Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester

He married Birgitte van Deurs Henriksen on 8 July 1972. They have three children.

• Name — Prince Richard • Title — Duke of Gloucester (more) • Birth Name — Prince Richard of Gloucester • Born — 26 August 1944 • Birthplace — St Matthew's Nursing Home, Northampton, England • Full Name — Richard Alexander Walter George • House — Windsor • Issue — * Alexander Windsor, Earl of Ulster • Lady Davina Windsor • Lady Rose Gilman • Father — Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester • Mother — Lady Alice Montagu Douglas Scott

• Illustration — Richard with his father in 1945 Richard was born at 12:15pm on 26 August 1944 at St Matthew's Nursing Home in Northampton, the second son of Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, and Alice, Duchess of Gloucester. His father was the third son of King George V and Queen Mary. His mother was the third daughter of John Montagu Douglas Scott, 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 died in an air crash in 1972 before inheriting the title and having any children of his own. At his birth the King suggested he be named Charles, with his parents preferring Richard, which was the name chosen. Richard was baptised at the Royal Chapel of All Saints in Windsor Great Park on 20 October by the retired Archbishop of Canterbury, Cosmo Gordon Lang. His godparents were his paternal aunt Princess Mary, Queen Elizabeth, Princess Marie Louise (his first cousin twice removed), Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone (his grandaunt and first cousin twice removed, 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". 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.

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. In 1963, he matriculated at Magdalene College, Cambridge, where he studied architecture, graduating with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in June 1966. As is customary at Cambridge, this proceeded to MA (Cantab) in 1971. In 1966, 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.

Marriage and issue • Illustration — Richard and Birgitte On 8 July 1972, Richard married Danish-born Birgitte van Deurs Henriksen at St Andrew's Church, Barnwell, Northamptonshire; they have three children: • Alexander Patrick Gregers Richard Windsor, Earl of Ulster (born 24 October 1974 at St Mary's Hospital, London) • Lady Davina Elizabeth Alice Benedikte Windsor (born 19 November 1977 at St Mary's Hospital, London) • Lady Rose Victoria Birgitte Louise Gilman (born 1 March 1980 at St Mary's Hospital, London) Richard and Birgitte's official residence is at Kensington Palace in London. They had leased their private home, Barnwell Manor, since 1994. In September 2022, Richard put the manor up for sale for £4.75 million and it was sold in April 2024.

Richard ended his architectural career in 1972, after the death of his elder brother Prince William, who was killed in an air crash during 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 Duke of Gloucester on his father's death on 10 June 1974. He has been a corporate member of the Royal Institute of British Architects since 1972. Richard is president of the Society of Architect Artists, an honorary fellow of the Institution of Structural Engineers, and was a trustee of the British Museum, deputy chairman of the Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission for England and a commissioner of English Heritage between 1998 and 2001. He has been patron of construction charity Construction Youth Trust for many years. With his background in architecture, Richard 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. He is patron of the Architects Benevolent Society. He is 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. Richard is royal patron of the Society of Antiquaries of London (and elected FSA) since 2001, royal patron of the UK branch of the charity Habitat for Humanity, royal patron of the St George's Society of New York, and president of The London Society. A keen motorist, he 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, 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. Richard, accompanied by the Duchess, represented his cousin Elizabeth II at the Seychelles independence ceremonies on 26 June 1976 and again at the Solomon Islands independence celebrations on 7 July 1978. He served as a judge in Prince Edward's charity television special The Grand Knockout Tournament on 15 June 1987. On 10 April 2008, Richard was officially installed as inaugural Chancellor of the University of Worcester during a ceremony at Worcester Cathedral. In this role, he officiates at degree ceremonies and major events, as well as promoting the university overseas. He carried out the first of these duties on 5 and 6 November 2008 at the Graduation Award Ceremonies. Richard is a patron of the Severn Valley Railway and the Pestalozzi International Village Trust. He is patron of the British Homeopathic Association. He shares a name with an earlier Duke of Gloucester, Richard III, and has been patron of the Richard III Society since 1980. He is a member of the international advisory board of the Royal United Services Institute. During 2009, Richard became patron of the de Havilland Aircraft Heritage Centre 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, the International Council on Monuments and Sites, Action on Smoking and Health, British Association of Friends of Museums, British Mexican Society, St Bartholomew's Hospital, as well as numerous other organisations and charities. In July 2011, he visited the Isle of Man to meet with the representative of Manx National Heritage and the Council of Cancer Charities. 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. On 19 March 2013, Richard represented Elizabeth II at the Vatican for the inauguration of Pope Francis. • Illustration — Richard in 2018 visiting the National Churches Trust On 11 March 2015, Richard visited the Royal School Dungannon in County Tyrone to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the founding of the school; presenting a commemorative plaque and raising an anniversary flag on the grounds. On 22 and 26 March 2015, he 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. In March 2018, Richard travelled to Malawi to attend the Commonwealth Day celebrations, and visited projects related to health services, wildlife, and climate change. He missed the celebrations in March 2022 after testing positive for COVID-19. On 14 September 2022, after the death of Queen Elizabeth II on 8 September, Richard 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. • Illustration — Richard and Birgitte riding in the Scottish State Coach with Vice-Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence following the coronation on 6 May 2023 In 2023 Richard and Birgitte 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.

