Waldegrave was the only son of the Review Henry Waldegrave, 11th Earl Waldegrave and was educated at Winchester and graduated from Trinity College, Cambridge in 1928. In 1936, he succeeded to his father"s titles and became a member of Somerset County Council in 1937.
In 1976, he was made an Honorary Doctor of Laws by the University of Bristol and was awarded the Garter and the Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order in 1971 and 1976, respectively. Lady Sarah Wright Waldegrave (b 1931) married Ernest G. Wright George Medal(d 2012)
Lady Jane Howard Waldegrave (b 1934) married Doctorate East Howard, 4th Baron Strathcona & Mount Royal (m diss)
Lady Elizabeth Dewar, Baroness Forteviot (1936-2003)
Lady Anne Waldegrave (b 1937) married Sir Jack Boles (1925-2013)
Lady Susan Hussey, (b 1939) married Marmaduke, Lord Hussey of North Bradley (1923-2006)
James Waldegrave, 13th Earl Waldegrave (b 1940) married Mary Furness (m diss)
William Waldegrave, Baron Waldegrave of North Hill(b 1946) married Caroline Burrows.
Lord Waldegrave"s career thereafter was as: chairman of the Agricultural Executive Council 1948-1951. A member of the Prince"s Council of the Duchy of Cornwall 1951-1958. And 1965-1976; a Liaison Officer of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to Somerset, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire 1952-1957.
A Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 1958-1962.
Chairman of the Forestry Commission 1963-1965. A member of the British Broadcasting Corporation General Advisory Council 1963-1966.
A director of Lloyds Bank 1964-1976. Lord Warden of the Stannaries 1965-1976.
Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Meat Research 1969-1973 and President of Somerset Trust Nature Conservation 1964-1980.
