The House of Lords is the upper chamber of Britain's Parliament. In 2026 it will boot out the last of its hereditary peers—all 85 of them—once the House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill is passed. This will end roughly a thousand years of aristocratic influence in Parliament, dating to William the Conqueror's victory at Hastings in 1066.
Britain has just 794 hereditary peerages, making hereditary peers less numerous than the lesser-spotted woodpecker. A third of Britain's land is still owned by titled aristocrats. The hierarchy of the squirearchy can be "confusing", according to Hugo Strachwitz of Debrett's, a directory of those with blue blood: it is possible to be a toff without either a title (Winston Churchill had none) or land (the 9th Earl of Buckinghamshire was a street-sweeper).
Historic Houses is an association that works to keep grand homes independent and in private ownership; some call its annual meeting the "AGM for aristocrats". The National Trust, a charity that helps preserve architectural gems, has nearly 5.4m members.
Great minds run in great circles.