Ralph Percy, 12th Duke of Northumberland
Ralph George Algernon Percy, 12th Duke of Northumberland, Deputy Lieutenant (DL ) ( born November 16, 1956), referred to 1995 as Lord Ralph Percy, an English aristocrat, hereditary peer and a major British landowners.
The name The Duke of Northumberland, the honorific His Grace be preceded by DL are put on hold. His residence is Alnwick Castle. He is married to Jane Percy, Duchess of Northumberland. His parents are Hugh Percy, 10th Duke of Northumberland and Elizabeth Diana Percy, Duchess of Northumberland, born Lady Elizabeth Montagu Douglas Scott.
Biography
He studied history at the University of Oxford, then Land Management at the University of Reading and worked for seven years at Arundel Castle Estate Office, before he returned to Northumberland at Alnwick Estate for his older brother, Henry, to manage the 11th Duke.
After the death of the childless Duke 11, he took over in 1995, the Duchy ( Dukedom ) and the title of the Duke of Northumberland. When Duke he was a member of the House of Lords until the House of Lords Act 1999 ended this right of hereditary peers. In the Hansard records, there are no contributions of the Duke.
When Duke he is the beneficial owner (or head of the owning family) the Northumberland Estates, the premier ducal operation and a number of companies and trusts, which in turn own land and estates in Northumberland, Scotland, Surrey and Tyneside. In the list of the richest people 2011, the Sunday Times, he is ranked 248 with an estimated fortune of 315 million pounds.
He is the titular owner of Alnwick Castle, a duke's possession, as well as of Warkworth Castle and Prudhoe Castle in Northumberland; Syon Park in London; Hulne Park and Hulne Priory at Alnwick; Albury Estate in Surrey, and other listed buildings as Brizlee Tower. Northumberland Estates manages 40,000 ha of land, directly in 1600 hectares of forest and 8100 ha of agricultural land; 100 tenants farm the remaining land.
The 12th Duke shows a larger economic zeal than his predecessors. Its development plans often encounter criticism. The sale of Raphael's Madonna of the Pinks on the open market, rather than at a lower price to the National Gallery, in 2003 aroused criticism. At about the same time he issued his tenants because of the foot - and -mouth disease 10% of the lease. He has expressed his distaste for wind farms to the expression, but is involved in the repair of a hydroelectric power station. The Duke is a sponsor of the Northumberland Church of England Academy.
Family
Northumberland is married since 1979 and has four children.
- Lady Catherine Sarah Valentine (born 23 June 1982), married to Patrick Valentine since 2011.
- George Dominic Percy, Earl Percy (born 4 May 1984), Director of Cluff Geothermal with Professor Paul Younger.
- Lady Melissa Jane van Straubenzee (born 20 May 1987), married to Thomas van Straubenzee since 2013.
- Lord Max Ralph Percy (born 26 May 1990).
Relationship
- His niece Lucy Cuthbert is with the Saudi Prince Khalid bin Bandar bin Sultan Al Saud married.