Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester

Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester, KG, GCVO, GCStJ, SSI, FRIBA (Richard Alexander Walter George; born 26 August 1944) is a member of the British royal family. He is the second son of Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, and Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester, and the youngest of the nine grandchildren of King George V and Queen Mary. He is 31st in the line of succession to the British throne, and the highest person on the list who is not a descendant of George VI, who was his uncle. At the time of his birth, he was 5th in line to the throne.

This article is about the current Duke of Gloucester. For the king previously known as Richard, Duke of Gloucester, see Richard III of England.

Prince Richard
Duke of Gloucester (more)
Prince Richard aged about 64
Richard in 2023
BornPrince Richard of Gloucester
(1944-08-26) 26 August 1944
St Matthew's Nursing Home, Northampton, England[1]
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1972)​
Issue
Names
Richard Alexander Walter George[2]
HouseWindsor
FatherPrince Henry, Duke of Gloucester
MotherLady Alice Montagu Douglas Scott
Alma materMagdalene College, Cambridge

Prince Richard practised as an architect until the death of his elder brother, William, placed him in direct line to inherit his father's dukedom of Gloucester, which he assumed in 1974. He married Birgitte van Deurs Henriksen on 8 July 1972. They have three children.

After the death of Michael, Prince of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach and his cousin Prince Wilhelm Ernst (b. 10 August 1946), Prince Richard will be the head and most senior male-line descendant of the House of Wettin.

Early life
Prince Richard with his father in 1945
Royal family of
the United Kingdom and the
other Commonwealth realms
Badge of the House of Windsor

Prince Richard was born on 26 August 1944 at 12:15 pm at St Matthew's Nursing Home in Northampton, the second son of Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester and Alice, Duchess of Gloucester.[1] His father was the third son of King George V and Queen Mary. His mother was the third daughter of the 7th Duke of Buccleuch and Lady Margaret Bridgeman. At the time of his birth, he was second in line to his father's dukedom, behind his elder brother, Prince William of Gloucester, who was accidentally killed in 1972 before inheriting the title and having any children of his own. Richard was baptised at the Royal Chapel of All Saints in Windsor Great Park on 20 October 1944 by the retired Archbishop of Canterbury, Cosmo Gordon Lang.[6] When Richard was four months old, he accompanied his parents to Australia, where his father served as governor-general from 1945 to 1947. The family returned to Barnwell Manor in 1947, where Richard spent most of his childhood.

Education and career

Prince Richard's early education took place at home, under the instruction of Rosalind Ramirez, who had also tutored young King Faisal II of Iraq; later, he attended Wellesley House School at Broadstairs and Eton College.[7] In 1963, he matriculated at Magdalene College, Cambridge, where he read architecture,[7] graduating with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in June 1966. As is customary at Cambridge, this was promoted to MA (Cantab) in 1971.

In 1966, Prince Richard joined the Offices Development Group in the Ministry of Public Building and Works for a year of practical work. He returned to Cambridge in 1967, completing both parts of the Diploma in Architecture degree in June 1969. Upon passing his exams, he became a practising partner with Hunt Thompson Associates, Architects, in London.[8]

Marriage and family

The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester

On 8 July 1972, Richard married the Danish-born Birgitte van Deurs Henriksen in St Andrew's Church at Barnwell, Northamptonshire; they have three children:

  • Alexander Patrick Gregers Richard Windsor, Earl of Ulster (born 24 October 1974 at St Mary's Hospital, London); he married Claire Booth in 2002. The couple have two children:
    • Xan Richard Anders Windsor, Lord Culloden (12 March 2007)
    • Lady Cosima Rose Alexandra Windsor (20 May 2010)
  • Lady Davina Elizabeth Alice Benedikte Windsor (born 19 November 1977 at St Mary's Hospital, London); she married Gary Lewis in 2004, and they divorced in 2018. They have two children:
    • Senna Kowhai Lewis (22 June 2010)
    • Tane Mahuta Lewis (25 May 2012)
  • Lady Rose Victoria Birgitte Louise Gilman (born 1 March 1980 at St Mary's Hospital, London); she married George Gilman in 2008. The couple have two children:
    • Lyla Beatrix Christabel Gilman (2010)
    • Rufus Frederick Montagu Gilman (2012)

The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester's official residence is at Kensington Palace in London.[9] They have leased their private home, Barnwell Manor, since 1994. In September 2022, the Duke put the manor up for sale for £4.75 million.[10]

Activities

Richard ended his architectural career in 1972, after the death of his elder brother Prince William, who crashed his plane in a flying competition. Richard became heir apparent to his father's dukedom and had to take on additional family obligations and royal duties on behalf of the Queen. He became the second Duke of Gloucester (in the fifth creation of that title) upon the death of his father on 10 June 1974.