Richard was originally styled "His Royal Highness Prince Richard of Gloucester". Since becoming duke in 1974, he has been known as "His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester".

• 2008–present: Chancellor of the University of Worcester

• Honorary Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Basketmakers • Honorary Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths • Honorary Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Grocers • Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Masons • Patron of the Worshipful Company of Pattenmakers • Honorary Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Vintners

• Name — 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 differenced from those of the Sovereign and other members of the Royal Family. • Coronet — Coronet of a male-line grandchild of the Sovereign. • Year Adopted — 1962 • 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. • Orders — The Shield is surrounded by the Garter circlet, inscribed with its Motto: 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. (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.

• Name — Birth — Marriage — Children • Alexander Windsor, Earl of Ulster — 24 October 1974 — 22 June 2002 — Claire Booth — Xan Windsor, Lord Culloden Lady Cosima Windsor • Lady Davina Windsor — 19 November 1977 — 31 July 2004 Divorced 2018 — Gary Lewis — Senna Lewis Tāne Lewis • Lady Rose Gilman — 1 March 1980 — 19 July 2008 — George Gilman — Lyla Gilman Rufus Gilman

• Illustration — Robed in the mantle of Grand Prior of the Order of St John, 2006 • Country — Date — Appointment — Ribbon — Post-nominal letters — Other • Commonwealth — 2 June 1953 — Recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal — • 1 January 1974 — Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order — — GCVO • 6 February 1975 — Grand Prior and Bailiff Grand Cross of the Order of St John — — GCStJ • 6 February 1977 — Recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal — • 7 July 1978 — Recipient of the Solomon Islands Independence Medal — • 30 July 1980 — Recipient of the Vanuatu Independence Medal — • 1980 — Recipient of the Badge of Honour, New Hebrides — • 1984 — Recipient of the Service Medal of the Order of St John — — (with 5th bar (2 gold bars)) • 1997 — Royal Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter — — KG • 6 February 2002 — Recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal — • 4 August 2008 — Recipient of the Star of the Solomon Islands — — SSI • 6 February 2012 — Recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal — • 6 February 2022 — Recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal — • 6 May 2023 — Recipient of the King Charles III Coronation Medal — • Norway — 1973 — Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Norwegian Order of St Olav — • Mexico — 1973 — Sash of the Mexican Order of the Aztec Eagle — • 9 September 2015 — Sash of Special Category of the Mexican Order of the Aztec Eagle — • Sweden — 1975 — Commander Grand Cross of the Royal Order of the Polar Star — • Nepal — 1975 — Member, 1st Class of the Most Illustrious Order of Tri Shakti Patta — • 24 February 1975 — Recipient of the Nepalese Coronation Medal — • Tonga — 1 August 2008 — Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Royal Order of the Crown of Tonga —

The ribbons worn regularly by Richard in undress uniform are as follows: • — — — • — — — • — — —

• Australia • army Colonel-in-Chief, of the Royal Australian Army Education Corps • New Zealand • army Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal New Zealand Army Medical Corps • United Kingdom • army Colonel-in-Chief, of the Royal Anglian Regiment • army Colonel-in-Chief, of the Royal Army Medical Service • army Deputy Colonel-in-Chief, of the Royal Logistic Corps • army Royal Colonel, of the 6th (V) Battalion, The Rifles • army Royal Honorary Colonel, of the Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers (Militia) • army Colonel-in-Chief, of the Royal Army Medical Corps (until 15 November 2024 when the corps was amalgamated) • air force Honorary Air Commodore in Chief, of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force • air force Honorary Air Commodore, of RAF Odiham • air force Honorary Air Commodore, of 501 (County of Gloucester) Squadron, Royal Auxiliary Air Force, 16 June 2001 • air force Honorary Air Marshal, Royal Air Force, 1 September 1996