View source for Duke of Gloucester

{{Short description|Aristocratic title}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{For2|the current holder of the title|Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester|the 1954 steam locomotive of the same name|BR Standard Class 8}}
{{one source|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox nobility title
| name              = Dukedom of Gloucester 
| image             = [[File:Coat of Arms of Richard, Duke of Gloucester.svg|180px]] 
| image_size        =  
| alt               =  
| caption           = [[Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester#Arms|Arms]] of [[Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester]]
| creation_date     = 31 March 1928 
| creation          = Fifth 
| monarch           = [[George V]] 
| peerage           = [[Peerage of the United Kingdom]] 
| baronetage        =  
| first_holder      = [[Thomas of Woodstock, Duke of Gloucester|Thomas of Woodstock]]
| last_holder       =  
| present_holder    = [[Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester|Prince Richard]] 
| heir_apparent     = [[Alexander Windsor, Earl of Ulster]] 
| heir_presumptive  =  
| remainder_to      = the 1st Duke's [[heirs male]] [[heirs of the body|of the body]] lawfully begotten 
| subsidiary_titles = [[Earl of Ulster]]<br />[[Baron Culloden]] 
| status            = Extant 
| extinction_date   =  
| family_seat       = 
| former_seat       = [[Barnwell Manor]]
| motto             =  
| footnotes         =  
}}
'''Duke of Gloucester''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|ɡ|l|ɒ|s|t|ər|audio=en-gloucester.ogg}} {{respell|GLOST|ər}}) 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 [[Thomas of Woodstock, 1st Duke of Gloucester|Thomas of Woodstock]], the thirteenth child of [[Edward III of England|King Edward III]]. The title became extinct at his death, as it did upon the death of the duke of the second creation, [[Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester|Humphrey of Lancaster]], fourth son of [[Henry IV of England|King Henry IV]].

The title was next conferred on [[Richard III of England|Richard]], 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 [[Charles I of England|King Charles I]], [[Henry Stuart, Duke of Gloucester|Henry Stuart]], upon whose death the title again became extinct.

[[Prince William, Duke of Gloucester|Prince William]], 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.

There was next a creation of a double dukedom (not two dukedoms) for the brother of [[King George III]], [[Prince William Henry, Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh|Prince William Henry]], his proper title becoming "[[Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh]]".

The fifth and most recent creation was for [[Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester|Prince Henry]], third son of [[King George V]], styled as ''His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester''. Upon Prince Henry's death, the dukedom was inherited by his only surviving son [[Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester|Prince Richard]], who still holds the title. The heir-apparent to the title is [[Alexander Windsor, Earl of Ulster|Alexander Windsor]], styled Earl of Ulster. The next in the line of succession is the Earl of Ulster's son Xan Windsor, known by his grandfather's third title of [[Xan Windsor, Lord Culloden|Lord Culloden]].
The royal dukedom will devolve into an ordinary one when inherited by Alexander Windsor; as a great-grandson of a sovereign he is not entitled to royal style, and will be styled as ''His Grace The Duke of Gloucester''.
[[File:The Duke of Gloucester in 2008 cropped.jpg|right|thumb|[[Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester|Prince Richard]], the current Duke of Gloucester]]

==Dukes of Gloucester==
===First creation, 1385–1397===
{| class="wikitable"
!Duke
!Portrait
!Birth
!Marriage(s)
!Death
!Arms
|-
| '''[[Thomas of Woodstock, Duke of Gloucester|Thomas of Woodstock]]'''<br/>[[House of Plantagenet]]<br/>1385–1397<br/>''{{Small|also: [[Duke of Aumale]] (1385–1397), [[Earl of Essex]] (1376–1397), [[Earl of Buckingham]] (1377)}}''
| [[File:ThomasWoodstock.jpg|100px|Thomas of Woodstock]]
| 7 January 1355<br/>[[Woodstock Palace]]<br/>son of [[Edward III of England]] and [[Philippa of Hainault|Queen Philippa]]
| [[Eleanor de Bohun]]<br/>1376<br/>5 children
| 8 September 1397<br/>[[Calais]]<br/>aged 42
|[[File:Arms of Thomas of Woodstock, 1st Duke of Gloucester.svg|center|116x116px]]
|-
| colspan="6" |''Thomas of Woodstock's son died two years after his father, but never succeeded to his titles except that of [[Earl of Buckingham]]. At the time of Thomas's death, he was regarded as a traitor and thus his titles were forfeit after his murder (except Earl of Buckingham). His son had no issue and his male line died out in 1399.''

