Elizabeth Curzon, Countess Howe
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific_prefix = The Right Honourable
| name = The Countess Howe
| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|CStJ}}
| office = Lord-Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire
| monarch = Elizabeth II
Charles III
| predecessor = Sir Henry Aubrey-Fletcher
| successor =
| term_start = 27 November 2020
| birth_name = Elizabeth Helen Stuart
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1955|11|12|df=y}}
| birth_place =
| spouse = {{marriage|Frederick Curzon, 7th Earl Howe|1983}}
| children = 4
| alma_mater = University of Cambridge (BEd)
| education = Headington School
}}
Elizabeth Helen Curzon, Countess Howe (née Stuart; born 12 November 1955), is a British peeress, educator and philanthropist who has served as Lord-Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire since 27 November 2020.
Early life and education
Lady Howe was born Elizabeth Helen Stuart on 12 November 1955 to Burleigh Edward St Lawrence Stuart (1920–2004) and Joan Elizabeth Platts (died 2001). She was raised in Buckinghamshire and was educated at Headington School in Oxford. She obtained a Bachelor of Education from the University of Cambridge.{{cite web |title=Countess Howe His Majesty's Lord Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire |url=https://www.buckslieutenancy.org/bucksll |website=Buckinghamshire Lieutenancy |access-date=22 June 2024}}
Career
After completing university, Lady Howe began teaching in Newmarket and London. She has worked as a governor and volunteer music teachers in schools in Buckinghamshire.
In 1995, Lady Howe was made a deputy lieutenant of Buckinghamshire.{{London Gazette|issue= 54209|date=10 November 1995|page= 15225}} She served as High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire from 2010 to 2011.{{London Gazette| issue = 59364| date = 18 March 2010| page = 4707}} She was appointed Lord-Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire on 26 June 2020.{{cite web |title=Lord-Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire: 26 June 2020 |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/lord-lieutenant-of-buckinghamshire-26-june-2020 |website=gov.uk |access-date=22 June 2024}}{{cite news |last1=Bamford |first1=Thomas |title=Queen appoints new Lord-Lieutenant for Buckinghamshire |url=https://www.bucksherald.co.uk/news/people/queen-appoints-new-lord-lieutenant-for-buckinghamshire-2896162 |access-date=22 June 2024 |work=The Bucks Herald |date=26 June 2020}} She took office upon the retirement of Sir Henry Aubrey-Fletcher, 8th Baronet, on 27 November 2020.{{London Gazette |issue=63193 |date=2 December 2020 |page=20494}}{{cite web |last1=Marron |first1=Lou |title=Countess Howe: The New Lord-Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire |url=https://www.buckslieutenancy.org/post/beyond-bucks-10-ways-to-make-a-difference |website=Buckinghamshire Lieutenancy |access-date=22 June 2024}} She is the first woman to hold the position, which was established in 1535 by King Henry VIII.{{cite news |last1=Bamford |first1=Thomas |title=Countess Elizabeth Howe is the new Lord of Buckinghamshire |url=https://www.bucksherald.co.uk/business/countess-elizabeth-howe-is-the-new-lord-of-buckinghamshire-3049901 |access-date=22 June 2024 |work=The Bucks Herald |date=27 November 2020}}
Lady Howe holds a number positions in local charitable organizations. She is chairman of Heart of Bucks Community Foundation, patron of Milton Keynes Islamic Art, Heritage and Culture, and president of the Epilepsy Society.{{cite web |title=Our Chairman is Appointed as Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire |url=https://heartofbucks.org/our-chairman-is-appointed-as-her-majestys-lord-lieutenant-of-buckinghamshire/ |website=Heart of Bucks |access-date=22 June 2024}}
In 2023, as lord-lieutenant, Lady Howe attended the coronation of King Charles III with her husband.{{Cite web |title=Coronation Roll Protocol – The Coronation Roll |url=https://www.coronationroll.gov.uk/coronation-roll-protocol/ |access-date=6 May 2024 |website=www.coronationroll.gov.uk}}
Marriage and family
On 26 March 1983, Elizabeth Stuart married Frederick Curzon. The following year, Curzon succeeded his second cousin as 7th Earl Howe, thus making his wife Countess Howe.{{cite web |title=Elizabeth, Countess Howe of Amersham |url=https://www.highsheriffofbuckinghamshire.com/meetup/elizabeth-countess-howe-of-amersham/ |website=High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire |access-date=22 June 2024}}
The Earl and Countess have four children: Lady Anna Curzon (born 19 January 1987); Lady Flora Curzon (born 12 June 1989); Lady Lucinda Curzon (born 12 October 1991); and Thomas, Viscount Curzon (born 22 October 1994). The family resides at Penn House in Penn, Buckinghamshire.
Honours
- 50px Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem:
- 5 July 1990: Serving Sister (now Member) (SStJ){{London Gazette|issue=52203|date=5 July 1990|page=11476}}
- 15 July 1997: Officer (Sister) (OStJ){{London Gazette|issue=54835|date=15 July 1997|page=8123}}
- 18 April 2017: Commander (Sister) (CStJ){{London Gazette|issue=60119|date=18 April 2017|page = 7571}}
- 50px 6 May 2023: King Charles III Coronation Medal
References
{{reflist}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-hon}}
{{s-bef|before=Allan Westray}}
{{s-ttl|title=High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire|years=2010–2011}}
{{s-aft|after=James Naylor}}
{{s-bef|before=Sir Henry Aubrey-Fletcher}}
{{s-ttl|title=Lord-Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire|years=2020–present}}
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{{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Howe, Elizabeth Curzon, Countess of}}
Category:People from Buckinghamshire
Category:People educated at Headington School
Category:Alumni of the University of Cambridge
Category:British countesses by marriage
Category:British women philanthropists