Astor was educated at
Eton College before serving with the
Life Guards (the senior regiment of the British Army, part of the
Household Cavalry) from 1966 until 1970, where he visited
Malaysia, Hong Kong, and
Northern Ireland as well as ceremonial duties in London.
He worked in France for 11 years, and is now patron of the Conservatives in Paris.
Political career
In 1994, Lord Astor was a British Parliamentary Observer in Johannesburg during the South African General Election. He was a member of the Executive, Association of Conservative Peers from 1996 to 1998. In 1999 he was elected to continue as a member of the
House of Lords. Astor retired from the House of Lords on 22 July 2022.[1]
From 1998 to 2001, he served as an Opposition Spokesman on Social Security and Health from 1998 to 2003. From 2001, he has been an Opposition Spokesman for Foreign & Commonwealth Affairs, and International Development, from 2003 to 2010, Opposition Spokesman for Defense, and from 2010 to 2011 a
Lord in Waiting. From 2010 to 2015 he was
parliamentary under-secretary of state at the
Ministry of Defence. He is currently the Prime Minister's Trade Envoy to Oman and Defence Secretary's Adviser for Military Co-operation with the Sultanate of Oman.
He is former Hon. Vice-Chairman of the
Conservative Middle East Council. In 1995 he piloted through the House of Lords the Road Traffic (New Drivers) Act and in 1996 the Trading Schemes Act.
Marriages and children
Astor married firstly Fiona Diana Lennox-Harvey, a daughter of Capt.
Roger Harvey, on 1 July 1970.[2] They had three daughters together:[3]
Camilla Fiona Astor (born 8 May 1974), she married Dominic M. Trusted and they have one daughter:
Charles Gavin John Astor (born 10 November 1990), who married Princess Eliane Marie Ghislain
de Merode in June 2017. Their first daughter, Astrid, was born in September 2020. Their second daughter, Lilyrose, was born in March 2023.
Olivia Alexandra Elizabeth Astor (born 21 August 1992)
Arms
Coat of arms of John Astor, 3rd Baron Astor of Hever
Rising from a Mount Vert a Falcon proper ensigned by three Mullets Or
Escutcheon
Argent eight Barrulets Sable over all resting on a Dexter Hand couped at the wrist proper gauntleted Gules a Falcon also Gules in chief two Fleurs de lys of the last
Supporters
Dexter: the figure of Aesculapius proper; Sinister: the figure of Mercury also proper
Italics in entries mean the titleholder also holds a previously listed barony of greater precedence. ^* Also a Lord in the
Peerage of Scotland, ^• Also a Baron in the
Peerage of Ireland
Astor was educated at
Eton College before serving with the
Life Guards (the senior regiment of the British Army, part of the
Household Cavalry) from 1966 until 1970, where he visited
Malaysia, Hong Kong, and
Northern Ireland as well as ceremonial duties in London.
He worked in France for 11 years, and is now patron of the Conservatives in Paris.
Political career
In 1994, Lord Astor was a British Parliamentary Observer in Johannesburg during the South African General Election. He was a member of the Executive, Association of Conservative Peers from 1996 to 1998. In 1999 he was elected to continue as a member of the
House of Lords. Astor retired from the House of Lords on 22 July 2022.[1]
From 1998 to 2001, he served as an Opposition Spokesman on Social Security and Health from 1998 to 2003. From 2001, he has been an Opposition Spokesman for Foreign & Commonwealth Affairs, and International Development, from 2003 to 2010, Opposition Spokesman for Defense, and from 2010 to 2011 a
Lord in Waiting. From 2010 to 2015 he was
parliamentary under-secretary of state at the
Ministry of Defence. He is currently the Prime Minister's Trade Envoy to Oman and Defence Secretary's Adviser for Military Co-operation with the Sultanate of Oman.
He is former Hon. Vice-Chairman of the
Conservative Middle East Council. In 1995 he piloted through the House of Lords the Road Traffic (New Drivers) Act and in 1996 the Trading Schemes Act.
Marriages and children
Astor married firstly Fiona Diana Lennox-Harvey, a daughter of Capt.
Roger Harvey, on 1 July 1970.[2] They had three daughters together:[3]
Camilla Fiona Astor (born 8 May 1974), she married Dominic M. Trusted and they have one daughter:
Charles Gavin John Astor (born 10 November 1990), who married Princess Eliane Marie Ghislain
de Merode in June 2017. Their first daughter, Astrid, was born in September 2020. Their second daughter, Lilyrose, was born in March 2023.
Olivia Alexandra Elizabeth Astor (born 21 August 1992)
Arms
Coat of arms of John Astor, 3rd Baron Astor of Hever
Rising from a Mount Vert a Falcon proper ensigned by three Mullets Or
Escutcheon
Argent eight Barrulets Sable over all resting on a Dexter Hand couped at the wrist proper gauntleted Gules a Falcon also Gules in chief two Fleurs de lys of the last
Supporters
Dexter: the figure of Aesculapius proper; Sinister: the figure of Mercury also proper
Italics in entries mean the titleholder also holds a previously listed barony of greater precedence. ^* Also a Lord in the
Peerage of Scotland, ^• Also a Baron in the
Peerage of Ireland