|}

===Second creation, 1414–1447===

{| class="wikitable"
!Duke
!Portrait
!Birth
!Marriage(s)
!Death
!Arms
|-
| '''[[Humphrey of Lancaster, 1st Duke of Gloucester|Humphrey of Lancaster]]'''<br/>[[House of Lancaster]]<br/>1414–1447<br/>''{{Small|also: [[Earl of Pembroke]] (1414)}}''
| [[File:HumphreyGloucester.jpg|100px|Humphrey of Lancaster]]
| 3 October 1390<br/>[[Lancaster Castle]]<br/>son of [[Henry IV of England]] and [[Mary de Bohun]]
| [[Jacqueline, Countess of Hainaut]]<br/>1422–1428 (annulled)<br/>1 child (stillborn)<br/><br/>[[Eleanor, Duchess of Gloucester|Eleanor de Cobham]]<br/>1428–1441 (annulled)<br/>2 children
| 23 February 1447<br/>[[Bury St Edmunds]]<br/>aged 56
|[[File:Arms of Humphrey of Lancaster, 1st Duke of Gloucester.svg|center|116x116px]]
|-
| colspan="6" |''Before marrying Humphrey, Eleanor de Cobham was his mistress. At the time of Humphrey's 1447 death, he had two children, Arthur and Antigone. However, both children were born before his marriage to Eleanor and were thus illegitimate and could not succeed to his titles; so, accordingly, all his titles became extinct on his death.''

|}

===Third creation, 1461===

{| class="wikitable"
!Duke
!Portrait
!Birth
!Marriage(s)
!Death
!Arms
|-
| '''[[Richard III of England|Richard Plantagenet]]'''<br/>[[House of York]]<br/>1461–1483
| [[File:King Richard III.jpg|100px|Richard Plantagenet]]
| 2 October 1452<br/>[[Fotheringhay Castle]], [[Oundle]]<br/>son of [[Richard of York, 3rd Duke of York|Richard, Duke of York]] and [[Cecily Neville, Duchess of York|Cecily Neville]]
| [[Anne Neville]]<br/>1472–1485<br/>(her death)<br/>1 child
| 22 August 1485<br/>[[Battle of Bosworth Field|Bosworth Field]]<br/>aged 32
|[[File:Arms of Thomas of Lancaster, 1st Duke of Clarence.svg|center|116x116px]]
|-
| colspan="6" |''Richard succeeded as '''Richard III''' in 1483 upon his [[Princes in the Tower|nephew's disappearance]], and his titles merged with the crown.''

|}

===Fourth creation, 1659===

{| class="wikitable"
!Duke
!Portrait
!Birth
!Marriage(s)
!Death
!Arms
|-

| '''[[Henry Stuart, Duke of Gloucester|Henry Stuart]]'''<br/>[[House of Stuart]]<br/>1659–1660<br/>''{{Small|also: [[Earl of Cambridge]] (1659)}}'' 
| [[File:Jan Boeckhorst - Prince Henry (1640–1660), Duke of Gloucester.jpg|100px|Henry Stuart]]
| 8 July 1640<br/>[[Oatlands Palace]], [[Oatlands, Surrey|Oatlands]]<br/>son of [[Charles I of England|King Charles I]] and [[Henrietta Maria of France|Queen Henrietta Maria]]
| Never married
| 18 September 1660<br/>[[Palace of Whitehall|Whitehall]], [[London]]<br/>aged 20
|[[File:Coat of Arms of Henry Stuart, Duke of Gloucester.svg|center|100x100px]]
|-
| colspan="6" |''Henry Stuart had no children and all his titles became extinct on his death.''
|}

===''Only styled'', 1689===

{| class="wikitable"
!Duke
!Portrait
!Birth
!Marriage(s)
!Death
!Arms
|-
| '''[[Prince William, Duke of Gloucester|Prince William]]'''<br/>[[House of Oldenburg]]<br/>1689–1700
| [[File:PrinceWilliamDukeOfGloucester.jpg|100px|Prince William of Denmark]]
| 24 July 1689<br/>[[Hampton Court Palace]], [[London]]<br/>son of [[Anne, Queen of Great Britain|Queen Anne]] and [[Prince George of Denmark|Prince George]]
| Never married
| 30 July 1700<br/>[[Windsor Castle]], [[Windsor, Berkshire|Windsor]]<br/>aged 11
|[[File:Coat of Arms of William of Denmark, Duke of Gloucester.svg|center|100x100px]]
|}

===''Only styled'', 1717===

{| class="wikitable"
!Duke
!Portrait
!Birth
!Marriage(s)
!Death
|-
| '''[[Frederick, Prince of Wales|Prince Frederick]]'''<br/>[[House of Hanover]]<br/>1717–1726
| [[File:Frederick Prince of Wales.jpg|100px|Prince Frederick]]
| 1 February 1707<br/>[[Leineschloss]], [[Hanover]]<br/>son of [[George II of Great Britain|King George II]] and [[Caroline of Ansbach|Queen Caroline]]
| [[Princess Augusta of Saxe-Gotha]]<br/>17 April 1736<br/>9 children
| 31 March 1751<br/>[[Leicester Square#History|Leicester House]], [[London]]<br/>aged 44
|}

