1. Overview
Michael John James George Robert Howard, the 21st Earl of Suffolk and 14th Earl of Berkshire (1935-2022), was an English peer who held a seat in the House of Lords from 1956 until 1999. Styled as Viscount Andover until 1941, he inherited his titles at a young age following a tragic event involving his father. Beyond his parliamentary duties, Howard was known for his principal residence, Charlton Park, which hosted numerous royal and notable visitors. He also gained cultural recognition as one of the inspirations for the character Rupert Campbell-Black in Jilly Cooper's popular novels.
2. Life
Michael Howard's early life was marked by his distinguished family background and an unexpected succession to his ancestral titles.
2.1. Birth and Family Background
Michael Howard was born on 27 March 1935. His father was Charles Howard, 20th Earl of Suffolk, and his mother was Mimi Forde Pigott, an actress and ballet dancer from Chicago.
2.2. Early Life and Education
His childhood experiences included a brief period of education at Winchester College, a prestigious public school. However, he left the institution after only a year.
2.3. Succession to Titles
In 1941, at the age of six, Michael Howard succeeded his father as the 21st Earl of Suffolk and 14th Earl of Berkshire. This succession occurred after his father was killed while attempting to defuse a bomb during World War II.
3. Titles and Public Service
As an English peer, Michael Howard held significant roles and responsibilities within the British parliamentary system.
3.1. Member of the House of Lords
Michael Howard served as a member of the House of Lords, the upper chamber of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, from 1956 until 1999. Although he held both the titles of Earl of Suffolk and Earl of Berkshire, he typically signed his name using 'Suffolk', which was his most senior title.
4. Personal Life
Michael Howard's private life included three marriages, through which he had several children.
4.1. Marriages and Children
He was married three times throughout his life:
- His first marriage was on 1 October 1960, to Simone Litman. They had one daughter:
- Lady Lucinda Howard (born 26 March 1961, died 21 December 1962)
- On 22 September 1973, he married Anita Fugelsang. From this union, they had two children:
- Alexander Charles Michael Winston Robsahm Howard, 22nd Earl of Suffolk (born 17 September 1974). He later married Victoria Hamilton, divorcing in 2018.
- Lady Katharine Emma Frances Robsahm Howard (born 1976). She married William Rogers.
After their divorce, Anita Fugelsang later married Charles Stanhope, 12th Earl of Harrington.
- His third marriage took place on 15 December 1983, to Linda Jacqueline Paravicini. She had previously been married to Alexander Hood, 4th Viscount Bridport. Michael Howard and Linda Jacqueline Paravicini had two daughters:
- Lady Philippa Mimi Jacqueline Henrietta Howard (born 1985). She married Archie Lord in 2017.
- Lady Natasha Rose Catherine Linda Howard (born 1987). She married Charles Quick in March 2022.
5. Residence and Cultural Impact
Michael Howard's principal residence, Charlton Park, was a notable estate, and his personal life also influenced popular culture.
5.1. Charlton Park
The Earl of Suffolk resided at Charlton Park in Wiltshire, England. The estate was widely known in England as "Suffolk House," serving as the family's ancestral home.
5.2. Royal and Notable Visits
Charlton Park frequently hosted members of the British Royal Family and other international dignitaries.
British Royal visitors included:
- Elizabeth II
- Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
- Charles III (then Prince of Wales)
- Diana, Princess of Wales
- William, Prince of Wales (then Prince William)
- Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex (then Prince Henry)
- Prince Andrew, Duke of York
- Sarah, Duchess of York
- Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh (then Earl of Wessex)
- Prince Edward, Duke of Kent
- Katharine, Duchess of Kent
- Prince Michael of Kent
- Princess Michael of Kent
- Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy
International royal visitors to Charlton Park included:
- Frederick IX of Denmark and Ingrid of Sweden (1949)
- Baudouin of Belgium (1956)
- Haakon VII of Norway (1952)
- Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden and Queen Silvia of Sweden (1976)
- Harald V of Norway and Queen Sonja of Norway (1983)
- Albert II of Belgium and Queen Paola of Belgium (1983)
- Beatrix of the Netherlands and Prince Claus of the Netherlands (1977, 1985, 1992)
- Margrethe II of Denmark and Henrik, Prince Consort of Denmark (1996)
Thai royal visitors to Charlton Park included four members of the Thai Royal Family:
- Damrong Rajanubhab (1909)
- Yukol Thikamphorn (1915)
- Princess Chulabhorn Walailak (1993, 1997, 1999, 2003, 2009, 2014)
- Princess Soamsawali (1999, 2005)
5.3. Inspiration for Jilly Cooper Character
The writer Jilly Cooper revealed that Michael Howard was one of the inspirations for her well-known literary character, Rupert Campbell-Black. This character is a prominent figure in Cooper's popular "Rutshire Chronicles" series of novels.
