The Dukedom of Norfolk was created for the third time in 1483 for Thomas Howard, as a reward for his support of the usurpation of Richard III. This is the oldest non–royal dukedom in the Peerage of England, and thus the most senior.
The 4th Duke, another Thomas Howard, married Mary FitzAlan in 1555. She was the daughter of Henry Fitzalan, 12th Earl of Arundel; he left no male descendants, and on his death in 1580 Thomas and Mary inherited Arundel Castle along with the earldom. In 1842 the 13th Duke of Norfolk added 'Fitzalan' before his children's surnames (but not his own). He died in 1856 and was succeeded by his eldest son, also Henry, the 13th Duke of Norfolk and the first to be known by the surname Fitzalan–Howard.
The current Duke of Norfolk is Edward Fitzalan–Howard, the 18th Duke (born in 1956) who succeeded his father Miles, the 17th Duke, in 2002. He also inherited the post of Earl Marshal, which has been held by the Dukes of Norfolk since 1672, and as such he was responsible for organising the coronation of King Charles III.
© Haydn Thompson 2023