State of the World from NPR Changes coming to the UK’s House of Lords
Mar 25, 2026
A look inside the pageantry and odd traditions of Britain’s upper chamber, including powder wigs and inherited seats. A visit to Powderham Castle brings aristocratic life into focus. Debate over plans to end hereditary membership, set retirement ages, and remake the chamber’s makeup drives the conversation.
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Earl Of Devon's Inherited Castle And Seat
- Charles Courtney inherited Powderham Castle and the title Earl of Devon, gaining a seat in the House of Lords as part of that legacy.
- He moved to California, surfed in L.A., married an American, then drove her up the castle driveway, illustrating the personal side of hereditary peers.
Hereditary Peers Are A Medieval Relic Persisting Today
- Ninety-two hereditary peers remain out of more than 800 Lords, a remnant of a feudal system dating to 1066 that still yields political power today.
- Reforms since 1911, 1949 and 1999 gradually reduced Lords' power, but hereditary influence persisted until the current abolition plan.
Modern Earl Balances Tradition With Progressive Actions
- The Earl of Devon fits some aristocratic stereotypes but diverges by supporting female inheritance, hosting LGBTQ weddings and staging big concerts at his castle.
- He notes family history including beheading and exile, showing nobles' complex modern identities.