Michael Abney-Hastings, 64, sits in his house in Jerilderie, New South Wales, Australia, trying to answer a reporter's questions. In the background are the sounds of children and their parents talking, playing and going about their usual routine.
Abney-Hastings is well known not only in his hometown, but also all across the United Kingdom. He is, as some say, the man who would be king. And as such, doing interviews has become commonplace.
According to noted mediaeval scholar, Michael Jones, documents prove Edward IV of England, who reigned from 1461-1483, was illegitimate and therefore ineligible to inherit the crown. Instead, the crown should have passed to George Plantagenet, 1st Duke of Clarence, a direct descent of Abney-Hastings.
While the thought of being king is met with humor, Abney-Hastings is serious about another title that has been handed down in his family for generations. He is the 14th Earl of Loudoun. John Campbell, the 4th Earl of Loudoun, is the county's namesake.
Abney-Hastings inherited the title from his mother, Barbara Huddleston Abney-Hastings, 13th Countess of Loudoun, in 2002, and his son, Simon Michael Abney-Hastings, is in line to succeed his father. As the heir, Simon has the courtesy title of Lord Mauchline.
The U.S. Embassy in Australia and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation assisted the Connection is securing a phone interview with the earl.
Have you ever visited Loudoun County, Va.?
If no, do you have plans to? If yes, what was your impression? Tell us something about your trip.
I've never been to America. My mother, they brought her out there about 20 years ago. I don't know what for.
Are there any interesting stories about the founding of Loudoun that have been past down through family folklore?
I've lived in Australia since I was 18. I don't know anything about Loudoun County. I do have a book, "Legends of Loudoun," by Harrison Williams.
What does it mean to be an earl? Any perks? Drawbacks?
It's a Scottish title, handed down, in our case it can go from male to female. Usually titles go from male to male and in some cases, if there isn't a male it goes to a female.
I'm the first male earl since about 1920.
Loudoun is part of the Campbells.
I've got two sons and three daughters, so the title will go on.
They take titles very seriously. Financially, the title doesn't mean a thing. Earls are high up the order [of the monarchy], though.
It does come with some perks. Over here, I'm very well known. Especially, when I go to England every 18 months or so. It gets me perks in England. Socially it is very good.
A few years back, there was a historian who claimed you have a legitimate claim to the British throne, anything come of that?
It's still big here. Gary Foster in America [producer of "Sleepless in Seattle" and more recently "Ghost Rider"] is making a film at the moment.
To be king or queen, you have to have two things: Plantagenet blood, the royal bloodline, and to be legitimate. Edward IV was proven to be illegitimate, which means he shouldn't have been king. That means George, 1st Duke of Clarence, should have been. If you follow his bloodline, you get my grandmother [Edith Abney-Hastings, 12th Countess of Loudoun], my mother and me.
We have a lot of fun with it.
How did your friends and family react?
I've always had a title, before becoming earl I was Lord Mauchline.
The town I live in is little, it's about 1,000 people. They get a few laughs out of it, same as I did. I have no interest in racing over to England. Honestly, I think the queen has done a good job. Better than I could have.
The Earl of Loudoun title originates in Scotland, how did you end up in Australia?
My family's not in Australia, I am. I decided I was going to do a bit of traveling. I arrived in Australia, got married and had five kids and seven grandchildren. My wife died in 2003 and about a fortnight [about three weeks ago], I got engaged.
What is a typical day for you like?
I'm retired. I used to work for Rice Research Australia, a research company.
As a Shire Councillor [the Shire Council is an eight-member, elected municipal governing body], I do a lot and I'm president of the historical society. Margaret, my fiancée, is a councillor in the adjacent shire, plus we have a wedding to plan for within the next 18 months I guess.
What is the best part/worst part of your hometown?
The best part, it's small, it's friendly. Life here is so wonderful.
Worst part, once kids grow up, they want to go to university, you lose them a bit. I've been lucky, my family has stayed close.
We don't have any major health care. We don’t have a very big hospital. We're about an hour and half from the bigger town and three hours from Melbourne.
It's a wonderful life though, especially for the children. We have great athletic fields.
What is a must do or see for visitors to your hometown?
We've got museums. You've heard of Ned Kelly? He spent some time here. We grow rice and tomatoes. You could put in a weekend here.