William Peel, 3rd Earl Peel facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Right Honourable The Earl Peel GCVO PC DL
2019 parliamentary portrait
Lord Chamberlain of the Household
In office 16 October 2006 – 31 March 2021
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Preceded by	The Lord Luce
Succeeded by	The Lord Parker of Minsmere
Member of the House of Lords
Lord Temporal
as a hereditary peer 15 May 1973 – 11 November 1999
Preceded by	The 2nd Earl Peel
Succeeded by	Seat abolished
Incumbent
as an elected hereditary peer 11 November 1999
Preceded by	Seat established
Personal details
Born	William James Robert Peel (1947-10-03) 3 October 1947 (age 77)
Nationality	British
Political party	Crossbench
Spouses	Veronica Timpson ​ ​ (m. 1973; div. 1987)​ The Hon. Charlotte Soames ​ (m. 1989)​
Children	3
Parent	Arthur Peel, 2nd Earl Peel (father)
Alma mater	University of Tours Royal Agricultural University
Occupation	Businessman, peer and politician
Other titles	4th Viscount Peel 8th Baronet (of Drayton Manor and Bury)

William James Robert Peel, 3rd Earl Peel (born 3 October 1947), also known as Earl Peel, is a British nobleman and politician. He was a member of the House of Lords, which is part of the UK Parliament. From 2006 to 2021, he held an important role in the Royal Household called the Lord Chamberlain.

Early Life and Education

William Peel is the oldest son of Arthur Peel, who was the 2nd Earl Peel. His mother was Kathleen McGrath. He is also the great-great-grandson of Sir Robert Peel, who was a Prime Minister of the United Kingdom a long time ago.

William Peel went to Ampleforth College for his schooling. After that, he studied at the François Rabelais University in France. He also attended the Royal Agricultural University in Cirencester, England.

Career and Public Service

William Peel has had a busy career in public service. From 1993 to 2006, he was a member of the Prince's Council. This council helps manage the Duchy of Cornwall, which is a large estate that provides income for the heir to the British throne. During the same period, he was also the Lord Warden of the Stannaries. This is an old title connected to tin mining in Cornwall.

He also worked to protect nature. He was part of the Nature Conservancy Council (now called Natural England) from 1991 to 1996. He led the Game Conservancy Trust, which works on wildlife conservation, first as Chairman (1994-2000) and then as President (2000-2008). He was also President of the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust from 1989 to 1996.

For six years, William Peel was on the Yorkshire Dales National Park Committee. In 1998, he became a Deputy Lieutenant of North Yorkshire. This is a local role that supports the Lord-Lieutenant, who represents the King or Queen in the county.

Role in the House of Lords

William Peel was a hereditary peer. This means he inherited his title and his right to be in the House of Lords from his family. In 1999, a new law called the House of Lords Act 1999 changed how the House of Lords worked. Most hereditary peers lost their automatic right to be there. However, 92 of them were elected by other peers to stay. William Peel was one of the 42 Conservative hereditary peers who were elected to remain.

From 1973 to 2006, he was a member of the Conservative Party in the House of Lords. But when he was appointed to a special role in the Royal Household in 2006, he became a Crossbencher. This means he sits in the middle of the House of Lords and does not belong to any political party.

Lord Chamberlain of the Household

In 2006, William Peel was chosen to be the Lord Chamberlain of the Household. This is a very important job in the Royal Household. The Lord Chamberlain is the most senior officer and helps manage the Queen's (now King's) household and public events.

On 11 October 2006, he met with Queen Elizabeth II to officially start his new role. At this time, he was also given a special honour: he became a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO). He also became the Chancellor of this Order. A month later, on 14 November 2006, he became a member of the Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council. This is a group of important advisors to the King or Queen.

William Peel was supposed to retire from his role as Lord Chamberlain at the end of 2020. However, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, he stayed on a bit longer while a new person was found. He officially retired on 31 March 2021.

When he left his job on 13 April 2021, he returned his special Wand and Insignia (symbols) of Office. At the same time, he received another high honour, the Royal Victorian Chain.

Family Life

William Peel has been married twice. His first marriage was to Veronica Naomi Livingston Timpson. They had two children, Ashton and Iona. Their marriage ended in 1987.

In 1989, he married Charlotte Clementine Soames. Charlotte is the daughter of Christopher Soames, Baron Soames, and his wife, Mary Churchill. Mary Churchill was the daughter of the famous Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill. William and Charlotte have one daughter, Lady Antonia Peel, who was born in 1991.

Honours

Country	Date	Appointment	Ribbon	Post-nominal letters	Ref
United Kingdom	3 April 1998	Deputy Lieutenant of North Yorkshire		DL
	10 October 2006	Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order		GCVO
	14 November 2006	Member of Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council		PC
	13 April 2021	Recipient of the Royal Victorian Chain
Spain	12 July 2017	Commander of the Order of Isabella the Catholic		CYC

Arms

Coat of 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 (Shown left) 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