Miles Francis Stapleton Fitzalan-Howard (21 July 1915 - 24 June 2003) was the 17th Duke of Norfolk.

He served in the British Army for 30 years. He served, during World War II in France, North Africa, Sicily, Italy and North Western Europe. He rose to the rank of Major General. During the War he won the Military Cross for reconnaissance of mined roads. He was at the time on foot and under enemy fire. He was quoted in his obituary in The Times as saying “anyone can be the Duke of Norfolk, but I’m rather proud of that medal.”

He headed the British mission to Russian Forces in Germany between 1957 and 1959. Immediately before Kenyan independence in 1963 he commanded a Brigade of the King’s African Rifles . Between 1963 and 1965 he was General Officer Commanding the First Division of the Rhine Army . Upon his retirement from the Army he served in the Ministry of Defence. He was also the Lieutenant-Governor of West Sussex.

The 17th Duke inherited the title of Baron of Glossop in 1972 from his father, the 3rd Baron. He inherited the title of Duke of Norfolk from a cousin in 1975. His mother was Mona Tempest Stapleton , Baroness Beaumont . The dukedom is the oldest in England and was first conferred on a Howard in 1483 by King Richard III. John Howard died with Richard on Bosworth Field . It is because the dukedom is the oldest in the realm that the holder of the title is the premier duke. Attached to the title is the office of Earl Marshal of England, now only responsible for State occasions. The Earl Marshal is also the hereditary judge in the Court of Chivalry and head of the College of Arms, responsible for heraldry in England and Wales as well as other parts of the British Commonwealth of Nations such as Australia.

The Dukes of Norfolk have remained Roman Catholics for over 300 years. As such he represented the Queen at the installation of Popes John Paul I and II and at the funeral of Pope John Paul I.

The 17th Duke married Anne Teresa Constable Maxwell, in 1949. They had 2 sons and 3 daughters. They are:

• Lady Tessa Mary Isabel Fitzalan-Howard, b. 1950
• Lady Carina Mary Fitzalan-Howard, b 1952
• Lady Marcia Josephine Fitzalan-Howard b. 1953
• Edward William Fitzalan-Howard, Earl of Arundel b.1956
• Lord Gerald Bernard Fitzalan-Howard b. 1962
• Lady Marcia is better known as the actress Marsha Fitzalan.

Titles

• Premier Duke and Earl of England
• Earl of Arundel
• Earl of Surrey
• Baron Beaumont
• Baron Maltravers
• Baron of Glossop
• Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter
• Knight of the Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
• Companion of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath
• Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire
• Earl Marshal of England
• Hereditary Marshal of England
• Chief Butler of England