Dukedom of Gloucester | |
---|---|
Creation date | 31 March, 1928 |
Monarch | King George V |
Peerage | Peerage of the United Kingdom |
First holder |
HRH The Prince Henry, 1st Duke of Gloucester |
Present holder |
HRH Prince Richard, 2nd Duke of Gloucester |
Heir apparent | Alexander Windsor, Earl of Ulster |
Remainder to | the 1st Duke's heirs male of the body lawfully begotten |
Subsidiary titles |
Earl of Ulster Baron Culloden |
Duke of Gloucester /ˈɡlɒstə/ is a British royal title (after Gloucester), often conferred on one of the sons of the reigning monarch. The first four creations were in the Peerage of England and the last in the Peerage of the United Kingdom; the current creation carries with it the subsidiary titles of Earl of Ulster and Baron Culloden.
The title was first conferred on , the thirteenth child of King Edward III. The title became extinct at his death, as it did upon the death of the duke of the second creation, Humphrey of Lancaster, fourth son of King Henry IV.
The title was next conferred on Richard Plantagenet, brother to King Edward IV. When Richard himself became king, the dukedom merged into the crown. After Richard's death, the title was considered ominous, since the first three such dukes had all died without issue to inherit their titles. The title was not awarded for over 150 years: the next to receive the dukedom was the son of King Charles I, Henry Stuart, upon whose death the title again became extinct.
Prince William, Duke of Gloucester, son of the future Anne, Queen of Great Britain (Queen Anne), was styled "Duke of Gloucester" for his whole life (1689–1700), but was never formally created duke. Frederick, Prince of Wales, was styled "Duke of Gloucester" from 1718–1726, but was then created Duke of Edinburgh rather than of Gloucester.