George 7th Earl of Harewood dies peacefully at his family home, Harewood House

11 July 2011

The death of George Henry Hubert Lascelles has been announced, 7th Earl of Harewood. Lord Harewood, who was first cousin to the Queen, passed away peacefully at his home, Harewood House, near Leeds on Monday 11th July 2011 aged 88.

It was Lord Harewood’s wish that Harewood House and Grounds should continue to remain open to the public on his death, and during the period of family mourning leading up to his funeral. Books of condolence will be opened for visitors to sign in both the House and All Saint’s Church.

The family will hold a private funeral. A thanksgiving service and celebration of George Harewood’s life will be held at a later date. Details will be announced shortly.

In lieu of flowers, Lady Harewood would ask that donations are given to the charity Huntington’s Disease Association www.hda.org.uk

 

Milestones in the life of George, 7th Earl of Harewood

1923 – 2011

1923 7 February – birth of George, first son of Princess Mary and Viscount Lascelles (married 28 February 1922). The family share their time between Goldsborough Hall, near Harewood in Yorkshire and Chesterfield House in London.

1924 Birth of a brother, Gerald.

1929 Death of 5th Earl of Harewood. George’s father becomes 6th Earl, Princess Mary the Countess of Harewood and George Viscount Lascelles.

1930 Family moves from Goldsborough Hall to Harewood House.

1935 Silver Jubilee of King George V and Queen Mary.

1936 George V dies. Edward VIII proclaimed king.

Abdicates 10th December.

George Lascelles goes to Eton.

1937 Coronation of George VI.

1939 War against Germany declared.

1940 Italy enters the war.

Harewood House becomes a convalescent hospital.

1941 George leaves school in July and works as a driver in Harrogate for War Agricultural Committee.

1942 September – George commissioned into Grenadier Guards.

1943 June – joins 3rd Battalion, Grenadier Guards at Sousse, in Tunisia.

August – in command of 1500 POW from Italy by train to Algiers; becomes ill with pleurisy.

Autumn – start of Italian Campaign.

1944 January – sent by troopship to Naples.

February – engaged in battle.

May – Monte Cassino.

18 June – wounded and captured near Perugia.

July – sent to Germany; POW camp at Spangenberg.

November – transferred to Colditz.

1945 April – removed from Colditz to Markt Pongau via Dresden and Czechoslovakia.

May – released to Innsbruck and thence by air to England.

8 May – VE Day.

November – appointed ADC to Governor.

General of Canada, the Earl of Athlone.

1946 May – travels across Canada by train to Vancouver, then on to San Fransisco and Los Angeles (where he danced with Ginger Rogers).

June – returns to England.

December – demobilised.

1947 January – goes up to King’s College, Cambridge.

23 May – death of Harry, 6th Earl of Harewood.

George Lascelles becomes 7th Earl of Harewood.

1948 June – leaves Cambridge.

1949 29 September – marriage to Marion Stein.

1950 October – birth of a son, David.

Foundation of Opera Magazine.

1952 Death of King George VI.

1953 Death of Queen Mary.

Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.

October – birth of second son, James.

1955 February – birth of third son, Jeremy.

1958 September – appointed Artistic Director of Leeds Festival (concurrently with Covent Garden) to 1974.

October – first visit to India.

1960 December – appointed Artistic Director of Edinburgh Festival (to 1965).

1962 President of Leeds United Football Association.

1963 President of English Football Association (to 1972). Chancellor of York University (to 1967).

1964 Birth of a fourth son, Mark, to Patricia Tuckwell.

1965 Last Edinburgh Festival as Artistic Director.

1965 28 March – Princess Mary dies at Harewood.

Artistic Adviser New Philharmonia Orchestra (to 1972).

1966 England wins the World Cup.

September – opening of new Metropolitan Opera, New York.

1967 July – marriage to Patricia, now Lady Harewood.

1970 January – visit to India.

February – visit to Australia (the first of many).

Visit to Mexico with the English Football Team for the World Cup (England knocked out by Germany in quarter final).

1972 May – appointed Managing Director of Sadler’s Wells Opera (later, English National Opera) to 1985.

1973 Opening of Sydney Opera House.

1984 Tour of USA with ENO.

1985 President of British Board of Film Classification (to 1996).

Governor of BBC (to 1987).

1986 Awarded KBE for Services to Opera.

1988 Appointed Artistic Director of the Adelaide Festival.

1996 Retires from BBFC.

1998 Gerald Lascelles dies.

2003 Official positions:

President of Leeds United Football.

President of English National Opera.

Vice-Chairman of Opera North.

2010 Appointed Honorary Member of the Order of Australia in recognition of his service to the arts in Australia and supporting Australia’s artists in the UK.

2011 11 July – George 7th Earl of Harewood dies peacefully at his family home, Harewood House.

 

 

4 Comments

  1. Sincere sympathy. My mother was born in February 1922 and her pram was decorated with snowdrops in honour of Lord Harewood’s parents’ marriage. The death of a great patron of music in Leeds and beyond. I often saw him at concerts and the opera until the last couple of years.

  2. Lored Harewood has had a very successful life. He certainly did a lot with
    not a tuppance from the Civil List. I read in the latest book That Woman about
    the Duchess of Windsor that the Duke did not read or like music. His nephew
    certainly did. His mother Princess Mary raised two fine sons.
    I saw him in Edward on Edward and saw a similiarity of him and his grandfather
    George V.

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