Richard was elected as a corporate member of the Royal Institute of British Architects (and FRIBA) in 1972. He is president of the Society of Architect Artists.[8] He also serves as a commissioner of the Historic Building and Monuments Commission for England (English Heritage). He has been patron of construction charity Construction Youth Trust[11] for many years. With his background in architecture, the Duke of Gloucester takes interest in the work of the trust and visits their projects, in addition to giving his name to their long standing Duke of Gloucester Young Achiever's Scheme Awards. The Duke is also patron of the Architects Benevolent Society.[12] The Duke is also vice president of Lepra, a UK-based leprosy charity; as part of this role, he attends national and international events in support of the charity's work. He is royal patron of the UK branch of the charity Habitat for Humanity,[13] royal patron of the St George's Society of New York,[14] and president of The London Society. A keen motorist, Prince Richard passed the Advanced Driving Test of the Institute of Advanced Motorists, of which he was president for more than 32 years. On his appointment in 1971,[15] it was recorded that the new president was "currently [driving] an Austin 1300", reflecting the modest image with which he has always been identified. He stood down as president in January 2005.[16]

The Duke of Gloucester, accompanied by the Duchess, represented his cousin Elizabeth II at the Solomon Islands independence celebrations on 7 July 1978.[17][18] He served as a judge in Prince Edward's charity television special The Grand Knockout Tournament on 15 June 1987.

On 10 April 2008, the Duke of Gloucester was officially installed as inaugural Chancellor of the University of Worcester at a ceremony in Worcester Cathedral. In this role, the Prince officiates at degree ceremonies and major events, as well as promoting the university overseas.[19] The Duke carried out the first of these duties on 5 and 6 November 2008 at the Graduation Award Ceremonies. The Duke is also patron of the Severn Valley Railway and the Pestalozzi International Village Trust. He is patron of the British Homeopathic Association.[20] He shares a name with an earlier Duke of Gloucester, Richard III, and has been patron of the Richard III Society since 1980.[21] He is also a member of the international advisory board of the Royal United Services Institute.[22][23] Since 1972, the Duke has been a corporate member of the Royal Institute of British Architects.[24] He is also an honorary fellow of the Institution of Structural Engineers.[25]

During 2009, the Duke became patron of the de Havilland Aircraft Heritage Centre[26] in support of its bid to raise funds through private means and through a bid for Heritage Lottery Funding. Other patronages include: British Society of Soil Science,[27] the International Council on Monuments and Sites,[28] Action on Smoking and Health,[29] British Association of Friends of Museums,[30] British Mexican Society,[31] St Bartholomew's Hospital,[32] as well as numerous other organisations and charities.[7] In July 2011, the Duke visited the Isle of Man to meet with the representative of Manx National Heritage and the Council of Cancer Charities.[24] On 8 November 2011, he opened the new Law School Building at the University of Hertfordshire on the de Havilland campus site of the former de Havilland Aircraft factory.[33] On 19 March 2013, the Duke represented Elizabeth II at the Vatican for the inauguration of Pope Francis.[34]

The Duke visiting the National Churches Trust in 2018

On 11 March 2015, the Duke visited the Royal School Dungannon in Dungannon, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the founding of the school; presenting a commemorative plaque and raising an anniversary flag on the grounds.[35] On 22 and 26 March 2015, the Duke represented the Queen at the ceremonies marking the reburial and commemorations of King Richard III in Leicester Cathedral. Richard III had held the title Duke of Gloucester before his ascension to the English throne.[36] In March 2018, the Duke travelled to Malawi to attend the Commonwealth Day celebrations, and visited projects related to health services, wildlife, and climate change.[37][38] He missed the celebrations in March 2022 after testing positive for COVID-19.[39]

On 14 September 2022, after the death of Queen Elizabeth II on 8 September, the Duke joined her children, grandsons, nephew, and son-in-law, in walking in the state cortege from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall, for her lying in state.[40]

The Duke and Duchess riding in the Scottish State Coach with Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence following the coronation on 6 May 2023

