William Peel, 3rd Earl Peel

William James Robert Peel, 3rd Earl Peel, was born on 3 October 1947. He was styled as Viscount Clanfield until 1969. Peel is a British hereditary peer and a member of the Conservative Party until 2006, after which he became a crossbench member of the House of Lords.

Peel is the eldest son of Arthur Peel, 2nd Earl Peel, and Kathleen McGrath, daughter of Michael McGrath. He is a great-great-grandson of Sir Robert Peel, the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. His education includes attendance at Ampleforth College, followed by studies at the University of Tours in France and the Royal Agricultural University in Cirencester.

In his career, Peel served on several governmental and conservation bodies. He was a member of the Prince's Council, associated with the Duchy of Cornwall, from 1993 to 2006. Between 1994 and 2006, he held the position of Lord Warden of the Stannaries. His involvement with environmental and wildlife organizations includes membership in the Nature Conservancy Council with English Nature from 1991 to 1996, Chairmanship of the Game Conservancy Trust from 1994 to 2000, and Presidency of the Trust from 2000 to 2008. Additionally, he served as President of the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust from 1989 to 1996 and was a member of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Committee for six years. In 1998, Peel was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of North Yorkshire.

Following the House of Lords Act 1999, Peel was elected as one of the 42 hereditary peers to remain in the House of Lords, placing 14th with 142 votes in the election. Since July 2006, he has sat as a Crossbench member, indicating a non-partisan stance.

In June 2006, it was announced that Peel would succeed Richard Luce, Baron Luce, as Lord Chamberlain of the Royal Household. He formally took up the position on 11 October 2006, after receiving the kiss of appreciation from Queen Elizabeth II. On that date, he was invested as a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO) and became the Chancellor of the Order. Peel was also sworn into the Privy Council on 14 November 2006.

In February 2021, Andrew Parker, Baron Parker of Minsmere, was appointed to succeed Peel as Lord Chamberlain. Peel was originally scheduled to retire at the end of 2020 but extended his notice period because of the COVID-19 pandemic. His retirement was finalized on 31 March 2021. On 13 April 2021, Peel returned his insignia, including the Wand and Insignia of Office as Lord Chamberlain and the Badge of Chancellor of the Royal Victorian Order. Concurrently, he was invested with the Royal Victorian Chain.

Peel has been married twice. His first marriage was to Veronica Naomi Livingston Timpson (born 21 January 1950), with whom he had two children, Ashton and Iona. That marriage was dissolved in 1987. He married a second time, on 15 April 1989, to Charlotte Clementine Soames (born 18 July 1954), daughter of Christopher Soames, Baron Soames, and Lady Mary Churchill, daughter of Sir Winston Churchill. They have one daughter, Lady Antonia Peel, born in 1991.