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George Henry Hubert Lascelles, 7th Earl of Harewood passed away peacefully at his home, Harewood House, near Leeds in England on Monday, July 11, 2011, at age 88. Lord Harewood was the first grandchild of King George V and Queen Mary, and a first cousin of Queen Elizabeth II. His mother was the only daughter of King George V: Mary, Princess Royal. The Princess Royal married Henry Lascelles, 6th Earl of Harewood in 1922. The couple had two sons, George and his younger brother Gerald (1924 – 1988). At the time of his birth, Lord Harewood was sixth in the line of succession to the British throne. He was 46th in line at the time of his death. Lord Harewood’s son David Henry George Lascelles succeeded his father as the 8th Earl of Harewood.
Lord Harewood had a deep interest in music, especially opera. He was editor of Opera magazine and director of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. He served as chairman of the board and musical director of the English National Opera and artistic director of the Edinburgh, Adelaide, and Leeds Music Festivals. Lord Harewood was the editor of two books about opera and the author of an autobiography, The Tongs and the Bones.
During World War II, Lord Harewood served in the British Army with the Grenadier Guards. He was captured by the Germans and held as a prisoner of war.
On Friday, July 15, 2011, as the black and gold Harewood coat of arms flag flew at half-mast over Harewood House, Lord Harewood’s funeral cortege made its way to nearby All Saints Church which is on the grounds of the estate. Approximately 100 staff members lined the drive to Harewood House, to pay their respects as Lord Harewood’s casket drove by. The funeral was attended by family and friends. Prince Michael of Kent, who was also a first cousin of Lord Harewood, represented The Queen. Because of Lord Harewood’s great love for opera, it was fitting that opera singer Lesley Garrett performed during the service. Shakespeare’s Sonnet 71 (“No longer mourn for me when I am dead’) was read and the hymn “Jerusalem” was sung.
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