prince richard, duke of gloucester

His Royal Highness Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester (Richard Alexander Walter George Windsor), styled HRH The Duke of Gloucester (born August 26, 1944), is a member of the British Royal Family, a grandson of King George V. He has held the title of Duke of Gloucester since 1974. The Duke of Gloucester is currently 18th in the line of succession. The Duke of Gloucester carries out royal engagements on behalf of his cousin, Queen Elizabeth II.

Early Life

Prince Richard was born on August 26, 1944 at Barnwell Manor, Northamptonshire. His father was HRH Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, the third eldest son of King George V and Queen Mary. His mother was HRH The Duchess of Gloucester (ne Lady Alice Christabel Montagu-Douglas-Scott), the eldest daughter of John Montagu-Douglas-Scott, 7th Duke of Buccleuch. As a grandson of the British monarch in the male line, he was styled His Royal Highness Prince Richard of Gloucester at birth. At the time of his birth he was fifth in the line of succession to the throne, and second in line to his father's dukedom, behind his brother, HRH Prince William of Gloucester. When he was four months old, Prince Richard accompanied his parents to Australia, where his father was Governor-General of Australia from 1945 to 1947. The family returned to Barnwell Manor in 1947.

Career

Education

Prince Richard's early education was at home later attending school at Wellesley House, Broadstairs, and then Eton College. In 1963, he went to Magdalene College, Cambridge to read architecture. He received a bachelor of arts in June 1966.

Architecture

After university, Prince Richard joined the (then) Offices Development Group of the Ministry of Public Building and Works for a year of practical work, returning to Cambridge in 1967. In June 1969, he passed both parts of his Diploma in Architecture at the university. After completing his training, he went into practice as a partner in a firm of London architects. Although he planned to practice full time as an architect, the death of his brother, Prince William of Gloucester, left Richard first in line to his father's dukedom, and increasing royal duties. He therefore resigned his partnership, and began to represent his cousin, Queen Elizabeth II on royal occasions.

Marriage

On 8 June 1972, Prince Richard of Gloucester married Birgitte van Deurs, a Danish citizen, the daughter of Asger Henriksen and Vivian van Deurs, at St. Andrew's Church, Barnwell, Northamptonshire. The event was relatively low key compared to the large royal weddings of his cousins Princess Margaret and the Duke of Kent. Together the couple have three children:

Alexander Windsor, Earl of Ulster (born October 24, 1974)
Lady Davina Windsor (born November 19,1977)
Lady Rose Windsor (born March 1, 1980)

None of the children carry out royal duties, and they have no royal titles. Alexander Windsor became known as the Earl of Ulster as the courtesy title of the Duke of Gloucester. The other children are styled as children of Dukes.

Duke of Gloucester

On 10 June 1974, Prince Richard's father died and he succeeded to the titles of Duke of Gloucester, Earl of Ulster and Baron Culloden. Both the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester make many public appearances and are popular members of the royal family. The Duke is particularly interested in architecture and conservation. He became a corporate member of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) in 1972; and serves as a commissioner of the Historic Building and Monuments Commission for England (English Heritage). A keen motorist, Prince Richard is president of the Institute of Advanced Motorists. This post became a matter of review when, on December 23, 2004, he was banned from driving for six months and fined for speeding it being his fourth similar offence in three years. The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester's official residence is at Kensington Palace, London. They have leased Barnwell Manor since 1994. On October 29, 2004, the Duke's mother, HRH Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester died, the longest ever living member of the British Royal Family.