William Peel, 3rd Earl Peel

The Right Honourable The Earl Peel GCVO PC DL
Lord Chamberlain
Incumbent
Assumed office October 2006
Personal details
Born	(1947-10-03) 3 October 1947
Nationality	British
Spouse(s)	Veronica Timpson (1973–1987) The Hon. Charlotte Soames (1989–)
Children	Ashton Peel, Viscount Clanfield Lady Iona Bowen Lady Antonia Peel
Alma mater	University of Tours
Occupation	Peer and businessman
Religion	Church of England

William James Robert Peel, 3rd Earl Peel, GCVO, PC, DL, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , (born 3 October 1947), styled Viscount Clanfield until 1969, has been a cross-bench (non-party) member of the House of Lords since 15 May 1973 and Lord Chamberlain of the Royal Household since 2006.

Background and education

Lord Peel is the eldest son of Arthur Peel, 2nd Earl Peel, and Kathleen McGrath, daughter of Michael McGrath. He is a great-great-grandson of Prime Minister Sir Robert Peel. He attended Ampleforth College, and then went on to the University of Tours in France and the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester.

Career

Lord Peel was a member of the Prince's Council, part of the Duchy of Cornwall, from 1993 to 2006, and Lord Warden of the Stannaries from 1994–2006. He was a member of the Nature Conservancy Council, with English Nature, from 1991 to 1996. He is President of the Game Conservancy Trust and was President of the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust from 1989 to 1996. Lord Peel was also on the Yorkshire Dales National Park Committee for six years and became a Deputy Lieutenant of North Yorkshire in 1998. He is an elected hereditary crossbench member of the House of Lords.

In June 2006 it was announced that Lord Peel would succeed Lord Luce as Lord Chamberlain. On 11 October 2006, he kissed hands with The Queen upon his appointment and was invested as a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO), and became Chancellor of the Order. On 14 November 2006, Lord Peel was sworn in as a Member of the Privy Council.

Family

Lord Peel married Veronica Naomi Livingston Timpson (born 21 January 1950). They had two children, Ashton Robert Gerard Peel, Viscount Clanfield (born 16 September 1976), and Lady Iona Joy Julia Peel (born 18 September 1978). The marriage was dissolved in 1987.

He married, secondly, the Honourable Charlotte Clementine Soames (born 17 July 1954), daughter of Lord Soames and his wife, Mary Churchill, daughter of Sir Winston Churchill, on 15 April 1989. They have one daughter, Lady Antonia Mary Catherine Peel (born 1991).

Lord Peel's son, Lord Clanfield, married Matilda Rose Aykroyd (born 15 March 1978) in 2004. Matilda is the third daughter and fourth (and youngest) child of second Lieutenant of the Coldstream Guards David Peter Aykroyd (born 6 June 1937) and his wife Lydia Huldine Beamish (18 January 1939 – 9 July 2004). Lord and Lady Clanfield have three daughters and one son. Lord Peel's daughter by his first wife, Lady Iona Peel, married Robert Alexander Edward Bowen on 14 May 2005.

Titles and styles

• Viscount Clanfield (1947–1969)
• The Rt Hon. The Earl Peel (1969–1998)
• The Rt Hon. The Earl Peel DL (1998–2006)
• The Rt Hon. The Earl Peel GCVO DL (2006)
• The Rt Hon. The Earl Peel GCVO PC DL (2006–)

Arms

Arms of William Peel, 3rd Earl Peel

Coronet A Coronet of an Earl Crest A Demi Lion rampant Argent, gorged with a Collar Azure charged with three Bezants, holding between the paws a Shuttle Or Escutcheon Argent three Sheaves of as many Arrows proper, two and one banded Gules, on a Chief Azure a Bee volant Or, a Martlet Gules for difference Supporters On the dexter side a Lion reguardant Argent, and on the sinister side a Gryphon reguardant Or, each gorged with a Chain of the last, pendent therefrom an Escutcheon Azure, charged with a Mace erect, also Or Motto Industria

External links

• The Lord Chamberlain - Royal Household official website
• Appointment of Lord Peel as Lord Chamberlain
• DodOnline Biography
• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by William Peel, 3rd Earl Peel

Court offices
Preceded by The Lord Ashburton	Lord Warden of the Stannaries 1994–2006	Succeeded by Sir Nicholas Bacon, Bt
Preceded by The Lord Luce	Lord Chamberlain 2006–present	Incumbent
Peerage of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Arthur Peel	Earl Peel 1969–present	Incumbent Heir apparent: Ashton Peel
Order of precedence in England and Wales
Preceded by The Earl of Dalhousie (The Lord Steward of the Household)	Gentlemen The Lord Chamberlain of the Household	Succeeded by The Lord Vestey (The Master of the Horse)