In 2023 the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester attended the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla in Westminster Abbey, and (in common with other working members of the Royal Family) took part in the Coronation Procession following the service.[41]

Titles, styles, honours and arms

Titles and styles
  • 26 August 1944 – 10 June 1974: His Royal Highness Prince Richard of Gloucester[42]
  • 10 June 1974 – present: His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester

Honours
See also: List of honours of the British royal family by country
The Duke of Gloucester wearing the mantle of the Grand Prior of the Order of St John at an investiture in the United States, 2006

Foreign

Honorary military appointments
Australia Australia
New Zealand New Zealand
United Kingdom United Kingdom

Arms
Coat of arms of the Duke of Gloucester
Notes
The Duke's armorial bearings are based on the royal arms as set down for descendants of George V. The following explains how his arms are different from those of the sovereign and other members of the royal family.
Adopted
1962
Coronet
Coronet of a male-line grandchild of the sovereign.
Crest
On a Coronet of children of other sons of the Sovereign, composed of four Crosses-pattées alternated with four Strawberry Leaves, a Lion statant guardant Or, crowned with the like Coronet, and differenced with a Label as in the Arms.
Supporters
The Royal Supporters, differenced with a Coronet as in the Crest and Label as in the Arms.[49]
Orders
The shield is surrounded by the Garter circlet, whose motto states:
HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE
(Shame be to him who thinks evil of it)
Other elements
Differences from the Royal Arms are a Label of five Points Argent, the centre and two outer Points charged with a Cross Gules, and the inner Points with a Lion passant guardant also Gules.
As Grand Prior, like other Bailiffs Grand Cross of the Most Venerable Order of St John of Jerusalem, he is entitled to augment the Arms of the Order in chief.
Banner
The Duke's standard (or banner) displays his personal arms, granted in 1962.[55]
(in Scotland)
Symbolism
As in the Royal Arms of the United Kingdom, the first and fourth quarters represent England, the second Scotland and the third Ireland.

Issue
NameBirthMarriageIssue
Alexander Windsor, Earl of Ulster24 October 197422 June 2002Claire BoothXan Windsor, Lord Culloden
Lady Cosima Windsor
Lady Davina Windsor19 November 197731 July 2004
Divorced 2018		Gary LewisSenna Lewis
Tāne Lewis
Lady Rose Windsor1 March 198019 July 2008George GilmanLyla Gilman
Rufus Gilman

