Robert Noel (officer of arms)

Robert Noel
As Lancaster, at a Windsor Garter Service
Clarenceux King of Arms
Incumbent
Assumed office 28 October 2024
Monarch	Charles III
Preceded by	Timothy Duke
Personal details
Born	(1962-10-15) 15 October 1962 (age 62)
Alma mater	St Edmund's College, Cambridge

Robert John Baptist Noel (born 15 October 1962) is an officer of arms at the College of Arms in London,^[1] who serves as Clarenceux King of Arms since October 2024.

Early life

The younger son of barrister Gerard Eyre Wriothesley Noel, of Westington Mill, Chipping Campden, editor of the Catholic Herald, he is in remainder to his grandfather's earldom.

Robert Noel was educated at Ampleforth College, Exeter College, Oxford (MA) and St Edmund's College, Cambridge (MPhil).^[2]

Career

Noel trained as a shipbroker,^[3] then as a library assistant at the College of Arms before joining the auctioneers, Christie's of London.

Appointed Bluemantle Pursuivant of Arms at the College of Arms on 27 October 1992,^[4] he succeeded Sir Peter Gwynn-Jones as Lancaster Herald of Arms in Ordinary on 21 September 1999.^[5] On 6 April 2021, he was promoted Norroy and Ulster King of Arms in succession to Timothy Duke.^[6] In that role, he proclaimed the accession of Charles III from Hillsborough Castle,^[7] and took part in the Royal Procession at the Coronation of Charles III and Camilla in May 2023.^[8] On 28 October 2024, he was appointed Clarenceux King of Arms upon Timothy Duke's retirement.^[9]

A Freeman of the City of London, Noel is a Liveryman of the Glaziers' Company and serves as Genealogist of the Imperial Society of Knights Bachelor.^[10]

Personal life

In 2013, Noel married Rowena Hale, daughter of Dennis Hale;^[11] having a son and a daughter.

Arms

Coat of arms of Robert John Baptist Noel

Notes Established by Gerard Noel Edward pursuant to a Royal Licence allowing him to take and bear the arms of Noel and use the surname Noel only.[12] Adopted 22 May 1798 Crest A Buck at gaze Argent attired Or. Escutcheon Or fretty Gules a Canton Ermine. Motto Tout bien ou rien ("Do it well or not at all") Other elements As Clarenceux, Noel can impale his arms of office (dexter) with his family arms (sinister):

See also

• College of Arms
• Earl of Gainsborough
• Genealogy
• Heraldry

References

1. "College of Arms - College of Arms". www.college-of-arms.gov.uk. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
2. www.burkespeerage.com
3. www.balticexchange.com
4. "No. 53094". The London Gazette. 2 November 1992. p. 18353.
5. "No. 55620". The London Gazette. 27 September 1999. p. 10313.
6. "No. 63317". The London Gazette. 12 April 2021. p. 6712.
7. "King Charles III: Accession Proclamation read at Hillsborough". BBC News. 11 September 2022. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
8. "Coronation order of service in full". BBC News. 5 May 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
9. "No. 64557". The London Gazette. 4 November 2024. p. 22186.
10. "Imperial Society of Knights Bachelor". Archived from the original on 1 January 2008.
11. "Noel, Robert John Baptist". WHO'S WHO 2023. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
12. "Armorial - Honorary Members - Robert S J B NOEL". whitelionsociety.org.uk. Retrieved 20 November 2018.

External links

• The College of Arms
• CUHAGS Officer of Arms Index
• Who's Who 2015
• Heralds of Today: A Biographical List of the Officers of the College of Arms, London, 1987-2001, Hubert Chesshyre and Adrian Ailes, (Illuminata, London 2001) ISBN 0-9537845-1-7

Heraldic offices
Preceded by Terence McCarthy	Bluemantle Pursuivant 1992 – 1999	Succeeded by Peter O'Donoghue
Preceded by Sir Peter Gwynn-Jones	Lancaster Herald 1999 – 2021	Succeeded by Adam Tuck
Preceded by Timothy Duke	Norroy and Ulster King of Arms 2021 – 2024	Succeeded by Clive Cheesman
Preceded by Timothy Duke	Clarenceux King of Arms 2024 – present	Incumbent