Howard was born at Hazelby Manor, East Woodhay, Hampshire, the youngest of four children of the Hon.
Howard's sister Joyce was married to Sir Arthur Doyle, 4th Baronet, and was the mother of Diana Spearman.
[1] His father died when he was 2, and his mother remarried General Sir Redvers Henry Buller.
[5] In 1935, George V appointed Howard to the office of Serjeant-at-Arms of the House of Commons, which had previously been held by Admiral Sir Colin Keppel.
[3] Howard built a reputation for upholding traditions and was well-regarded for having a "genial personality".