The Earl Marshal, the Duke of Norfolk.Photo: PA Images via Getty

The Earl Marshal, the Duke of Norfolk, at Lavender Hill Magistrates' Court, London, where he has been banned from driving for six months after pleading guilty to using his mobile phone while driving. Edward Fitzalan-Howard, who was responsible for organising the Queen’s funeral, was stopped by police on April 7 after officers spotted him using the device as his BMW cut across their vehicle after going through a red light in Battersea, south-west London. Picture date: Monday September 26, 2022. (Photo by PA/PA Images via Getty Images)

King Charles' coronation organizer Earl Marshal, the Duke of Norfolk, uniquely inherited the royal responsibility through his peerage title.

The title of Earl Marshal has been passed down in the Fitzalan-Howard family for 350 years, and with it, the task of planning major royal ceremonial occasions like the State Opening of Parliament, state funerals and coronations for new monarchs, according toArundel Castle, the family’s ancestral seat in West Sussex. The Earl Marshal had been planningQueen Elizabeth’s funeral for 20 years,The Timesreported, before her death in September.

Kirsty O’Connor - WPA Pool/Getty

Prince of Wales signs the Proclamation of Accession of King Charles III,

The courtier had the honor of being one of the few people present for King Charles’Accession Ceremonyat St. James’s Palace, two days after Queen Elizabeth’s death on Sept. 8. There, he watched on asPrince William,Queen Camillaand Prime MinisterLiz Trusssigned the Proclamation of Accession of King Charles.

Later, he stood with David Vines White, the Garter Principle King of Arms, on the balcony overlooking the Friary Court for the first public reading of the Principal Proclamation announcing Charles as King, theroyal familyreported.

David Levene - WPA Pool/Getty

Garter Principle King of Arms, David Vines White, reads the proclamation of Britain’s new King, King Charles III

“We accept that this a unique case because of the defendant’s role in society and in particular in relation to the King’s coronation,” Judith Way, magistrate chair, said at the time, per BBC. “The hardship needs to be exceptional and although we find inconvenience may be caused, we don’t find it exceptional hardship.”

Camilla, Queen Consort and King Charles III attend the traditional Easter Sunday Mattins Service

Can’t get enough ofPEOPLE’s Royals coverage?Sign up for our free Royals newsletterto get the latest updates onKate Middleton,Meghan Markleand more!

Though there would be just eight months betweenQueen Elizabeth’s state funeral and King Charles' coronation in May, Fitzalan-Howard remains ever dedicated to the duty passed down through his ancestors since 1672.

“I am determined not to charge the state a penny for my work as earl marshal,” he toldThe Timesin the fall.

source: people.com