The UK has witnessed major royal milestones in the past year, with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and her funeral only a few months later.
Both occasions drew millions of viewers around the world, while thousands of Brits lined the streets.
Now, the coronation of King Charles III is only weeks away.
But who is responsible for arranging these royal events?
Although hundreds of people will be involved in some way, one person who oversees the festivities is the Earl Marshal.
What is the Earl Marshal’s role?
The Earl Marshal is a title typically held by the highest-ranking Duke in the country. The title was created in 1672.
The role involves overseeing major ceremonial occasions, such as the Platinum Jubilee, the Queen’s funeral, and now, the King’s coronation.
The Earl Marshal also oversees the state opening of Parliament and supervises the College of Arms. This is a royal corporation consisting of professional officers of arms, with jurisdiction over England, Wales, Northern Ireland and some Commonwealth realms
Who is the Earl Marshal?
The Earl Marshal is Edward Fitzalan-Howard, 66. He is the 18th Duke of Norfolk, a title he inherited when his father died in 2002. He has five children.
Mr Fitzalan-Howard studied at the University of Oxford, after being privately educated at a boarding school in North Yorkshire.
The most senior lay member of the Catholic church, and the most senior peer, Mr Fitzalan-Howard is reportedly worth more than £100 million, according to the Telegraph.
The Fitzalan-Howard family is one of Britain’s oldest aristocratic families, and can be traced back to Edward I. Their seat is Arundel Castle in West Sussex, which has been in the family for more than 850 years.
His grandfather was responsible for organising the Queen’s coronation in 1953 and Sir Winston Churchill’s funeral in 1965.
Mr Fitzalan-Howard’s brother, Lord Gerald Fitzalan-Howard, appeared on the ITV reality show Keeping Up with the Aristocrats.
Their sister, Lady Marcia Fitzalan-Howard, is an actress who has appeared in The New Statesman and Midsomer Murders, among other things.
