Charles Beauclerk, Earl of Burford

Charles Francis Topham de Vere Beauclerk, Earl of Burford (born 22 February 1965) is a British who is heir to the title Duke of St Albans. He first came to public attention when he attempted to interfere with a debate in Parliament, declaring a bill which proposed to exclude hereditary peers from automatic voting rights in the House of Lords to be treasonable. He is a writer and exponent of the Oxfordian theory of Shakespeare authorship.

The Earl is the only son and heir apparent of Murray Beauclerk, 14th Duke of St Albans. He is descended from Charles Beauclerk, 1st Duke of St Albans, the natural son of Charles II and Nell Gwyn. Though he is entitled to use the courtesy title Earl of Burford, Beauclerk does not currently use the title.

He was educated at Eton College, Sherborne School and Hertford College, Oxford.

In 1999, Burford first encountered fame during a debate on the House of Lords Act 1999 concerning the amendment of voting rights for hereditary peers. After listening to the debate while seated on the first step of the Throne, as was his right as the eldest son of a peer, Beauclerk leapt to his feet, crossed the floor of the House, stood on the Woolsack (the Speaker's seat in the House of Lords) and declared the bill treason to the life and culture of Britain, insisting that hereditary peers should retain their right to sit and vote in the House. He said, "This bill, drafted in Brussels, is treason. What we are witnessing is the abolition of Britain... Before us lies the wasteland... No Queen, no culture, no sovereignty, no freedom. Stand up for your Queen and country and vote this bill down."

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