Duke of Gloucester
Duke of Gloucester is a British royal title, 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, 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, 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, son of the future Queen Anne, was styled "Duke of Gloucester" for his whole life, 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 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, 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, who still holds the title. The heir-apparent to the title is 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 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.
Dukes of Gloucester
''Only styled'', 1689
| Duke | Portrait | Birth | Marriage | Death | Arms |
| Prince William House of Oldenburg 1689–1700 | 24 July 1689 Hampton Court Palace, London son of Queen Anne and Prince George | Never married | 30 July 1700 Windsor Castle, Windsor aged 11 |
''Only styled'', 1717
| Duke | Portrait | Birth | Marriage | Death |
| Prince Frederick House of Hanover 1717–1726 | 1 February 1707 Leineschloss, Hanover son of King George II and Queen Caroline | Princess Augusta of Saxe-Gotha 17 April 1736 9 children | 31 March 1751 Leicester House, London aged 44 |
Fifth creation, 1928
Also: Earl of Ulster and Baron Culloden| Duke | Portrait | Birth | Marriage | Death | Arms |
| Prince Henry House of Windsor 1928–1974 | 31 March 1900 York Cottage, Sandringham son of King George V and Queen Mary | Lady Alice Montagu Douglas Scott 6 November 1935 2 children | 10 June 1974 Barnwell Manor, Barnwell aged 74 | ||
| Prince Richard House of Windsor 1974–present | 26 August 1944 St. Matthew's Nursing Home, Northampton son of Prince Henry and Princess Alice | Birgitte van Deurs Henriksen 8 June 1972 3 children | now old |