Ancestry

See also

References
  1. "No. 36678". The London Gazette. 29 August 1944. p. 4017.
  2. As a titled royal, Richard needs no surname, but, when one is used, it is Windsor.
  3. The Times, 21 October 1944
  4. The Times, 5 August 1942
  5. "Yvonne's Royalty Home Page – Royal Christenings". users.uniserve.com. Archived from the original on 6 August 2011. Retrieved 30 April 2011.
  6. His godparents were his paternal aunt, Queen Elizabeth, Princess Marie Louise (his cousin), the Countess of Athlone (his grandaunt, for whom her daughter, Lady May Abel Smith stood proxy), the Duke of Buccleuch (his maternal uncle), the Marquess of Cambridge (his cousin), Lady Sybil Phipps (his maternal aunt), and General the Earl Alexander of Tunis (for whom his wife, then Lady Margaret Alexander, stood proxy). Because of the War, newspapers did not identify the precise location of the christening, saying only that it took place at "a private chapel in the country".[3][4][5]
  7. "HRH The Duke of Gloucester KG GCVO". Gov.mt. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  8. "HRH Prince Richard The Duke of Gloucester". University of Worcester. 2008. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  9. "Royal residences: Kensington Palace". Official website of the Royal Family. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013.
  10. "The Queen's cousin to sell his historic Northamptonshire manor for £4.75 million". 29 September 2022.
  11. "Our Patron". Construction Youth Trust. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
  12. "Royal Patron for ABS". www.architectsjournal.co.uk. Architects Journal. 6 March 2003. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
  13. "Royal Patron visits HFH Hale County". Habitat for Humanity GB. 30 October 2015. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
  14. "Board of Directors". St. George's Society of New York. Archived from the original on 13 April 2013. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
  15. "Appointments Register". Motor. 9 October 1971. p. 57.
  16. Resignation Press Release Archived 17 May 2005 at the Wayback Machine
  17. Gloucester, Duke and Duchess of, Solomon Islands Historical Encyclopaedia 1893-1978, Retrieved 2019-02-06.
  18. "Solomon Islands to Get a Royal Visit'". Solomon Islands Times. 17 June 2008. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
  19. "HRH Prince Richard The Duke of Gloucester". University of Worcester. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  20. "Royal support for homeopathy". British Homeopathic Association. March 2016. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  21. Walker, Tim (2 March 2013). "Duke of Gloucester's concern for Richard III's 'dignity'". The Telegraph. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
  22. "Charities and Patronages". The Royal Family. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
  23. "The Duke of Gloucester Lecture Series: Flooding and the British Armed Forces". RUSI. 12 November 2014. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
  24. "Duke of Gloucester to visit Isle of Man". BBC. 29 June 2011. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  25. "History of the Institution of Structural Engineers" (PDF). Institution of Structural Engineers. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  26. "Court Circular: May 16". The Times. 15 May 2009. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
  27. "Patron". British Society of Soil Science. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  28. "ICOMOS-UK Launches Cultural Heritage Manifesto in 50th Anniversary Year". ICOMOS-UK. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  29. "ASH Spokespeople". ASH. August 2016. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  30. "About BAFM". British Association of Friends of Museums. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  31. "BMS Organisation". British Mexican Society. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  32. "A Royal visit for St Bartholomew's". Barts Health NHS Trust. 3 October 2017. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  33. Lennon, Chris (9 November 2011). "Royal opening of University of Hertfordshire law court". Welwyn Hatfield Times. WGC. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
  34. "Cousin stands in for Queen at Pope Francis 'crowning'". Evening Standard. 15 March 2013. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
  35. Murrison, Andrew (11 March 2015). "Duke of Gloucester visits Northern Ireland". gov.uk. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
  36. "Order of Service for the Reinterment of the Remains of King Richard III" (PDF). 26 March 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 March 2015. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
  37. "The Duke of Gloucester visits Malawi". The Royal Family. 15 March 2018. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  38. "Royal Visit: The Duke of Gloucester to visit Malawi in the Commonwealth Week". CNBC Africa. 9 March 2018. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  39. Petit, Stephanie (11 March 2022). "Queen Elizabeth Will Not Attend Commonwealth Day Service Following COVID-19 Recovery". People. Retrieved 15 March 2022. However, the Queen's other cousin, the Duke of Gloucester, and his wife the Duchess of Gloucester will no longer attend following the Duke's positive test for COVID-19.
  40. Booth, Robert (14 September 2022). "Queen to lie in state for four days in Westminster Hall before funeral". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  41. Hainey, Fionnula (6 May 2023). "Who is in the Coronation Procession - full list including royal family members". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  42. "No. 43918". The London Gazette. 8 March 1966. p. 2591.
  43. "Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee 2022 - The Lord Mayor's Reception For The National Service Of Thanksgiving". Getty Images. 3 June 2022. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  44. Mussell, John W. (2004). Mackay, James (ed.). The Medal Yearbook 2004. Devon, UK: Token Publishing Ltd. p. 236. ISBN 9781870192620.
  45. Archived 28 October 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  46. "Royal orders presented at Palace". Matangi Tonga Online. 1 August 2008. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  47. "TRH THE PRINCE OF WALES AND THE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL AWARDED WITH THE MEXICAN ORDER OF THE AZTEC EAGLE". Official website of the Mexican Embassy in the United Kingdom. Retrieved 11 April 2019.
  48. Olvera Ayes, David A (2011). La Orden Mexicana del Águila Azteca: apuntes para su historia. Mexico: Cuadernos del cronista. p. 719. ISBN 978-6070047213.
  49. "Burke's Peerage – The Royal Family – HRH The Duke of Gloucester". Burke's Peerage & Gentry and The Origins Network. Retrieved 7 June 2011.
  50. "No. 57032". The London Gazette (Supplement). 19 August 2003. p. 10318.
  51. "No. 52834". The London Gazette (2nd supplement). 13 February 1992. p. 2582.
  52. "Further Military Appointments for Members of the Royal Family". The Royal Family. 11 August 2023. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  53. "No. 56269". The London Gazette (Supplement). 10 July 2001. p. 8120.
  54. "No. 54519". The London Gazette. 9 September 1996. p. 12011.
  55. "Duke of Gloucester". britishflags.net. Archived from the original on 1 February 2009.
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