Lavinia Fitzalan-Howard, Duchess of Norfolk

Lavinia Fitzalan-Howard
The Duchess of Norfolk, 1939
Born	22 March 1916 Kingston Hall, Nottinghamshire
Died	10 December 1995 (aged 79) Arundel Castle, West Sussex

Lavinia Mary Fitzalan-Howard, Duchess of Norfolk LG CBE (22 March 1916 – 10 December 1995) was a British noblewoman.

Life

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:

• Lady Anne Elizabeth, later Anne Cowdrey, 14th Lady Herries of Terregles (1938–2014), married Colin Cowdrey
• Lady Mary Katherine, later Mary Mumford, 15th Lady Herries of Terregles (b. 1940), married Anthony Mumford
• Lady Sarah Margaret (1941–2015), married Nigel Clutton
• Theresa Jane, Marchioness of Lothian (b. 1945), married Michael Kerr, 13th Marquess of Lothian

At the Coronation of George VI in 1937, the Duchess of Norfolk was one of four duchesses who held the canopy above the Queen Elizabeth during the latter's anointing. In 1953, she took the part of Queen Elizabeth II during dress rehearsals for the Coronation at Westminster Abbey. The Duke of Norfolk was hereditary Earl Marshal, and organised both coronations as well as important state events in later years.

Charities

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.

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.

Sport

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. It played on in the Duchess' name after the Duke's death in 1975, reverting to its original name after her own death in 1995.

The Duchess was an owner of racehorses: her best winners included Moon Madness (St Leger Stakes), Sheriff's Star (Coronation Cup) and Lucky Moon (Goodwood Cup).

Ancestry

Ancestors of Lavinia Fitzalan-Howard, Duchess of Norfolk

16. William Strutt               8. Edward Strutt, 1st Baron Belper                       17. Barbara Evans               4. Henry Strutt, 2nd Baron Belper                             18. William Otter               9. Amelia Otter                       19. Nancy Bruere               2. Algernon Strutt, 3rd Baron Belper                                   20. Thomas Coke, 1st Earl of Leicester               10. Thomas Coke, 2nd Earl of Leicester                       21. Lady Anne Keppel               5. Lady Margaret Coke                             22. Samuel Whitbread               11. Juliana Whitbread                       23. The Hon. Julia Trevor               1. Lavinia Strutt                                         24. John Bruce               12. Henry Bruce, 1st Baron Aberdare                       25. Sarah Austin               6. Henry Bruce, 2nd Baron Aberdare                             26. Richard Beadon               13. Annabella Beadon                       27. Annabella à Court               3. The Hon. Eva Bruce                                   28. Henry Beckett               14. Hamilton Beckett                       29. Mary Lyle               7. Contance Beckett                             30. John Copley, 1st Baron Lyndhurst               15. The Hon. Sophia Copley                       31. Sarah Brunsden

External links

• Entry at ThePeerage.com
• Pedigree at Genealogics.org