End of An Heir-A: The U.K. Abolishes Aristocrats' Right to Inherit Parliament Seats 🎩

[appalachiablue]

NPR, March 21, 2026.

POWDERHAM CASTLE, Devon, England — In his 20s, Charles Courtenay left the drizzly English countryside where he grew up, and moved to California. He met his first wife in a bar in Las Vegas, and didn't tell her much about his background. He just took her home to England, about two months into dating, and drove up the driveway of his family home — a 12th century castle.

Beyond the moat, there's a sign at the entrance that reads, "Long Live the Earl" — as in, Courtenay. Because the man who learned to surf at L.A.'s Topanga Beach, and insists "just call me Charlie," is also the 19th Earl of Devon. When Courtenay's father died in 2015, he inherited the earldom through a mostly male bloodline that goes back to the Crusades. So even though Courtenay has three older sisters, he gets the title and castle.

"It was besieged twice! Once in 1450 and again in the English Civil War in the 1640s," Courtenay, now 50, explains.

The gig also comes with political power: A seat in the House of Lords, the upper chamber of the United Kingdom's Parliament — the equivalent of the U.S. Senate. Courtenay is one of 92 lords, out of more than 800 in Parliament, who inherited their seats. They're part of a feudal system that goes back to the Norman Conquest of 1066, when monarchs began doling out land in exchange for military service and counsel. Now that system is being dismantled.

This month, Parliament passed the House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Act of 2026, which abolishes those 92 inherited seats. In a compromise, some of them will get to stay in Parliament until they die, but they won't be allowed to pass their seats down to descendants. Many say it's about time. "It is seemingly so wild that anybody in this day and age could inherit the right to legislate. It's quite bonkers!" says Eleanor Doughty, author of Heirs and Graces, A History of the Modern British Aristocracy. "I think people do wonder about the legitimacy of these sorts of people."

Why this system persists... - Read More,

https://www.npr.org/2026/03/21/nx-s1-5137843/uk-parliament-abolishes-hereditary-lords

[tanyev]

1. Aw, I hadn't heard that he and A.J. Langer got divorced.

They were married quite a while. I remember watching some show about them and the estate—maybe a Mary Berry visit? I kept thinking the American wife looked familiar and then I finally placed her as my favorite character in the show My So-Called Life. She was really involved in the running of the estate and seemed to fit in well. That’s too bad.

My So-Called Life star A.J. Langer and her husband Charles Courtenay are ending their marriage after nearly 20 years together.

In an official statement from Powderham Castle, Courtenay, who is the 19th Earl of Devon, confirmed his split from Langer, who played Rayanne on the ’90s cult hit and is now a countess.

“After much care and consideration, Charles Courtenay, the Earl of Devon, and Countess of Devon, Allison Joy Courtenay, have made the decision to separate and to divorce,” the statement read. “Charlie would like to express his gratitude for his partnership with A.J. and all that they have created together as parents, friends and partners both in Los Angeles and at Powderham. The well-being of their wonderful children is the highest priority, as he and A.J. focus upon coparenting in the years ahead.”

https://people.com/my-so-called-life-aj-langer-husband-charles-courtenay-files-for-divorce-8363992

[appalachiablue]

2. Tx for the article, I also wonder what happened. They seemed to have a good life, too bad.

[FakeNoose]

3. Christopher Guest, movie actor and director, is a British Lord

Hs full name is Christopher Haden-Guest, 5th Baron Haden-Guest .He's also known as the character "Nigel Tufnel" in the Spinal Tap movies.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Guest

[appalachiablue]

5. Yes indeed, a talented artist and another lord. Thanks for mentioning.

[Skittles]

4. "why this system persists"

look at the things people do simply because their ancestors did them - a lot of it is a bunch of nonsense but, you know, it's tradition

[appalachiablue]

6. Lots of tradition although some customs change even if slowly like reforming hereditary peers

seated in Parliament discussed in the article. It's archaic, people are tired of it and the conventions and entitlements will lessen and wane over time. And not from drastic action like beheading in the French Revolution! Thanks for posting.

I never associated w upper classes but from being around a couple at Cambridge and a lord visiting the US I saw a bit of how position works.