# Duchess of Gloucester > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Duchess_of_Gloucester > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Duchess_of_Gloucester.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duchess_of_Gloucester > Source revision: 1346580051 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{short description|Royal title}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}} {{about|the title|the current holder of the title|Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester}} {{Infobox nobility title | name = Duchess of Gloucester | image = 150px
180px | first_holder = [Eleanor de Bohun](/source/Eleanor_de_Bohun) | present_holder = [Birgitte van Deurs Henriksen](/source/Birgitte%2C_Duchess_of_Gloucester) | status = Current }} '''Duchess of Gloucester''' is the principal [courtesy title](/source/Courtesy_titles_in_the_United_Kingdom) used by the wife of the [Duke of Gloucester](/source/Duke_of_Gloucester). There have been five titles referring to [Gloucester](/source/Gloucester) since the 14th century. The current duchess is [Birgitte](/source/Birgitte%2C_Duchess_of_Gloucester), the wife of [Prince Richard](/source/Prince_Richard%2C_Duke_of_Gloucester). He inherited the dukedom on 10 June 1974 upon the death of his father, [Prince Henry](/source/Prince_Henry%2C_Duke_of_Gloucester), the third son of [George V](/source/George_V). ==History== When [Thomas of Woodstock](/source/Thomas_of_Woodstock%2C_Duke_of_Gloucester), youngest son of [Edward III](/source/Edward_III_of_England) and [Philippa of Hainault](/source/Philippa_of_Hainault), was created duke of Gloucester around 1385, his wife [Eleanor de Bohun](/source/Eleanor_de_Bohun), daughter of [Humphrey de Bohun, 7th Earl of Hereford](/source/Humphrey_de_Bohun%2C_7th_Earl_of_Hereford), and [Joan Fitzalan](/source/Joan_Fitzalan%2C_Countess_of_Hereford), became duchess of Gloucester.{{cite book |title= English Noblewomen in the Later Middle Ages |first=Jennifer C. |last=Ward |publisher=Routledge |year=2013 |page=133 }} Thomas was stripped of his dukedom after being declared guilty of treason in 1397. Their son [Humphrey, 2nd Earl of Buckingham](/source/Humphrey%2C_2nd_Earl_of_Buckingham), did not inherit. Thomas died in 1397 and his duchess, Eleanor in 1399.{{cite ODNB |last1=Tuck |first1=Anthony |title=Thomas, duke of Gloucester (1355–1397) |date=September 2004 |url=http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/27197 |doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/27197 }} The next duchess was [Jacqueline, Countess of Hainaut](/source/Jacqueline%2C_Countess_of_Hainaut), daughter of [William II, Duke of Bavaria](/source/William_II%2C_Duke_of_Bavaria), and [Margaret of Burgundy](/source/Margaret_of_Burgundy%2C_Duchess_of_Bavaria), the wife of [Humphrey of Lancaster, Duke of Gloucester](/source/Humphrey%2C_Duke_of_Gloucester), who had been created duke in 1414. They married in 1422 but the marriage was annulled in 1428.[https://books.google.com/books?id=7nZ90l1_IzAC&dq=jacqueline+of+hainaut+stillborn+child+1424&pg=PA128 Alison Weir: ''Britain's Royal Families: The Complete Genealogy'', p. 128.] [retrieved 19 June 2015]. Humphrey then married his mistress, [Eleanor Cobham](/source/Eleanor_Cobham), of the [Cobham family](/source/Baron_Cobham), after the annulment of his marriage of Jacqueline, but this married was also annulled.{{cite web |url=https://thehundredyearswar.co.uk/eleanor-cobham/ |title=Timeline of the Hundred Years War 1337{{ndash}}1453 {{!}} Eleanor Cobham |website=The Hundred Years War |date= December 31, 2021 |first=Dan |last=Moorhouse }} Humphrey died in 1447 with no legitimate issue, thus the dukedom was extinct.