Richard practised as an architect until the death of his elder brother, William, placed him in direct line to inherit his father's dukedom of Gloucester, to which he succeeded in 1974. He married Birgitte van Deurs Henriksen on 8 July 1972. They have three children.
In 1966, Richard joined the Offices Development Group in the Ministry of Public Building and Works for a year of practical work. He returned to Cambridge in 1967, completing both parts of the Diploma in Architecture degree in June 1969. Upon passing his exams, he became a practising partner with Hunt Thompson Associates, Architects, in London.[8]
Senna Kowhai Lewis (born 22 June 2010) who is attending Millfield School
Tane Mahuta Lewis (born 25 May 2012)
Lady Rose Victoria Birgitte Louise Gilman (born 1 March 1980 at St Mary's Hospital, London); she married George Gilman in 2008. The couple have two children:
Lyla Beatrix Christabel Gilman (born 2010)
Rufus Frederick Montagu Gilman (born 2012)
The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester's official residence is at Kensington Palace in London.[13] They have leased their private home, Barnwell Manor, since 1994. In September 2022, the Duke put the manor up for sale for £4.75 million.[14]
Activitiesedit
Prince Richard ended his architectural career in 1972, after the death of his elder brother Prince William, who crashed his plane in a flying competition. Richard became heir apparent to his father's dukedom and had to take on additional family obligations and royal duties on behalf of the Queen. He became Duke of Gloucester on his father's death on 10 June 1974.
Prince Richard was elected as a corporate member of the Royal Institute of British Architects (and FRIBA) in 1972. He is president of the Society of Architect Artists.[8] He also serves as a commissioner of the Historic Building and Monuments Commission for England (English Heritage). He has been patron of construction charity Construction Youth Trust[15] for many years. With his background in architecture, the Duke of Gloucester takes interest in the work of the trust and visits their projects, in addition to giving his name to their long standing Duke of Gloucester Young Achiever's Scheme Awards. The Duke is also patron of the Architects Benevolent Society.[16] The Duke is also vice president of Lepra, a UK-based leprosy charity; as part of this role, he attends national and international events in support of the charity's work. He is royal patron of the Society of Antiquaries of London (and elected FSA) since 2001,[17] royal patron of the UK branch of the charity Habitat for Humanity,[18] royal patron of the St George's Society of New York,[19] and president of The London Society. A keen motorist, Richard passed the Advanced Driving Test of the Institute of Advanced Motorists, of which he was president for more than 32 years. On his appointment in 1971,[20] it was recorded that the new president was "currently [driving] an Austin 1300", reflecting the modest image with which he has always been identified. He stood down as president in January 2005.[21]
On 11 March 2015, the Duke visited the Royal School Dungannon in Dungannon, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the founding of the school; presenting a commemorative plaque and raising an anniversary flag on the grounds.[40] On 22 and 26 March 2015, the Duke represented the Queen at the ceremonies marking the reburial and commemorations of King Richard III in Leicester Cathedral. Richard III had held the title Duke of Gloucester before his ascension to the English throne.[41] In March 2018, the Duke travelled to Malawi to attend the Commonwealth Day celebrations, and visited projects related to health services, wildlife, and climate change.[42][43] He missed the celebrations in March 2022 after testing positive for COVID-19.[44]
On 14 September 2022, after the death of Queen Elizabeth II on 8 September, the Duke joined her children, grandsons, nephew, and son-in-law, in walking in the state cortege from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall, for her lying in state.[45]
In 2023 the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester attended the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla in Westminster Abbey, and (in common with other working members of the Royal Family) took part in the Coronation Procession following the service.[46]
Titles, styles, honours and armsedit
Titles and stylesedit
26 August 1944 – 10 June 1974: His Royal Highness Prince Richard of Gloucester[47]
10 June 1974 – present: His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester
The Duke's armorial bearings are based on the Royal Arms as set down for descendants of George V. The following explains how his arms are differenced from those of the Sovereign and other members of the Royal Family.
Adopted
1962
Coronet
Coronet of a male-line grandchild of the Sovereign.
Crest
On a Coronet of children of other sons of the Sovereign, composed of four Crosses pattées alternated with four Strawberry Leaves, a Lion statant guardant Or, crowned with the like Coronet, and differenced with a Label as in the Arms.
Supporters
The Royal Supporters, differenced with a Coronet as in the Crest and Label as in the Arms.[54]
Orders
The Shield is surrounded by the Garter circlet, inscribed with its Motto: HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE (Shame be to him who thinks evil of it)
^www.royal.uk Court Circular: 22nd June, 2002 A marriage took place in The Queen's Chapel, St James's, London, between the Earl of Ulster, son of the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, and Dr Claire A. Booth, daughter of Mr and Mrs Robert Booth. Prebendary William Booth officiated, assisted by Canon David Cooper. The bride, who was given in marriage by her father, was attended by Miss Lola Eid-Arimoku, Miss Bruna Carnevale, Russia and Tennessee Blackmore and Arabella Henderson. Mr Alexander Turner was best man. A reception was held in the State Apartments, St James's Palace.
