Earl Marshal facts for kids
The Earl Marshal is a very important person in the British Royal Household. Think of the Royal Household as the team that helps the King or Queen with their official duties. The Earl Marshal's main job is to plan and organize big royal events. This includes things like coronations (when a new King or Queen is crowned), state funerals, and the opening of Parliament.
The Earl Marshal also has a special role with the College of Arms. This College is like a special office that designs and gives out coat of arms to families and organizations. A coat of arms is a unique design, like a family badge. Even though the Earl Marshal isn't part of the College of Arms, they must give their approval before any new coat of arms can be officially given out.
This important job is always held by the Duke of Norfolk. Because the Duke of Norfolk is the Earl Marshal, they automatically get a seat in the House of Lords. The House of Lords is one of the two parts of the British Parliament, where laws are discussed. Usually, people in the House of Lords are chosen in different ways, but the Earl Marshal gets a seat just because of their special role.
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What Does the Earl Marshal Do?
The Earl Marshal has a long history of organizing grand royal events. They are responsible for making sure everything runs smoothly and looks impressive.
Planning Royal Ceremonies
The Earl Marshal leads the planning for many important national events. These include:
- Coronations: The ceremony where a new monarch is crowned. This is a very old tradition with many specific steps.
- State Funerals: Funerals for monarchs or other very important national figures. These are often large public events.
- State Openings of Parliament: This is when the King or Queen officially opens a new session of Parliament. It involves a grand procession.
The Earl Marshal makes sure all the details are perfect. This includes the routes of processions, who stands where, and what everyone wears.
Role with Coats of Arms
The Earl Marshal also plays a key part in the world of heraldry. Heraldry is the study and design of coats of arms.
- Approving New Designs: The College of Arms creates and grants new coats of arms. But they need the Earl Marshal's permission before they can make them official. This shows how important the Earl Marshal's position is in maintaining traditions.
- Protecting Heraldic Rules: The Earl Marshal helps to make sure that the rules for creating and using coats of arms are followed. This keeps the system fair and orderly.
Who is the Earl Marshal?
The role of Earl Marshal has been held by the same family for a very long time.
The Duke of Norfolk's Special Role
The position of Earl Marshal is always held by the Duke of Norfolk. This means it's a hereditary role, passed down through the family. The current Duke of Norfolk inherits this special duty.
- A Seat in Parliament: Because the Duke of Norfolk is the Earl Marshal, they get a special place in the House of Lords. This is different from most other members. They don't need to be elected by other hereditary peers (people who inherit their titles). This shows the unique importance of the Earl Marshal's job.
History of the Earl Marshal
The role of Earl Marshal has existed for many centuries. It dates back to medieval times.
Early Beginnings
The job started out as the "Marshal of England." In early times, the Marshal was in charge of the monarch's horses and military arrangements. Over time, the role changed. It became more focused on organizing ceremonies and less about military duties.
Becoming Hereditary
The title became hereditary in the 12th century. It was first held by the Marshal family. Later, it passed to the Bigod family, and then eventually to the Howard family, who are the Dukes of Norfolk today. This long history shows how important this role has been in British traditions.
Images for kids
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This picture shows the coat of arms of William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke. He was an early holder of the Marshal title.
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This image shows the arms of "Bigod Modern." These arms were adopted by Roger Bigod, 5th Earl of Norfolk, after he inherited the office of Marshal of England.
See also
In Spanish: Conde mariscal para niños
