bedford was educated at hall school, hampstead and heatherdown school, near ascot in berkshire, followed by harrow school and harvard, where he received his ba degree. he was known as lord howland until his grandfather's death in 2002, when he adopted the courtesy title marquess of tavistock, previously held by his father, robin russell, 14th duke of bedford. he succeeded to the dukedom of bedford the following year after his father suffered a fatal stroke. he also succeeded to the titles of 19th earl of bedford, 15th marquess of tavistock, 17th baron russell of thornhaugh, and 15th baron howland of streatham, all on 13 june 2003. since then he has been styled his grace the duke of bedford.