{{cite book |editor-last=Low |date=1910 |editor-first=S. |editor-link=Sidney Low |editor2-last=Pulling |editor2-first=F. S. |editor-link2=F. S. Pulling |section=Gloucester, Humphrey, Duke of |chapter-url=https://archive.org/stream/bub_gb_4cYJAAAAIAAJ#page/n533/mode/2up |title=The Dictionary of English History |publisher=[Cassell](/source/Cassell_(publisher)) | p = 506}} [Anne, Dowager Princess of Wales](/source/Anne_Neville), widow of [Edward of Westminster, Prince of Wales](/source/Edward_of_Westminster%2C_Prince_of_Wales), married [Richard, Duke of Gloucester](/source/Richard_III_of_England), who had been made duke in 1461, in 1472. The dukedom merged with the crown upon his accession to the throne in 1483 and Anne became queen consort.Kendall P.M., ''Richard III'', 1955. Reprinted: {{cite book|last=Kendall|first=Paul Murray|title=Richard the Third|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=K0Rml6pLuSMC|year=2002|publisher=W.W. Norton|isbn=978-0393007855|page=608}} The next dukes of Gloucester, [Henry Stuart](/source/Henry_Stuart%2C_Duke_of_Gloucester), died unmarried. The next two, [Prince William](/source/Prince_William%2C_Duke_of_Gloucester) and [Prince Frederick](/source/Frederick%2C_Prince_of_Wales), were only styled as Duke of Gloucester and died unmarried or were unmarried during their time styled as duke.{{cite book | last = Chapman | first = Hester | year = 1955 | title = Queen Anne's Son: A Memoir of William Henry, Duke of Gloucester | publisher = Andre Deutsch | p = 90}}{{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Gloucester, Earls and Dukes of|volume=12|page=128|short=y}}{{citation|author-link=Alison Weir|last=Weir|first=Alison|year=1996|title=Britain's Royal Families: A Complete Genealogy|edition=Revised|publisher=Pimlico|location=London|isbn=978-0-7126-7448-5|page=278}} The next iteration of the title was as the joint [dukedom of Gloucester and Edinburgh](/source/Duke_of_Gloucester_and_Edinburgh), created in 1764 for [Prince William Henry](/source/Prince_William_Henry%2C_Duke_of_Gloucester_and_Edinburgh), younger brother of [George III](/source/George_III). Prince William Henry married [Maria Waldegrave, Dowager Countess Waldegrave](/source/Maria%2C_Duchess_of_Gloucester_and_Edinburgh), the illegitimate daughter of [Sir Edward Walpole](/source/Edward_Walpole), in 1766, thus making her the first Duchess of Gloucester and Edinburgh.{{Cite web |url=http://www.berkshirehistory.com/bios/mwalpole.html |title=Berkshire History: Biographies: Maria Walpole, Duchess of Gloucester (1737–1807) |access-date=25 February 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181023112616/http://www.berkshirehistory.com/bios/mwalpole.html |archive-date=23 October 2018 |url-status=dead }} Prince William Henry died in 1805. His son and successor, [Prince William Frederick](/source/Prince_William_Frederick%2C_Duke_of_Gloucester_and_Edinburgh), married his first cousin [Princess Mary](/source/Princess_Mary%2C_Duchess_of_Gloucester_and_Edinburgh) in 1816. They had no children and Prince William Frederick died in 1834, the dukedom becoming extinct on his death.{{ODNBweb|last=Purdue |first=A.W.|title=William Frederick, Prince, second duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh (1776–1834) |id=29457|date=2004b }} [George V](/source/George_V) created his third son [Prince Henry](/source/Prince_Henry%2C_Duke_of_Gloucester) duke of Gloucester in 1928. When he [married](/source/wedding_of_Prince_Henry_and_Lady_Alice_Montagu_Douglas_Scott) [Lady Alice Montagu Douglas Scott](/source/Princess_Alice%2C_Duchess_of_Gloucester) in 1935, she became his duchess.{{cite news |last1=Bowles |first1=Hamish |title=The Royal Bride Who Wore Pink |url=https://www.vogue.com/article/the-royal-bride-who-wore-pink-princess-alice-duchess-of-gloucester |access-date=13 December 2022 |work=Vogue |date=18 May 2018}} They had two sons, [Prince William](/source/Prince_William_of_Gloucester) and [Prince Richard](/source/Prince_Richard%2C_Duke_of_Gloucester). Prince Henry died in 1974, Prince William predeceased him and he was thus succeeded by his second son Prince Richard, whose wife, [Birgitte van Deurs Henriksen](/source/Birgitte%2C_Duchess_of_Gloucester), whom he had married in 1972, became duchess and has remained so since.{{cite web|title=The Duchess of Gloucester|url=https://www.royal.uk/the-duchess-of-gloucester |publisher=The Royal Family |access-date=24 October 2017|date=13 November 2015 }} ==List of titleholders== ===Duchess of Gloucester (England, 1385–1397)=== Other titles: Duchess of Aumale, Countess of Buckingham, Countess of Essex {{Nobility table header|name=Duchess}} | '''[Eleanor de Bohun](/source/Eleanor_de_Bohun)'''
