The Right Honourable

The Earl of Loudoun
Coat of arms of the Earl of Loudoun
Tenure2012–present
PredecessorMichael Abney-Hastings,
14th Earl of Loudoun
BornSimon Michael Rawdon Francis Abney-Hastings
(1974-10-29) 29 October 1974
NationalityAustralian
LocalityWangaratta, Victoria
HeirThe Hon. Marcus Abney-Hastings
ParentsMichael Abney-Hastings,
14th Earl of Loudoun

Simon Michael Abney-Hastings, 15th Earl of Loudoun (born 29 October 1974), styled as Lord Mauchline until 2012, is a British aristocrat living in Australia who is the current holder of the ancient Scottish noble title of Earl of Loudoun.

Family and activities

The Earl of Loudoun is the son of Michael Abney-Hastings, 14th Earl of Loudoun, whom he succeeded in 2012. He resides in Wangaratta and Melbourne, Victoria.[1]

The heir presumptive to the title is the present holder's brother, the Hon. Marcus William Abney-Hastings (born 1981).

Abney-Hastings was chosen to carry one of the gold spurs of the royal regalia,[2] emblems of knighthood and chivalry[3] to be presented to King Charles III at his coronation.[4] Abney-Hastings is the only Australian to have played an official role in the coronation. In a statement provided to some media outlets, his private secretary Terence Guthridge said Abney-Hastings was "delighted" to be asked to bear the large golden spurs, part of the ceremony dating back to the coronation of Richard I (Richard the Lionheart), in 1189.[5] He is also a Roman Catholic and advocates for the canonization of his ancestor, Margaret Pole, Countess of Salisbury.[6]

Patronage and honours

  • Hereditary Governor — Patron – Repton School, Derbyshire
  • Patron – Ashby de la Zouch Museum
  • Patron – Friends of Loudoun Kirk
  • President – The Board of Governors, St Andrew's First Aid Australia
  • Patron – Melbourne Highland Games, Australia. (Formally Ringwood Highland Games)
  • Patron – Australian Monarchist League, Victoria Branch
  • Patron – Clan Campbell Society of Australia
  • Patron – Barnet 1471 Battlefields Society
  • Patron – Australia Day Council – Victoria. Australia
  • Protector – Order of St Thomas of Acre
  • Kentucky Colonel 2022 Highest Honor Commonwealth of Kentucky USA
  • Esteemed friend of Loudoun Museum, Leesburg, Loudoun County, Virginia USA
  • Chieftain of the Day 2022 – Brigadoon Highland Games – Bundanoon NSW
  • Chieftain of the Day 2023 – Brigadoon Highland Games – Bundanoon NSW
  • Chieftain of the Day 2023 – Aberdeen Highland Games

Ancestry and the royal succession

Through his grandmother Barbara Huddleston Abney-Hastings, 13th Countess of Loudoun, he is directly descended from, and heir-general of, George Plantagenet, 1st Duke of Clarence, brother of Edward IV and Richard III.

In 2004, the documentary Britain's Real Monarch repeated the claim that Michael Abney-Hastings, as the senior descendant of George Plantagenet, 1st Duke of Clarence, was the rightful King of England. This argument hinges on the claim that Edward IV of England was illegitimate.[7] Simon Abney-Hastings, following his father's death, would have become the rightful monarch of England under this alternative path of succession, rather than Elizabeth II, and would be the current monarch rather than Charles III. Abney-Hastings has recognized his right to inherit the throne of England. However, he has stated he is a loyal supporter of the late Queen and her eldest son.[8] He was invited to the royal coronation of King Charles III, notwithstanding the competing claim being occasionally discussed by some media sources.[5]

References

  1. ↑ "'Rightful king of England' dies in Australia". The Telegraph. 3 July 2012.
  2. ↑ "The Crown Jewels: The Spurs". Royal Collection Trust. RCIN 31725.
  3. ↑ Lawrence E. Tanner (6 June 1953). "The Queen's coronation: The story of the regalia". Country Life. pp. 52–61. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  4. ↑ "Coronation order of service in full". BBC News. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  5. 1 2 Wahlquist, Calla (25 April 2023). "The only Australian with a role in King Charles' coronation is from Wangaratta – where most people don't know him". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  6. ↑ Earl of Loudon, Abney Hastings. "Canonization Mass for Margaret Pole". X.
  7. ↑ 'Rightful heir' to British monarchy dies in Australia AFP – 5 July 2012, Yahoo! News
  8. ↑ Wahlquist, Calla. "The only Australian with a role in King Charles' coronation is from Wangaratta – where most people don't know him". Retrieved 8 September 2023.
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