The Earl of Harewood
Coat of arms
PredecessorGeorge Lascelles
BornDavid Henry George Lascelles, Viscount Lascelles
(1950-10-21) 21 October 1950
2 Orme Square, London, England
Spouse(s)
  • Margaret Messenger
    (m. 1979; div. 1989)
  • Diane Howse
    (m. 1990)
Issue
Parents
OccupationFilm and television producer, hereditary peer

David Henry George Lascelles, 8th Earl of Harewood (born 21 October 1950), styled as Viscount Lascelles until July 2011, is a British hereditary peer and film and television producer.

Early life and earldom

David Henry George Lascelles was born at his parents' London house, 2 Orme Square, Bayswater, London, on 21 October 1950. He is the eldest son of the 7th Earl of Harewood and his first wife, Marion Stein. He was baptised at All Saints' Church, Harewood. His father was a first cousin of Queen Elizabeth II. His godparents were The Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh (later Queen Elizabeth II), his great-grandmother Queen Mary, Viscountess Boyne, Benjamin Britten and his uncle Gerald Lascelles. At the time of his birth, he was 13th in line to the throne.[1]

He is a second cousin of Charles III and a great-grandson of George V.[1]

He succeeded to the Earldom of Harewood on the death of his father in July 2011.[2]

Career and other activities

Lascelles is a film and television producer. He produced nine episodes of the 1990s TV detective series, Inspector Morse.[3]

In 2007, as part of the commemoration of the bi-centenary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act, Lascelles was executive producer of the theatrical project by Geraldine Connor entitled Carnival Messiah that was staged in the grounds of Harewood House, which was built in the 18th century with funds from slave trading.[4][5] Following Connor's death in 2011, Lascelles organised a concert in her memory at West Yorkshire Playhouse,[6] and he is a founder and patron of the Geraldine Connor Foundation, established in 2012 to continue her work and vision by bringing people together through arts and culture.[7]

As Earl of Harewood, he continues the tradition begun by his father in 1961 by serving as the honorary lifetime president of Leeds United Football Club.[8]

In April 2023 he co-founded, with former BBC journalist Laura Trevelyan and others, Heirs of Slavery, a group of descendants of people who had profited from British transatlantic slavery and wanted to make amends in the form of reparations. Other members include Charles Gladstone, who is descended from prime minister William Gladstone, and journalist Alex Renton. The group has called on the British prime minister and King Charles III to make a formal apology on behalf of the United Kingdom.[9]

Awards

Inspector Morse won a BAFTA in 1992.[10]

Personal life

On 12 February 1979, at St Mary's Church, Paddington, London, Lascelles married Margaret Rosalind Messenger, daughter of Edgar Frank Messenger and Margaret Alice Black. They were divorced in 1989.

Their children are:

  • Emily Tsering Shard (born 23 November 1975). She is unable to bear the courtesy title of Lady as her parents were not married at the time of her birth. She obtained Royal Consent from the Privy Council to marry Matthew Shard on 12 February 2008.[11]
  • Benjamin George Lascelles (born 19 September 1978), a conservationist. Although he is Lord Harewood's eldest son, he is unable to inherit his father's titles as his parents were not married at the time of his birth. He obtained Royal Consent from the Privy Council[12] to marry Colombian Carolina Vélez Robledo on 18 April 2009 at Harewood House.[13]
  • Alexander Edgar Lascelles, Viscount Lascelles. He is a chef and heir-apparent to the earldom.[14]
  • Hon. Edward David Lascelles (born 19 November 1982). He obtained Royal Consent to marry Sophie Cartlidge on 2 August 2014 in Harewood House. Edward and Sophie welcomed a son, Sebastian Lascelles, in August 2020

In 1990, Lascelles married artist Diane Howse, now the Countess of Harewood.[15]

Filmography

His work includes:

Year Title Role
1981 The Return of the Inca Cinematographer
1984 Tibet: A Buddhist Trilogy Cinematographer/Producer
1984 People Show (TV short) Producer
1986 Mae'n Talu Withe (TV film) Producer
1986 Zastrozzi: A Romance (TV mini-series) Producer (4 episodes)
1988 Star Trap (TV film) Associate Producer
1990–1991 Inspector Morse (TV series) Producer (9 episodes)
1993 Screen One Producer (1 episode)
1995 Richard III Line Producer
1996 The Fortunes and Misfortunes of Moll Flanders (TV series) Producer
1996 The Making of Moll Flanders (TV film documentary) Himself
1998 The Wisdom of Crocodiles Producer
1999 Second Sight (TV film) Producer
2000 Second Sight (TV series) Executive Producer
2002 Daddy's Girl (TV film) Producer
2002 The John Thaw Story (TV documentary) Himself
2013 Carved with Love: The Genius of British Woodwork (TV mini-series documentary) Himself - Earl of Harewood

References

  1. 1 2 "Christening At Harewood (1951)". British Pathé. YouTube. 13 April 2014. Archived from the original on 12 December 2021. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
  2. "The Earl of Harewood". The Daily Telegraph. 11 July 2011. Archived from the original on 12 July 2011.
  3. David Lascelles at IMDb
  4. Busby, Margaret (31 October 2011). "Geraldine Connor obituary". The Guardian.
  5. "Our Patrons | David Lascelles". Geraldine Connor Foundation. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  6. "A celebration of the late Geraldine Connor". itv.com. 30 March 2012. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  7. "About Us". Geraldine Connor Foundation. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  8. "Earl of Harewood Named Honorary President". Leeds United Football Club. 1 February 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  9. Baker, Nick (11 May 2023). "These British 'heirs of slavery' are trying to make amends for past wrongs". ABC News (Australia). Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  10. "David Lascelles: Awards". IMDb. 19 October 1964. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  11. "Descendants of King Christian IX of Denmark". Hein's Royal Genealogy Page. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  12. "Council List February 2009". Privy Council. 11 February 2009. Archived from the original on 3 November 2010.
  13. "Royal Wedding Staged at Harewood House". Yorkshire Evening Post. 21 April 2009. Retrieved 18 April 2011.
  14. Walker, Tim (16 May 2014). "Viscount Lascelles, 53rd in line to the the throne, takes a job in the kitchen". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
  15. "Countess of Harewood, Diane Howse: An artist in residence who is also lady of the house". yorkshirepost.co.uk. Archived from the original on 19 February 2019. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
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