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The Duke of Beaufort dies aged 89

David Somerset, the 11th Duke of Beaufort, has died at the age of 89.

Badminton House said in a statement that the Duke died peacefully at his home in Gloucestershire Estate on Wednesday, August 16.

The Duke was a sixth cousin of The Queen through their ancestor William Cavendish, 3rd Duke of Devonshire.

He is survived by his second wife, Miranda, and four children Harry, Anne, Edward and John.

His eldest son Harry, The Marquess of Worcester, succeeds his father to the Dukedom becoming the 12th Duke of Beaufort.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Harry said: “He was a wonderful father and died surrounded by his family. That is all I feel able to say at this stage.”

Before his death, the Duke was President of the Badminton Horse Trials – the most famous three-day equestrian event in the world.

The Badminton Horse Trials were launched in 1949 by the 10th Duke of Beaufort after he had a vision to create an event which would train British riders for the Olympics.

In the 2008 Sunday Time Rich List, the 11th Duke was ranked as the 581st richest person in the United Kingdom, with an estimated wealth of £135m in land.

His 52,000-acre Badminton Estate is now worth an estimated £315million.