The title descended in the direct line until the death of his great-great-grandson, the fourth baron (who succeeded his grandfather), in 1961. The fourth baron was succeeded by his younger brother, the fifth baron. He was equerry to Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester from 1947 to 1949 and also served as Deputy Lieutenant of North Yorkshire in 1973. As of 2016[update] the title is held by his son, the sixth baron, who succeeded in 2001.
Richard Luttrell Pilkington Bethell, 3rd Baron Westbury (25 April 1852 – 20 February 1930). He jumped out of the bedroom window of his seventh floor St James's apartment after a long period of illness. He left a note that read: "I really cannot stand any more horrors and hardly see what good I am going to do here, so I am making my exit." His death was ruled "suicide while of unsound mind."[4][5] His son Captain The Hon. Richard Bethell was found smothered to death at a Mayfair club.
Richard Morland Tollemache Bethell, 4th Baron Westbury (9 October 1914 – 26 June 1961) He co-authored a cookery book on Italian cooking, With Gusto and Relish, published in 1957. Lord Westbury spent the latter part of his life mainly in Rome, Italy. He never married and his younger brother, David Allan Bethell, succeeded to the Westbury title in 1961.
The heir apparent is the present holder's son Hon. Richard Alexander David Bethell (b. 1986)
The heir presumptive is his son Richard Maximilian Ferdinand Bethell (b. 2023)