6. Family Tree
The following table traces the direct lineage of the Earls of Suffolk and Berkshire, including Michael Howard's ancestry and succession.
| Earl | Years Held | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Earls of Suffolk (4th Creation, 1603) and Earls of Berkshire (2nd Creation, 1626) | ||
| Thomas Howard, 1st Earl of Suffolk | 1603-1626 | |
| Theophilus Howard, 2nd Earl of Suffolk | 1626-1640 | Son of the 1st Earl |
| James Howard, 3rd Earl of Suffolk | 1640-1689 | Son of the 2nd Earl |
| George Howard, 4th Earl of Suffolk | 1689-1691 | Brother of the 3rd Earl |
| Henry Howard, 5th Earl of Suffolk | 1691-1709 | Brother of the 4th Earl |
| Henry Howard, 6th Earl of Suffolk and 1st Earl of Bindon | 1709-1718 | Grandson of the 5th Earl; also 1st Earl of Bindon |
| Charles Howard, 7th Earl of Suffolk and 2nd Earl of Bindon | 1718-1722 | Son of the 6th Earl |
| Edward Howard, 8th Earl of Suffolk | 1722-1731 | Uncle of the 7th Earl |
| Charles Howard, 9th Earl of Suffolk | 1731-1733 | Brother of the 8th Earl |
| Henry Howard, 10th Earl of Suffolk | 1733-1745 | Son of the 9th Earl |
| Henry Bowes Howard, 11th Earl of Suffolk and 4th Earl of Berkshire | 1745-1757 | Great-grandson of the 1st Earl of Berkshire; titles united |
| Henry Howard, 12th Earl of Suffolk and 5th Earl of Berkshire | 1757-1779 | Grandson of the 11th Earl |
| Henry Howard, 13th Earl of Suffolk and 6th Earl of Berkshire | 1779-1779 | Son of the 12th Earl; died in infancy |
| Thomas Howard, 14th Earl of Suffolk and 7th Earl of Berkshire | 1779-1783 | Great-grandson of the 5th Earl |
| John Howard, 15th Earl of Suffolk and 8th Earl of Berkshire | 1783-1820 | Cousin of the 14th Earl |
| Thomas Howard, 16th Earl of Suffolk and 9th Earl of Berkshire | 1820-1851 | Grandson of the 15th Earl |
| Charles Howard, 17th Earl of Suffolk and 10th Earl of Berkshire | 1851-1876 | Son of the 16th Earl |
| Henry Howard, 18th Earl of Suffolk and 11th Earl of Berkshire | 1876-1898 | Son of the 17th Earl |
| Henry Howard, 19th Earl of Suffolk and 12th Earl of Berkshire | 1898-1917 | Son of the 18th Earl |
| Charles Howard, 20th Earl of Suffolk and 13th Earl of Berkshire | 1917-1941 | Son of the 19th Earl |
| Michael Howard, 21st Earl of Suffolk and 14th Earl of Berkshire | 1941-2022 | Son of the 20th Earl |
| Alexander Howard, 22nd Earl of Suffolk and 15th Earl of Berkshire | 2022-present | Son of the 21st Earl |
7. Death
Michael Howard's life concluded in 2022.
7.1. Passing
Michael Howard, the 21st Earl of Suffolk and 14th Earl of Berkshire, died on 5 August 2022, at the age of 87.