11th Duke of Beaufort 1928-2017

_. The 11th Duke of Beaufort died at his home at Badminton House, Gloucestershire, 16 August, 2017. He was aged 89.

David Robert Somerset was born 23 February, 1928, son of Capt Henry Robert Somers Fitzroy de Vere Somerset, DSO (1898-1965), by his wife the former Bettine Margaret Malcolm (who d 1973). He was a sixth cousin of Queen Elizabeth II in their descent from the 3rd Duke of Devonshire.

David Somerset was President of the British Horse Society between 1988 and 1990 and was chairman of Marlborough Fine Art. He ranked as 581st in the 2008 Sunday Times Rich List, with an estimated wealth of £135m in land.

He succeeded his to the dukedom on the demise of his second cousin, the 10th Duke, 5 February, 1984, and inherited the magnificent Badminton House, home of the annual Badminton Horse Trials.

The 11th Duke married firstly, 5 July, 1950, Lady Caroline Jane Thynne (d 22 Apr, 1995), daughter of the 6th Marquess of Bath; married 2ndly, 2 June, 2000, Miranda Elizabeth Morley, dau of Brig Michael Frederick Morley, MBE.

The duke is survived by his second wife and four children from his first marriage, three sons and a daughter. The dukedom now passes to His Grace's eldest son, Henry John Fitzroy Somerset, styled Marquess of Worcester, who was born 22 May, 1952.

The funeral took place on the Badminton estate, on Friday 25 August, 2017. TRH The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall were present, and HRH The Princess Royal was represented by Brig Andrew Parker Bowles.

-=-