HISTORIC DUKEDOM.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 134, 8 June 1929, Page 13 (Supplement)

HISTORIC DUKEDOM.

ENGLAND'S PREMIER PEER.

FAMOUS HOWARD FAMILY.

, With the coming of age recently of the Duke of Norfolk who is the Premier Duke and Earl of England, a gleam from a historic past is shed on the.-life of to-day. The titles of the sixteenth Duke of Norfolk and his family name, Howard,, recall a thousand years ot British history. A youth of 21 is Duke of Norfolk, Earl of Arundel, Surrey and Norfolk, Baron Fitzalan, Clun, Oswaldestre and Maltravers, Earl Marshal and Hereditary Marshal of England, Premier Duke and Premier Earl of England. Besides, he is chief heir to "the blood of all the Howards." The young duke has held his titles since 1917. Being a minor, however, he could not assume legal control of his vast properties, landed and personal. His age would have prevented him, also, from exercising the chief duties of an Earl Marshal, if fate had brought a new king to the throne of England. First among the duties of an Earl Marshal are those pertaining to the direction of a coronation, with all its traditional and colourful ceremonies. The father of the present duke was Earl Marshal at the coronations of King Edward .VII. and King George V. Had the Prince of Wales ascended the throne during the minority of the young duke, his uncle, Viscount Fitzalan, would have officiated as Earl Marshal. According to Burke's Peerage, the "ducal and illustrious Howards" (of whom the Duke of Norfolk is chief) "stand, next to the blood royal, at the head of the peerage of England." It is said that the first Howard (or Hereward) of note lived in the reign of King Edgar, a century before the Norman Conquest. For centuries the Howards have plaj-ed prominent parts in the drama of English history. They have fought in "all wars from the Wars of the Roses to the World War, and have distinguished themselves in the Church, in Statecraft, in art, in literature and in science. They have been Dukes of Norfolk since 1453. Sir Esme Howard, a kinsman of the duke, is now British Ambassador to the United States. The late and fifteenth duke served in the South African War, and was also Postmaster-General of England. By his first marriage he had a son, who bore the courtesy title, of Earl of Arundel and Surrey and who died unmarried. The duke later married the Baroness Herries, holder of__one of the few titles in the British peerage which are heritable in the female line. If she lies before her son, the duke, her title will be merged with those of the dukedom.