George Herbert, 8th Earl of Carnarvon

The Earl of Carnarvon
Born	George Reginald Oliver Molyneux Herbert (1956-11-10) 10 November 1956
Title	Earl of Carnarvon
Tenure	10 September 2001 – present
Other titles	Lord Porchester (1987-2001)
Nationality	British
Residence	Highclere Castle
Predecessor	Henry Herbert, 7th Earl of Carnarvon
Heir	George Herbert, Lord Porchester
Spouse(s)	Jayne née Wilby (m. 1989; div. 1998) Fiona née Aitken (m. 1999)
Issue	Lady Saoirse Herbert George Herbert, Lord Porchester The Hon. Edward Herbert
Parents	Henry Herbert, 7th Earl of Carnarvon Jean Margaret Wallop

George Reginald Oliver Molyneux Herbert, 8th Earl of Carnarvon (born 10 November 1956), styled Lord Porchester from 1987 to 2001, is a British peer and arable farmer.

His family seat, Highclere Castle, has achieved notability as the primary filming location for the television series Downton Abbey. Carnarvon and his family live in part of the house, while the rest is used as a venue for hire and is also open to the public.

Early life

The son of Henry Herbert, 7th Earl of Carnarvon, and a godson of Queen Elizabeth II,^[1] Herbert was educated at Eton and St John's College, Oxford.

He succeeded to the title of Earl of Carnarvon when his father died on 10 September 2001. After the death in 2003 of the 17th Earl of Pembroke, a distant cousin, he also became heir to the Earldoms of Pembroke and Montgomery, held by patrilineal cousin, William Herbert, 18th Earl of Pembroke, and is currently third in line.

Family

Lord Carnarvon married Jayne M. Wilby on 16 December 1989, daughter of Kenneth A. Wilby and Princess Prospero Colonna di Stigliano. They divorced in 1998. They had two children:

• Lady Saoirse Herbert (born 2 June 1991)
• George Kenneth Oliver Molyneux Herbert, Lord Porchester (born 13 October 1992)

Then, on 18 February 1999 he married Fiona J. M. Aitken, daughter of Ronnie Aitken and Frances Farmer; they had one son:

• Hon. Edward Herbert (born 10 October 1999).^[2]

The current Lady Carnarvon is a historian who has written a biography of her predecessor, Almina, Countess of Carnarvon.^[3]

Lord Carnarvon's uncle, his mother's brother, Hon. Malcolm Wallop, a rancher in Wyoming, served three terms in the United States Senate.^[4]

Ancestry

Arms

Arms of George Herbert, 8th Earl of Carnarvon

Coronet A Coronet of an Earl Crest A Wyvern with wings elevated Vert holding in the mouth a Sinister Hand couped at the wrist Gules Escutcheon Per pale Azure and Gules three Lions rampant Argent Supporters Dexter: a Panther guardant Argent semée of Torteaux and Hurts flames issuant from the mouth and ears proper; Sinister: a Lion Argent, each ducally gorged per pale Azure and Gules and chained Or and charged on the shoulder with an Ermine Spot Sable Motto UNG JE SERVIRRAY (ONE I WILL SERVE)

References

External links

• http://www.stately-homes.com/highclere-castle
• http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/downtonabbey/season2_countess.html
• Seymour, Miranda (15 September 2011). "Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey by Fiona Carnarvon – review". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 16 February 2012. 
• Harding, Louette (26 September 2011). "The real drama: Scandal and lost love at Downton's stately pile". The Daily Mail. London. Retrieved 16 February 2012. 
• http://thepeerage.com/p8096.htm#i80958