The dukedom of Norfolk was created for the third time by King Richard III for John Howard, his close friend and loyal supporter. Howard was the grandson of Thomas Mowbray, the first Duke of Norfolk, who was the great–great–grandson of Edward I. Mowbray inherited the title of Earl of Norfolk, and was created a duke by Richard II.
Norfolk is ranked below the dukedoms of Lancaster and Cornwall; but as these are afforded respectively to the sovereign and the heir apparent, the Duke of Norfolk is (in the words of Wikipedia) "considered the Premier Duke of England. The Premier Duke of Scotland is the Duke of Hamilton and Brandon. The Premier Duke of Ireland is the Duke of Leinster."
© Haydn Thompson 2021