>The peer who organised the Queen’s funeral wants to be spared a driving ban because he is instrumental in the forthcoming coronation of King Charles III, a court has heard.
>
>Edward Fitzalan-Howard, the 18th Duke of Norfolk, was using his mobile phone when he ran through a red traffic light in Battersea, and admitted to officers that he had not been concentrating on the road.
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>He pleaded guilty to the driving offence on Monday morning, and could now face a six-month ban because he already has past speeding convictions on his record.
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>However the Duke is set to argue for leniency, because of his pivotal role as Earl Marshal in King Charles’ coronation.
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>Arguing for Lavender Hill magistrate court to hear his pleas in secret – that a driving ban would cause “exceptional hardship” – his lawyer Natasha Dardashti said the Duke must divulge sensitive information to make his case.
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>“It’s an extremely peculiar situation whereby his grace, the Duke of Norfolk, is Earl Marshal. One of his responsibilities is for the preparation and organisation of the funeral of Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth II. He is now the person in the country responsible for the coronation of His Royal Highness King Charles III”, she said.
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>“In relation to exceptional hardship, his Grace needs to provide some details and information about the preparations of the coronation of His Royal Highness King Charles.”
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>The court heard the Duke was pulled over by police officers while at the wheel of a BMW in Battersea on April 7, after “cutting across” their car after driving through a red traffic light.
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>“One of the officers observed the driver using a mobile phone while doing this, and he didn’t seem to be paying attention”, said prosecutor Jonathan Bryan.
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>“They drove up to the BMW and saw through the window the driver was using a mobile phone. They spoke to the driver, who was His Grace, and there was a conversation about the use of a mobile phone.
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>“He said he hadn’t been aware of going through the red light, but accepted that he was using his mobile phone. He said he was in communication with his wife.”
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>The peer, 65, initially denied the offence, but pleaded guilty on Monday morning when his trial had been due to take place.
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>The Duke, who also holds the title Earl of Arundel, oversees and advises Buckingham Palace on major ceremonial events including the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations earlier this year.
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>Following the death of the Monarch earlier this month, he played an instrumental role in co-ordinating the state funeral at Westminster Abbey, the military procession through central London, and final service at St George’s Chapel in Windsor.
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>In his role as Earl Marshal, the Duke – England’s most senior peer – will now oversee preparations for the coronation of King Charles III.
>
>The Duke already has nine points on his driving licence from two speeding offences in 2019, and faced a further six points for the latest offence. A driving ban for having more than 12 points on his licence is automatic, unless it can be successfully argued that disqualification would cause “exceptional hardship”.
>
>Arguing for part of the court hearing to be private, Ms Dardashti insisted “matters of national security” would have to be raised as the Duke argued for leniency.
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>“Details will be provided that have not yet been discussed with His Royal Highness King Charles, not yet discussed with the Prime Minister, not yet been discussed with the Archbishop of Canterbury”, she said.
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>“It would be unacceptable for these details to be public or made known, to risk the escape of that information of a very sensitive nature.”
>
>She said the date of the coronation has been set but remains confidential, adding: “Organisation of a national state occasion involves considerable matters of national security, not just officials in this country but world leaders attending the UK.
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>“In order to be able to properly advance the argument, it will require His Grace to go into detail
>
>In his evidence to the court, PC Lee Hamilton said he was on duty in Battersea Park Road, near to Albert Bridge, at 4.13pm when the Duke’s blue BMW “cut through from the left, going through what I believe to be a red light”, adding that he could not see the traffic lights clearly.
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>“I could see the driver was looking down, not paying attention to the road”, said the officer.
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>“As we pulled up beside the vehicle, I could see the driver operating the phone in his hand. There is video evidence relating to this incident.”
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>The officer said he saw the Duke “operating” a phone in his right hand, adding that he “confirmed the communication was to his wife”.
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>The Duke, wearing a dark grey suit, sat in front of the dock to enter his guilty plea, and gave his address as the family seat at Arundel Castle.
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>He pleaded guilty to driving while using a handheld device.
I also don’t want a ban. So I dont drive like a dick. Then again we cant all play the “I know the king” card, can we?
Boo fucking hoo. Either get someone to drive you around (pretty sure he can afford it) or find someone without a criminal record to organise the coronation.
Maybe he should use some of his massive generational wealth to hire a driver?
He can afford a chauffeur so should be banned like everyone else. However, I suspect he’ll have expensive lawyers to get him off – Justice may be blind, but she knows the feel of a £50 note passed over with a posh accent.
Has the story just been updated, because it looks like he has failed to avoid a ban.
“You can tell a lot by how someone thinks when they use their privileged position not as a responsibility to do good but an excuse to do bad.” – Me, 2022.
I know there will be fuck all sympathy for this guy and rightly so. but this guy is just playing the same game that so many play every day when they’re caught, trying to weasel out of a punishment by claiming it’ll affect their ability to work.
I don’t really blame him for trying what we’d all do. I blame the system for not being harsh enough on repeat offenders and even entertaining this shit at all regardless of who is making the claim.
Just because he’s a Duke what difference does that make???
The law is the law and on one is above the law.
9 points on his license already.
I don’t give a site about his titles he should have thought about that before jumping a red light, cutting across a police car whilst using his mobile phone ffs.
No it’s tuff luck but suck it up.
Hope he has his license revoked and a heavy fine as that is what the rest of us would suffer.
Hardship wtf what does he know about hardship ffs.
