalan-Howard was one of four duchesses who held the canopy above the Queen
Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon
Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon was the queen consort of King George VI from 1936 until her husband's death in 1952, after which she was known as Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, to avoid confusion with her daughter, Queen Elizabeth II...
during the latter's anointing
Anointing
To anoint is to pour or smear with perfumed oil, milk, water, melted butter or other substances, a process employed ritually by many religions. People and things are anointed to symbolize the introduction of a sacramental or divine influence, a holy emanation, spirit, power or God...
and took the part of the Queen during the rehearsals of the coronation in 1953 at Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey
The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English,...
.
The Duchess was involved with many charities and was appointed a CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in 1971 for her work. Among firsts for women, she was the first woman Lord Lieutenant
Lord Lieutenant
The title Lord Lieutenant is given to the British monarch's personal representatives in the United Kingdom, usually in a county or similar circumscription, with varying tasks throughout history. Usually a retired local notable, senior military officer, peer or business person is given the post...
as Lord Lieutenant of West Sussex
Lord Lieutenant of West Sussex
This is a complete list of people who have served as Lord Lieutenant of West Sussex since the creation of the office and the county on 1 April 1974:...
from 1975 (a post she took over from her husband after his death that year), first woman steward of Goodwood
Goodwood Racecourse
Goodwood Racecourse is a horse-racing track five miles north of Chichester, West Sussex, in England controlled by the family of the Duke of Richmond, whose seat is nearby Goodwood House...
from 1975 and the first non-royal Lady Companion of the Order of the Garter
Order of the Garter
The Most Noble Order of the Garter, founded in 1348, is the highest order of chivalry, or knighthood, existing in England. The order is dedicated to the image and arms of St...
. For many years, the traditional curtain-raiser to the English international cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
season was a match between Lavinia, Duchess of Norfolk's XI
Duke of Norfolk's XI
The Duke of Norfolk's XI is a scratch cricket team. It was originally named for the 16th Duke, but following his death in 1975 the team played on in his widow's name as Lavinia, Duchess of Norfolk's XI...
and the visitors, played at Arundel Castle
Arundel Castle
Arundel Castle in Arundel, West Sussex, England is a restored medieval castle. It was founded by Roger de Montgomery on Christmas Day 1067. Roger became the first to hold the earldom of Arundel by the graces of William the Conqueror...
.
The Duchess was the Princess Anne
Anne, Princess Royal
Princess Anne, Princess Royal , is the only daughter of Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh...
's predecessor in the presidency of the Riding for the Disabled Association
Riding for the Disabled Association
The Riding for the Disabled Association, also known as the RDA is an United Kingdom based charity focused on providing horse-riding and carriage driving lessons to people with both developmental and physical disabilities....
. The presidency passed from the Duchess to the Princess in 1986.