===Fifth creation, 1928===
''Also: [[Earl of Ulster]] and [[Baron Culloden]] (1928)''<ref>[https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/33371/page/2321 London Gazette, Issue:33371, Page:2321]</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
!Duke
!Portrait
!Birth
!Marriage(s)
!Death
!Arms
|-
| '''[[Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester|Prince Henry]]'''<br/>[[House of Windsor]]<br/>1928–1974
| [[File:Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester.jpg|100px|Prince Henry]]
| 31 March 1900<br/>[[York Cottage]], [[Sandringham, Norfolk|Sandringham]]<br/>son of [[George V|King George V]] and [[Mary of Teck|Queen Mary]]
| [[Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester|Lady Alice Montagu Douglas Scott]]<br/>6 November 1935<br/>2 children
| 10 June 1974<br/>[[Barnwell Manor]], [[Barnwell, Northamptonshire|Barnwell]]<br/>aged 74
|[[File:Coat of Arms of Henry, Duke of Gloucester.svg|center|100x100px]]
|-
| '''[[Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester|Prince Richard]]'''<br/>[[House of Windsor]]<br/>1974–present
| [[File:Duke of Gloucester (Grand Prior).jpg|100px|Prince Richard]]
| 26 August 1944<br/>St. Matthew's Nursing Home, [[Northampton]]<br/>son of [[Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester|Prince Henry]] and [[Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester|Princess Alice]]
| [[Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester|Birgitte van Deurs Henriksen]]<br/>8 June 1972<br/>3 children
| {{Spaced en dash}}<br/>now {{Age in years and days|1944|8|26}} old
|[[File:Coat of Arms of Richard, Duke of Gloucester.svg|center|100x100px]]
|}

==Line of succession==
{{Tree list}}
*[[File:Coronet of a Child of the Sovereign.svg|15px]] ''[[Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester]] (1900–1974)''
** [[File:Coronet of a Grandchild of the Sovereign.svg|15px]] ''[[Prince William of Gloucester]] (1941–1972)''
**[[File:Coronet of a Grandchild of the Sovereign.svg|15px]] '''[[Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester]]''' (born 1944) 
***'''(1)''' [[Alexander Windsor, Earl of Ulster]] (born 1974)
**** '''(2)''' Xan Windsor, Lord Culloden (born 2007)
{{Tree list/end}}

==Arms==
<gallery>
File:Arms of Thomas of Woodstock, 1st Duke of Gloucester.svg|Arms of [[Thomas of Woodstock, Duke of Gloucester|Thomas of Woodstock]]: ''[[Royal arms of England]]'' (arms of his father King Edward III) with [[Difference (heraldry)|difference]] ''a bordure argent''
File:Arms of Humphrey of Lancaster, 1st Duke of Gloucester.svg|Arms of [[Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester|Humphrey of Lancaster, 1st Duke of Gloucester]]: ''[[Coat of arms|Arms]] of King Henry IV [[Cadency|differenced]] by a [[bordure]] [[argent]]''
File:Arms of Thomas of Lancaster, 1st Duke of Clarence.svg|Arms of [[Thomas of Lancaster, Duke of Clarence|Thomas of Lancaster, 1st Duke of Clarence]], second son of King Henry IV. Blason: ''Arms of King Henry IV a label of three points argent each charged with three ermine spots and a canton gules''. Later borne by [[Richard III of England|Richard, Duke of Gloucester]] (later King Richard III).
File:Coat of Arms of Henry Stuart, Duke of Gloucester.svg|Coat of arms of [[Henry Stuart, Duke of Gloucester|Henry]] as a son of the Sovereign
File:Coat of Arms of William of Denmark, Duke of Gloucester.svg|[[Prince William, Duke of Gloucester|Prince William]]'s Coat of Arms
File:Coat of Arms of Henry, Duke of Gloucester.svg|Coat of Arms of [[Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester|Henry, the Duke of Gloucester]]
File:Coat of Arms of Richard, Duke of Gloucester.svg|Coat of Arms of [[Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester]]
File:Coat of arms of Alexander Windsor, Earl of Ulster.svg|[[Coat of arms]] of [[Alexander Windsor, Earl of Ulster]], eldest son of the [[Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester|Duke]], & [[Heir apparent|heir]] to the [[List of dukedoms in the peerages of Britain and Ireland#Dukedoms in the Peerage of the United Kingdom|Dukedom of Gloucester]]
</gallery>

== Family trees ==
{{Dukes of Gloucester and Edinburgh family tree}}
{{Royal dukes family tree}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Monarchy|England|United Kingdom}}
* [[List of dukedoms in the peerages of Britain and Ireland]]
* [[Earl of Gloucester]]
* [[Duchess of Gloucester]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.royal.uk/the-duke-of-gloucester The Duke of Gloucester] at the Royal Family website
*{{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Gloucester, Earls and Dukes of|volume=12|pages=128–129}}

{{Dukes of Gloucester}}
{{British royal titles}}
{{Extant British dukedoms}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gloucester, Duke Of}}
[[Category:Dukedoms in the Peerage of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:1385 establishments in England]]
[[Category:1928 establishments in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Noble titles created in 1385]]
[[Category:Noble titles created in 1414]]
[[Category:Noble titles created in 1461]]
[[Category:Noble titles created in 1659]]
[[Category:Noble titles created in 1928]]
[[Category:Dukes of Gloucester| ]]