William Alexander Sidney Herbert, 18th Earl of Pembroke, 15th Earl of Montgomery (born 18 May 1978) is an English peer. He became earl in 2003 following the death of his father, the 17th Earl. Early life Pembroke is the only son of Henry Herbert, 17th Earl of Pembroke, by his wife, Claire. He has three older sisters (including Lady Emma Herbert) and three younger half-sisters by his father's second marriage. He was educated at Bryanston School, and then at the University of Leeds for two years, where he took a foundation course in 3D computer graphics design. He then pursued a course in industrial design at Sheffield Hallam University and became the first Herbert to graduate with a first class honours degree. In 2003, his father died, and he inherited the ancestral titles and estates, based on Wilton House, the family seat in Wiltshire. Career After graduating, Pembroke worked with Terence Conran as an industrial designer. In October 2004, a year after his father's death, he left that job to assume the responsibilities of managing the house and estate at Wilton. In an interview with The Observer in July 2005, he spoke frankly of the responsibilities and difficulties in managing a historic home and estate. He wanted to increase the number of celebrity events, such as Madonna's birthday party, at Wilton House to increase revenues; however, opening the property to more tourists does not pay in the long run, he said, as it increases wear-and-tear on the house. He also spoke of the need for him to marry and father a son to secure the succession, for the sake of his immediate family and also of the estate and house and all those who depend on them for a livelihood. His heir presumptive at that time was a distant cousin, the present George Herbert, 8th Earl of Carnarvon (born 1956). , the Wilton estate had around 30 employees. Its 14,000 acres are divided into 14 farms, one of which is run by the estate, and more than 200 residential properties. Although the house is open to the public, Pembroke and his wife occupy about a third of the house privately. Since 2006, he has held the position of President of the Stars Appeal, a fundraising charity for Salisbury district hospital, and an active member of its fundraising committee. Since 2010, in partnership with his wife Victoria, he has overseen an