About The Duke of Gloucester
The Duke of Gloucester carries out a significant number of public duties and undertakes hundreds of official engagements in the UK and overseas each year. The Duke is associated with over 150 charities and organisations. His patronages reflect his professional and personal interests, which include international humanitarian issues, heritage and the built environment and military veterans.
Many of The Duke’s Patronages are related to architecture and conservation, both areas in which The Duke remains deeply interested. He was elected a corporate member of the Royal Institute of British Architects in 1972 and he is President of the Scottish Society of the Architect-Artists. His fellowships include those of the Institution of Structural Engineers and the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland.
His Royal Highness is a supporter of several architectural preservation societies, including the Kensington Society and the Victorian Society, as well as the International Council on Monuments and Sites, UK National Committee.
The Duke is Patron or President of many charities and organisations, covering a diverse range of causes and interests, ranging from ASH (Action on Smoking and Health) to the British Association of Friends of Museums, British-Mexican Society to St Bartholomew's Hospital, and the British Homeopathic Association to the Japan Society.
The Duke of Gloucester has travelled extensively overseas in support of the organisations with which he is linked. His Royal Highness first represented the late Queen Elizabeth II overseas in 1970, at the wedding of Crown Prince Birendra of Nepal. The Duke has subsequently attended the independence celebrations of the Seychelles, the Solomon Islands, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Vanuatu.
The Duke represented Her Majesty at the Funeral of King Tupou V of Tonga in March 2012; at the Vatican for the Inauguration of Pope Francis on 19 March 2013; and in South Korea for the 60th Anniversary of the signing of the Korean War Armistice in July 2013.
Biography
The Duke of Gloucester is the second son of the late Duke of Gloucester and the late Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester, who was the third daughter of the 7th Duke of Buccleuch.
His Royal Highness is a grandson of George V and a first cousin to the late Queen Elizabeth II. He became heir to his father's titles following the death of his elder brother, Prince William of Gloucester, in a flying accident on 28 August 1972. He succeeded his father in June 1974.
Born Prince Richard of Gloucester on 26 August 1944 at Northampton, he was christened Richard Alexander Walter George. At the age of four months he was taken by his parents to Australia, where for two years (1945-47) his father was Governor-General.
Prince Richard's early education was at home, before going to school at Wellesley House, Broadstairs and then Eton.
In 1963, Prince Richard went to Magdalene College, Cambridge, where he read architecture. He graduated in 1966, having completed three years of his five-year architectural course, and then joined the (then) Offices Development Group of the Ministry of Public Building and Works for his year's 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.
Prince Richard had planned a full-time career in architecture but, on the death of his elder brother, he became his father's heir and took on increased royal duties and the responsibility for the family estate at Barnwell in Northamptonshire. The Duke therefore resigned his partnership.
In February 1972, the engagement of Prince Richard of Gloucester to Birgitte van Deurs was announced. The marriage took place on 8 July 1972 at St Andrew's Church at Barnwell.
The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester live at Kensington Palace and have three children: The Earl of Ulster (born 1974), The Lady Davina Windsor (now The Lady Davina Lewis, born 1977) and The Lady Rose Windsor (now The Lady Rose Gilman, born 1980), all of whom are married and have children of their own. None of Their Royal Highnesses' children carry out official royal duties.
Supporting The Monarch
The Duke of Gloucester supports The King in his role as Head of State by representing His Majesty at events in the UK and abroad, as well as attending state and ceremonial occasions alongside other members of the Royal Family.
The Duke first represented The Queen overseas in 1970, at the wedding of Crown Prince Birendra of Nepal. The Duke has subsequently attended the independence celebrations of the Seychelles, the Solomon Islands, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Vanuatu.
The Duke represented Her Majesty at the Funeral of King Tupou V of Tonga in March 2012; at the Vatican for the Inauguration of Pope Francis on 19 March 2013; and in South Korea for the 60th Anniversary of the signing of the Korean War Armistice in July 2013.
Filter results by:
City of Gloucester
Website: https://www.gloucester.gov.uk
English cathedral city.
Region: UK (England)
Members of the Royal Family:
The Duchess of Gloucester, Freeman
The Duke of Gloucester, HONORARY FREEMAN
City of London
Historic mercantile centre of London, covering one square mile.
Region: UK (England)
Members of the Royal Family:
The Princess Royal, Honorary Freeman
The Duke of Gloucester, Freeman
The King, Honorary Freeman
Queen Elizabeth II, Honorary Freeman
The Duke of Kent, Freeman
Princess Alexandra, Freeman
The Duchess of Gloucester, Freeman
Construction Youth Trust
Website: https://www.constructionyouth.org.uk
Charitable trust assisting people under the age of 30 to acquire construction industry skills.
Region: UK-wide
Members of the Royal Family:
The Duke of Gloucester, Patron
Crown Agents Foundation
Website: https://www.crownagents.com
The Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation which has two primary functions: (a) to ensure Crown Agents stays true to its mission of helping to achieve positive change in developing countries, and (b) to apply funds made available to it by Crown Agents for developmental purposes. The Foundation aims to relieve the poverty, distress and suffering of people in any part of the world, and to promote the education and training of people in parts of the world where they lack the means to develop their skills.
Region: International
Members of the Royal Family:
The Duke of Gloucester, President
Cultura Trust
Website: https://www.nect.org.uk
Conservation body active in regeneration across the North East of England.
Region: UK (England)
Members of the Royal Family:
The Duke of Gloucester, Patron
Ecclesbourne Valley Railway Association
Website: https://www.evra.org.uk
To restore the heritage of, and to reopen the Duffield to Wirksworth Railway line
Region: UK (England)
Members of the Royal Family:
The Duke of Gloucester, Honorary Membership
English Heritage
Website: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk
Organisation for American donors to English Heritage.
Region: Rest of world
Members of the Royal Family:
The Duke of Gloucester, Patron
Epping Forest Heritage Trust
Website: https://www.efct.info
Aea of ancient woodland in South East England, between north-east London and Essex.
Region: UK (England)
Members of the Royal Family:
The Duke of Gloucester, Ranger
Flag Fen
Website: https://www.flagfen.com
Organisation conserving the Bronze Age archaeological heritage of Flag Fen near Peterborough.
Region: UK (England)
Members of the Royal Family:
The Duke of Gloucester, Patron
Fortress Study Group
Website: https://www.fsgfort.com
Organisation interested in all aspects of military architecture and fortifications.
Region: UK-wide
Members of the Royal Family:
The Duke of Gloucester, Patron