Michael Howard, 21st Earl of Suffolk

Michael John James George Robert Howard, 21st Earl of Suffolk & 14th Earl of Berkshire (27 March 1935 – 5 August 2022), styled Viscount Andover until 1941, was an English peer, a member of the House of Lords from 1956 to 1999.

Life Michael Howard was born on 27 March 1935, the son of Charles Howard, 20th Earl of Suffolk, and actress and ballet dancer Mimi Forde Pigott.

He succeeded his father in 1941, when his father was killed by a bomb he was attempting to defuse.

He was briefly educated at Winchester College, but left after a year before attending the prestigious Le Rosey school in Switzerland.

After his death, the writer Jilly Cooper revealed that Suffolk had been one of the inspirations for her best-known literary creation, Rupert Campbell-Black. He married, firstly, on 1 October 1960, Simone Litman, by whom he had one daughter: Lady Lucinda Howard (26 March 1961 – 21 December 1962)

On 22 September 1973, Suffolk married Anita Fuglesang (who later married Charles Stanhope, 12th Earl of Harrington), with whom he had two children: Alexander Charles Michael Winston Robsahm Howard, 22nd Earl of Suffolk (b. 17 September 1974); married Victoria Hamilton (divorced 2018) Lady Katharine Emma Frances Robsahm Howard (b. 1976) married William Rogers

On 15 December 1983, Suffolk married the former Linda Jacqueline Paravicini (married, firstly, Alexander Hood, 4th Viscount Bridport), with whom he had two children: Lady Philippa Mimi Jacqueline Henrietta Howard (b. 1985) married Archie Lord in 2017. Lady Natasha Rose Catherine Linda Howard (b. 1987). married Charles Quick in March 2022.

The Earl of Suffolk lived at Charlton Park, Wiltshire. He was also 14th Earl of Berkshire, but signed in the name of 'Suffolk', his most senior title. He died on 5 August 2022, at the age of 87.

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