On Monday, Edward Fitzalan-Howard — also known as the Earl Marshal, the Duke of Norfolk — conceded in a London court to using his phone while driving this spring. The subject, 65, was driving in the Battersea area of the city on April 7 when he ran a red light in his BMW, ITV News revealed.
Pulled over by police, the Duke told officers he had “not known about going through the red light yet accepted this was because he was using his cell phone,” the power source said, adding that he had been using the gadget to speak to his significant other.
The handheld utilization of a PDA while driving is against the law in the Unified Kingdom.
ITV News announced that the Duke of Norfolk attempted to avoid the ban by making the case that he would endure “exceptional hardship” without his permit, as he is tasked with planning the upcoming coronation for King Charles III. A date has not yet been announced for Charles’ crowning ceremony.
The Duke of Norfolk also planned Sovereign Elizabeth’s state funeral, which occurred last Monday.
After hearing his statement, Lavender Slope Magistrates’ Court ultimately added six points to the Duke’s permit and banned him from driving for six months, the BBC announced.
“We accept that this a special case because of the defendant’s role in the public eye and in particular in relation to the King’s coronation,” said Judith Way, magistrate chair.
“The hardship should be exceptional and although we find inconvenience may be caused, we don’t find it exceptional hardship.” The Duke of Norfolk has also been fined about $850 and should pay another $425 in other expenses.
The subject inherited the remarkable dukedom when his father, Miles Fitzalan-Howard, died in 2002.
The title of Earl Marshal has been passed down in the family for 350 years, and with it the daunting responsibility of orchestrating major ceremonies like the State Opening of Parliament, state funerals and coronations for new monarchs, The Times detailed. He had been planning Sovereign Elizabeth’s funeral for 20 years.
He was also present at the Accession Ceremony for the new King, 73, watching on as Prince William, Sovereign Camilla and Top state leader Liz Support marked the Proclamation of Accession of King Charles III on September 10.
Duke Who Planned Queen’s Funeral Banned from Driving for Phone Use https://t.co/3fajqjjBvy
— Buzz Blogs (@Khiroulmire) September 26, 2022
“It’s all really scary, yet you have to rise to the occasion,” the Duke of Norfolk told The Hours of the gig. “I have an incredible team, however the buck stops with me.”