[Bohun family](/source/Bohun_family)
1385–1397 | 100px | {{circa|1366}}
–
daughter of [Humphrey de Bohun, 7th Earl of Hereford](/source/Humphrey_de_Bohun%2C_7th_Earl_of_Hereford), and [Joan Fitzalan](/source/Joan_Fitzalan%2C_Countess_of_Hereford) | 1376
[Thomas of Woodstock](/source/Thomas_of_Woodstock%2C_Duke_of_Gloucester)
5 children | 3 October 1399
aged 32 or 33 |} ===Duchess of Gloucester (England, 1414–1447)=== Other titles: Countess of Pembroke {{Nobility table header|name=Duchess}} | '''[Jacqueline, Countess of Hainaut](/source/Jacqueline%2C_Countess_of_Hainaut)'''
[House of Wittelsbach](/source/House_of_Wittelsbach)
1422–1428 | 100px | 15 July 1401
[Le Quesnoy](/source/Le_Quesnoy), County of Hainaut
–
daughter of [William II, Duke of Bavaria](/source/William_II%2C_Duke_of_Bavaria), and [Margaret of Burgundy](/source/Margaret_of_Burgundy%2C_Duchess_of_Bavaria) | 1422–1428 (annulled)
[Humphrey of Lancaster](/source/Humphrey%2C_Duke_of_Gloucester)
1 child (stillborn) | 8 October 1436
aged 35 |- | '''[Eleanor Cobham](/source/Eleanor%2C_Duchess_of_Gloucester)'''
[Cobham family](/source/Baron_Cobham)
1428–1441 | 100px | {{circa|1400}}
[Starborough Castle](/source/Starborough_Castle), Surrey
–
daughter of Reynold Cobham, 3rd Baron Cobham, and Eleanor Culpeper | 1428–1441 (annulled)
Humphrey of Lancaster
2 children | 7 July 1452
aged 51 or 52 |} ===Duchess of Gloucester (England, 1461–1483)=== {{Nobility table header|name=Duchess}} | '''[Anne, Dowager Princess of Wales](/source/Anne_Neville)'''
[House of Neville](/source/House_of_Neville)
1472–1483 |100px | 11 June 1456
[Warwick Castle](/source/Warwick_Castle), Warwickshire
–
daughter of [Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick](/source/Richard_Neville%2C_16th_Earl_of_Warwick), and [Anne Beauchamp](/source/Anne_Beauchamp%2C_16th_Countess_of_Warwick) | 1472
[Richard, Duke of Gloucester](/source/Richard_III_of_England)
1 child | 16 March 1485
aged 28 |- |} ===Duchess of Gloucester and Edinburgh (Great Britain, 1764–1834)=== Other titles: Countess of Connaught {| class="wikitable" !Duchess !Portrait !Birth !Marriage(s) !Death !Arms |- | '''[Maria Waldegrave, Dowager Countess Waldegrave](/source/Maria%2C_Duchess_of_Gloucester_and_Edinburgh)'''
[Walpole family](/source/Walpole_family)
1766–1805 | 100px | 10 July 1736
[St James's](/source/St_James's), Westminster
–
daughter of [Sir Edward Walpole](/source/Edward_Walpole) and [Dorothy Clement](/source/Dorothy_Clement) | 6 September 1766
[Prince William Henry, Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh](/source/Prince_William_Henry%2C_Duke_of_Gloucester_and_Edinburgh)
3 children | 22 August 1807
aged 71 | |- | '''[The Princess Mary](/source/Princess_Mary%2C_Duchess_of_Gloucester_and_Edinburgh)'''
[House of Hanover](/source/House_of_Hanover)
1816–1834 |100px | 25 April 1776
[Buckingham House](/source/Buckingham_Palace), London
–
daughter of [George III](/source/George_III) and [Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz](/source/Charlotte_of_Mecklenburg-Strelitz) | 22 July 1816
[Prince William Frederick, Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh](/source/Prince_William_Frederick%2C_Duke_of_Gloucester_and_Edinburgh)
No children | 30 April 1857
aged 81 |center|100x100px |} ===Duchess of Gloucester (United Kingdom, 1928–present)=== Other titles: Countess of Ulster, Baroness Culloden {| class="wikitable" !Duchess !Portrait !Birth !Marriage(s) !Death !Arms |- | '''[Lady Alice Montagu Douglas Scott](/source/Lady_Alice_Montagu_Douglas_Scott)'''
[Montagu Douglas Scott family](/source/Duke_of_Buccleuch)
1935–1974 | 100px | 25 December 1901
[Montagu House](/source/Montagu_House%2C_Whitehall), London
–
daughter of [John Montagu Douglas Scott, 7th Duke of Buccleuch and 9th Duke of Queensberry](/source/John_Montagu_Douglas_Scott%2C_7th_Duke_of_Buccleuch), and Lady Margaret Bridgeman | 6 November 1935
[Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester](/source/Prince_Henry%2C_Duke_of_Gloucester)
2 children | 29 October 2004
aged 102 |center|100x100px |- | '''[Birgitte van Deurs Henriksen](/source/Birgitte_van_Deurs_Henriksen)'''
Henriksen family
1974–present |100px | 20 June 1946
[Odense](/source/Odense), Denmark
–
daughter of Asger Henriksen and Vivian van Deurs | 8 July 1972
[Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester](/source/Prince_Richard%2C_Duke_of_Gloucester)
3 children | {{spaced ndash}}
now {{age in years and days|1946|6|20}} old |center|100x100px |} ==Possible future duchesses== Richard and Birgitte's only son Alexander Windsor, Earl of Ulster, married Claire Booth in 2002. They are currently known by the courtesy titles Earl and Countess of Ulster. As Alexander is three generations removed from the crown he is not a prince. Upon his accession Claire would be styled ''Her Grace'' The Duchess of Gloucester. Alexander and Claire’s only son Xan, born in 2007, is currently unmarried. ==Arms== File:Arms of the House of de Bohun.svg|Coat of Arms of '''[Eleanor](/source/Eleanor_de_Bohun),''' the First Duchess of the Second Creation's family the House of De Bohun. Wife of [Thomas of Woodstock](/source/Thomas_of_Woodstock%2C_Duke_of_Gloucester). File:Armoiries Bavière (Wittelsbach).svg|Coat of Arms of '''[Jacqueline](/source/Jacqueline%2C_Countess_of_Hainaut),''' the First Duchess of the Second Creation's family the House of Wittelsbach. Wife of [Humphrey of Lancaster](/source/Humphrey%2C_Duke_of_Gloucester). File:Cobham OfCobham,Kent Arms.svg|Coat of Arms of '''[Eleanor](/source/Eleanor%2C_Duchess_of_Gloucester),''' the Second Duchess of the Second Creation's family the Cobham Family. Wife of [Humphrey of Lancaster](/source/Humphrey%2C_Duke_of_Gloucester). File:Arms of Anne Neville (Variant).svg|Coat of Arms of '''[Anne](/source/Anne_Neville),''' the First Duchess of the Third Creation. Wife of [Richard, Duke of Gloucester](/source/Richard_III_of_England). File:Arms of Walpole.svg|Coat of Arms of '''[Maria](/source/Maria%2C_Duchess_of_Gloucester_and_Edinburgh),''' the First Duchess of the Fourth Creation's family the Walpole Family. Wife of [Prince William Henry, Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh](/source/Prince_William_Henry%2C_Duke_of_Gloucester_and_Edinburgh). File:Coat of Arms of Mary, Duchess of Gloucester and Edinburgh.svg| Coat of Arms of '''[The Princess Mary](/source/Princess_Mary%2C_Duchess_of_Gloucester_and_Edinburgh),''' the Second Duchess of the Fourth Creation. Wife of [Prince William Frederick, Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh](/source/Prince_William_Frederick%2C_Duke_of_Gloucester_and_Edinburgh). File:Coat of Arms of Alice, Duchess of Gloucester.svg|Coat of Arms of '''[Alice](/source/Princess_Alice%2C_Duchess_of_Gloucester)''', the First Duchess of the Fifth Creation. Wife of [Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester](/source/Prince_Henry%2C_Duke_of_Gloucester). File:Coat of Arms of Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester (Order of the Garter).svg|Coat of Arms of '''[Birgitte](/source/Birgitte%2C_Duchess_of_Gloucester),''' the Second Duchess of the Fifth Creation. Wife of [Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester](/source/Prince_Richard%2C_Duke_of_Gloucester). ==References== {{reflist}} {{Duchesses of Gloucester}} {{British royal titles}} {{Portal bar|Monarchy|England|United Kingdom}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Gloucester, Duchess of}} Category:Duchesses of Gloucester Category:Monarchy of the United Kingdom Category:Lists of duchesses # Category:British royal spousal titles --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Duchess of Gloucester](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duchess_of_Gloucester) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duchess_of_Gloucester?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.