His Royal Highness Prince Richard Alexander Walter George, KG, GCVO, the 2nd Duke of Gloucester, is a first cousin of Queen Elizabeth II. He was born on 26 August 1944 in Northampton, the second son of Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester and Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester. He is also the youngest of the nine grandchildren of King George V and Queen Mary.

The Duke of Gloucester was educated at Eton and Magdalene College, Cambridge, where he received a Diploma in Architecture. In 1969 he became a practising partner at Hunt Thompson Architects in London. He is a member of RIBA and a Fellow of the Society of Arts.

The Duke of Gloucester gave up his architecture career in 1972 when his older brother William was killed in a flying accident. His brother’s untimely death meant that Richard became heir apparent to his father’s dukedom. In the same year, he married Birgitte van Deurs Henriksen, the younger daughter of a Danish lawyer. Two years later, upon the death of his father, Richard succeeded to the dukedom.

The Duke of Gloucester often attended national and international events to support the late Queen Elizabeth, as well as undertaking his own public duties. He is associated with over 150 organisations, and his patronages reflect his professional and personal interests, which include international humanitarian issues, heritage and the built environment, and military veterans.

To learn more about the Duke and his family - see here.

Honours

The Duke holds a vast number of honours from the Crown and overseas, the major honours being Royal Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter (KG), Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO), and Grand Prior and Bailiff Grand Cross of the Order of St John (GCStJ). He is also Patron of the Royal Institute of British Architects and a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries.

Post nominal order - KG, GCVO, GCStJ, FSA

The Duchess holds many medals awarded to her by the late Queen, she is also a Royal Lady Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter (LG), Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO), Dame of Justice of the Order of St John (DStJ) and the Canadian Forces’ Decoration (CD).

Post nominal order - LG, GCVO, DStJ, CD