^"Royal Patron visits HFH Hale County". Habitat for Humanity GB. 30 October 2015. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
^"Board of Directors". St. George's Society of New York. Archived from the original on 13 April 2013. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
^"Appointments Register". Motor. 9 October 1971. p. 57.
^Resignation Press Release Archived 17 May 2005 at the Wayback Machine
^Gloucester, Duke and Duchess of, Solomon Islands Historical Encyclopaedia 1893-1978, Retrieved 2019-02-06.
^"Solomon Islands to Get a Royal Visit'". Solomon Islands Times. 17 June 2008. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
^"HRH Prince Richard The Duke of Gloucester". University of Worcester. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
^"Royal support for homeopathy". British Homeopathic Association. March 2016. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
^Walker, Tim (2 March 2013). "Duke of Gloucester's concern for Richard III's 'dignity'". The Telegraph. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
^"Charities and Patronages". The Royal Family. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
^"The Duke of Gloucester Lecture Series: Flooding and the British Armed Forces". RUSI. 12 November 2014. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
^ ab"Duke of Gloucester to visit Isle of Man". BBC. 29 June 2011. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
^"History of the Institution of Structural Engineers" (PDF). Institution of Structural Engineers. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
^"Court Circular: May 16". The Times. 15 May 2009. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
^"Patron". British Society of Soil Science. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
^"ICOMOS-UK Launches Cultural Heritage Manifesto in 50th Anniversary Year". ICOMOS-UK. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
^"ASH Spokespeople". ASH. August 2016. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
^"About BAFM". British Association of Friends of Museums. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
^"BMS Organisation". British Mexican Society. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
^"A Royal visit for St Bartholomew's". Barts Health NHS Trust. 3 October 2017. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
^Lennon, Chris (9 November 2011). "Royal opening of University of Hertfordshire law court". Welwyn Hatfield Times. WGC. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
^"Cousin stands in for Queen at Pope Francis 'crowning'". Evening Standard. 15 March 2013. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
^Murrison, Andrew (11 March 2015). "Duke of Gloucester visits Northern Ireland". gov.uk. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
^"Order of Service for the Reinterment of the Remains of King Richard III" (PDF). 26 March 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 March 2015. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
^"The Duke of Gloucester visits Malawi". The Royal Family. 15 March 2018. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
^"Royal Visit: The Duke of Gloucester to visit Malawi in the Commonwealth Week". CNBC Africa. 9 March 2018. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
^Petit, Stephanie (11 March 2022). "Queen Elizabeth Will Not Attend Commonwealth Day Service Following COVID-19 Recovery". People. Retrieved 15 March 2022. However, the Queen's other cousin, the Duke of Gloucester, and his wife the Duchess of Gloucester will no longer attend following the Duke's positive test for COVID-19.
^Booth, Robert (14 September 2022). "Queen to lie in state for four days in Westminster Hall before funeral". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
^Hainey, Fionnula (6 May 2023). "Who is in the Coronation Procession - full list including royal family members". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
^"No. 43918". The London Gazette. 8 March 1966. p. 2591.
^ abcde"Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee 2022 - The Lord Mayor's Reception For The National Service Of Thanksgiving". Getty Images. 3 June 2022. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
^Mussell, John W. (2004). Mackay, James (ed.). The Medal Yearbook 2004. Devon, UK: Token Publishing Ltd. p. 236. ISBN 9781870192620.
^"Royal orders presented at Palace". Matangi Tonga Online. 1 August 2008. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
^"TRH THE PRINCE OF WALES AND THE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL AWARDED WITH THE MEXICAN ORDER OF THE AZTEC EAGLE". Official website of the Mexican Embassy in the United Kingdom. Retrieved 11 April 2019.
^Olvera Ayes, David A (2011). La Orden Mexicana del Águila Azteca: apuntes para su historia. Mexico: Cuadernos del cronista. p. 719. ISBN 978-6070047213.
^ ab"Burke's Peerage – The Royal Family – HRH The Duke of Gloucester". Burke's Peerage & Gentry and The Origins Network. Retrieved 7 June 2011.
^"No. 57032". The London Gazette (Supplement). 19 August 2003. p. 10318.
^"No. 52834". The London Gazette (2nd supplement). 13 February 1992. p. 2582.
^"Further Military Appointments for Members of the Royal Family". The Royal Family. 11 August 2023. Retrieved 11 August 2023.