Royals in Medals #7: The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester

HRH Prince Richard, The Duke of Gloucester, KG, GCVO

Prince Richard was born on 26 August 1944 at Northampton, the second son of Prince Henry, the Duke of Gloucester and Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester (third daughter of the 7th Duke of Buccleuch).  He was thus a grandson of George V and a first cousin to The Queen at birth he was fifth in line to the throne.  He was christened Richard Alexander Walter George. When he was four months old he was taken by his parents to Australia, where for two years (1945-1947) his father was Governor-General.

He was educated at Eton and Magdalen College,Cambridge, and qualified as an architect.  He had intended to earn his living in private practice, but he became heir to his father's titles following the death of his elder brother, Prince William of Gloucester, in a flying accident on 28 August 1972.  He succeeded his father in June 1974.

He carries out many royal duties and has acted as a Councillor of State.

Honorary Military Appointments

Australia

• Colonel-in-Chief, of the Royal Australian Army Education Corps

New Zealand

• Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal New Zealand Army Medical Corps

United Kingdom

• Colonel-in-Chief, of the Royal Anglian Regiment
• Colonel-in-Chief, of the Royal Army Medical Corps
• Deputy Colonel-in-Chief, of the Royal Logistic Corps
• Royal Colonel, of the 6th (V) Battalion, The Rifles
• The Royal Honorary Colonel, of the Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers (Militia)
• Honorary Air Commodore, of RAF Odiham
• Honorary Air Commodore, of 501 (County of Gloucester) Squadron, Royal Auxiliary Air Force, 16 June 2001.

The Duke holds the honorary rank of Air Marshal, Royal Air Force.

On a visit to Iraq, October 2008

Orders, Decorations and Medals

Orders

Order of the Garter
Royal Knight (KG), 1996






Royal Victorian Order
Knight Grand Cross (GCVO), 1974




Most Venerable Order of St John
Grand Prior, 1975

Grand Prior of the Order of St John

Commonweath Orders


Order of the Star of the Soloman Islands
Member (SSI), 2008

Commemorative Medals

  Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal 1953  
  Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal 1977
  Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal 2002

  Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal 2012
  Nepalese Coronation Medal, 1975
  Soloman Islands Independence Medal, 1978
  Vanuatu Independence Medal, 1980

Long Service Awards

Service Medal of the Order of St John, with three bars



Foreign Honours

• Mexico.  Order of the Aztec Eagle
• Norway. Royal Norwegian Order of St Olav - Grand Cross, 1973
• Sweden.  Order of the Polar Star - Commander Grand Cross, 1975
• Tonga. Order of the Crown of Tonga, 2008
• Nepal.  Order of  Tris Shakti Patta 

The Duchess of Gloucester

 

Birgette, Duchess of Gloucester, GCVO

The Duchess of Gloucester, formerly Birgitte Eva van Deurs Henriksen, was born on 20 June 1946 in Odense, Denmark.

She married Prince Richard, whom she had met at Cambridge, on 8 July 1972.  Together the couple have three children:

• Alexander, Earl of Ulster (born 24 October 1974)
• Lady Davina Lewis (born 19 November 1977)
• Lady Rose Gilman (born 1 March 1980)

Honorary Military Appointments

Australia

• Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Australian Army Educational Corps 

Bermuda

• Colonel-in-Chief, of the Bermuda Regiment

Canada

• Colonel-in-Chief of the Canadian Forces Dental Services

New Zealand 

• Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal New Zealand Army Educational Corps 

United Kingdom

• Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Irish Rangers (until 1992) 
• Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Army Dental Corps
• Deputy Colonel-in-Chief of the Adjutant General's Corps
• Royal Colonel of the 7th (V) Battalion The Rifles
• Sponsor of  HMS Gloucester and HMS Sandown.

Orders, Decorations and Medals

Orders


Royal Victorian Order
Dame Grand Cross (DCVO), 23 June 1989






Most Venerable Order of St John
Dame of Justice (DStJ), 1974
Dame Grand Cross (GCStJ), 2009

Royal Family Order of Queen Elizabeth II
1973

Commemorative Medals

  Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal 1977
  Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal 2002
  Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal 2012
  Nepalese Coronation Medal, 1975

Long Service Awards

Service Medal of the Order of St John, with (?two) bars



Foreign Honours

• Tonga. Order of the Crown of Tonga - Dame Commander, 2008