9 comments
The hearing is being held IN SECRET and without members of the press present: [https://twitter.com/kirkkorner/status/1574358652735332352](https://twitter.com/kirkkorner/status/1574358652735332352)
From the article:
>The peer who organised the Queen’s funeral wants to be spared a driving ban because he is instrumental in the forthcoming coronation of King Charles III, a court has heard.
>
>Edward Fitzalan-Howard, the 18th Duke of Norfolk, was using his mobile phone when he ran through a red traffic light in Battersea, and admitted to officers that he had not been concentrating on the road.
>
>He pleaded guilty to the driving offence on Monday morning, and could now face a six-month ban because he already has past speeding convictions on his record.
>
>However the Duke is set to argue for leniency, because of his pivotal role as Earl Marshal in King Charles’ coronation.
>
>Arguing for Lavender Hill magistrate court to hear his pleas in secret – that a driving ban would cause “exceptional hardship” – his lawyer Natasha Dardashti said the Duke must divulge sensitive information to make his case.
>
>“It’s an extremely peculiar situation whereby his grace, the Duke of Norfolk, is Earl Marshal. One of his responsibilities is for the preparation and organisation of the funeral of Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth II. He is now the person in the country responsible for the coronation of His Royal Highness King Charles III”, she said.
>
>“In relation to exceptional hardship, his Grace needs to provide some details and information about the preparations of the coronation of His Royal Highness King Charles.”
>
>The court heard the Duke was pulled over by police officers while at the wheel of a BMW in Battersea on April 7, after “cutting across” their car after driving through a red traffic light.
>
>“One of the officers observed the driver using a mobile phone while doing this, and he didn’t seem to be paying attention”, said prosecutor Jonathan Bryan.
>
>“They drove up to the BMW and saw through the window the driver was using a mobile phone. They spoke to the driver, who was His Grace, and there was a conversation about the use of a mobile phone.
>
>“He said he hadn’t been aware of going through the red light, but accepted that he was using his mobile phone. He said he was in communication with his wife.”
>
>The peer, 65, initially denied the offence, but pleaded guilty on Monday morning when his trial had been due to take place.
>
>The Duke, who also holds the title Earl of Arundel, oversees and advises Buckingham Palace on major ceremonial events including the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations earlier this year.
>
>Following the death of the Monarch earlier this month, he played an instrumental role in co-ordinating the state funeral at Westminster Abbey, the military procession through central London, and final service at St George’s Chapel in Windsor.
>
>In his role as Earl Marshal, the Duke – England’s most senior peer – will now oversee preparations for the coronation of King Charles III.
>
>The Duke already has nine points on his driving licence from two speeding offences in 2019, and faced a further six points for the latest offence. A driving ban for having more than 12 points on his licence is automatic, unless it can be successfully argued that disqualification would cause “exceptional hardship”.
>
>Arguing for part of the court hearing to be private, Ms Dardashti insisted “matters of national security” would have to be raised as the Duke argued for leniency.
>
>“Details will be provided that have not yet been discussed with His Royal Highness King Charles, not yet discussed with the Prime Minister, not yet been discussed with the Archbishop of Canterbury”, she said.
>
>“It would be unacceptable for these details to be public or made known, to risk the escape of that information of a very sensitive nature.”
>
>She said the date of the coronation has been set but remains confidential, adding: “Organisation of a national state occasion involves considerable matters of national security, not just officials in this country but world leaders attending the UK.
>
>“In order to be able to properly advance the argument, it will require His Grace to go into detail
>
>In his evidence to the court, PC Lee Hamilton said he was on duty in Battersea Park Road, near to Albert Bridge, at 4.13pm when the Duke’s blue BMW “cut through from the left, going through what I believe to be a red light”, adding that he could not see the traffic lights clearly.
>
>“I could see the driver was looking down, not paying attention to the road”, said the officer.
>
>“As we pulled up beside the vehicle, I could see the driver operating the phone in his hand. There is video evidence relating to this incident.”
>
>The officer said he saw the Duke “operating” a phone in his right hand, adding that he “confirmed the communication was to his wife”.
>
>The Duke, wearing a dark grey suit, sat in front of the dock to enter his guilty plea, and gave his address as the family seat at Arundel Castle.
>
>He pleaded guilty to driving while using a handheld device.
I also don’t want a ban. So I dont drive like a dick. Then again we cant all play the “I know the king” card, can we?
Boo fucking hoo. Either get someone to drive you around (pretty sure he can afford it) or find someone without a criminal record to organise the coronation.
Maybe he should use some of his massive generational wealth to hire a driver?
He can afford a chauffeur so should be banned like everyone else. However, I suspect he’ll have expensive lawyers to get him off – Justice may be blind, but she knows the feel of a £50 note passed over with a posh accent.
Has the story just been updated, because it looks like he has failed to avoid a ban.
“You can tell a lot by how someone thinks when they use their privileged position not as a responsibility to do good but an excuse to do bad.” – Me, 2022.
I know there will be fuck all sympathy for this guy and rightly so. but this guy is just playing the same game that so many play every day when they’re caught, trying to weasel out of a punishment by claiming it’ll affect their ability to work.
I don’t really blame him for trying what we’d all do. I blame the system for not being harsh enough on repeat offenders and even entertaining this shit at all regardless of who is making the claim.
Just because he’s a Duke what difference does that make???
The law is the law and on one is above the law.
9 points on his license already.
I don’t give a site about his titles he should have thought about that before jumping a red light, cutting across a police car whilst using his mobile phone ffs.
No it’s tuff luck but suck it up.
Hope he has his license revoked and a heavy fine as that is what the rest of us would suffer.
Hardship wtf what does he know about hardship ffs.