Photograph of Prince William of Gloucester.
Prince William of Gloucester

Overview

Prince William of Gloucester (William Henry Andrew Frederick; 18 December 1941 - 28 August 1972) was a member of the British royal family, a grandson of George V.

Early life

Prince William was born at Barnet, Hertfordshire. His father was Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester (1900-1974), the third eldest son of King George V and Queen Mary. His mother was Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester (1901-2004), the third daughter of the 7th Duke of Buccleuch. As a grandson of the British monarch in the male line he was styled Prince of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland with the style His Royal Highness.

He was baptised in the Private Chapel at Windsor Castle and on 22 February 1942 by Cosmo Gordon Lang, Archbishop of Canterbury. His godparents were: The King, Queen Mary, The Viscount Gort, Lord William Montagu-Douglas-Scott, Princess Helena Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein and Lady Margaret Hawkins.

In 1947, Prince William was one of his cousin The Princess Elizabeth's page boys (the other being Prince Michael of Kent) at her wedding to Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

Prince William spent his early childhood at Barnwell Manor in Northamptonshire and later in Australia, where his father served as Governor-General from 1945 to 1947. He received his education at Wellesley House Preparatory School, Broadstairs, Kent, and at Eton College. After leaving Eton in 1960, he went to Magdalene College, Cambridge to read history, earning himself a BA. Subsequently, he was awarded an MA (Cantab.) in 1968.

In 1953, Prince William attended the coronation of his cousin, Elizabeth II.

Career

After graduating in 1963, he spent a post-baccalaureate year at Stanford University studying political science, American history, and business. Upon returning to Britain, he took a position with Lazards, a merchant bank.

Prince William was the second member of the British Royal Family to work in the civil service or the diplomatic service (the first was his late uncle, Prince George, Duke of Kent in the 1920s). He joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 1965 and was posted to Lagos as the third secretary to the British High Commission. In 1968, he transferred to Tokyo to accept the post of second secretary (commercial) in the British Embassy. In 1970, the Duke of Gloucester's health began to fail and he was diagnosed as suffering from porphyria. Prince William resigned from the diplomatic service and returned to Britain. For the next two years, he managed Barnwell Manor and began to carry out public duties as a member of the royal family.

Prince William served on some occasions as Counsellor of State in the absence of his cousin, the Queen.

Later life

A certified pilot, he owned several aircraft and competed in several air shows. He died when the plane he was piloting crashed at Halfpenny Green, near Wolverhampton. He was buried at Frogmore Royal Burial Ground. The comprehensive school in Oundle, which he opened in 1971, was renamed Prince William School in his memory.

Prince William was the heir-apparent of his father's peerages, Duke of Gloucester, Earl of Ulster, and Baron Culloden. Upon his death, his younger brother Prince Richard of Gloucester became heir-apparent and succeeded to these peerages in 1974.

Titles, styles, honours and arms

Titles and styles
*18 December 1941–28 August 1972: His Royal Highness Prince William of Gloucester
Honours

Ancestry

See also

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This biography says:

...In 1947, Prince William was one of his cousin The Princess Elizabeth's page boys (the other being Prince Michael of Kent) at her wedding to Philip, Duke of Edinburgh....

That biography says:

...This makes Prince Edward the fourth of only five members of the Royal Family in history to have obtained a university degree: #Prince William of Gloucester (first cousin of The Queen through their grandfather, George V); #Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester (first cousin of The Queen through their grandfather, George V); #Charles, Prince of Wales (first child of The Queen); #Prince Edward; and #Prince William of Wales (Prince Charles' first child and Prince Edward's own nephew).

This biography says:

Prince William was born at Barnet, Hertfordshire. His father was Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester (1900-1974), the third eldest son of King George V and Queen Mary. His mother was Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester (1901-2004), the third daughter of the 7th Duke of Buccleuch...
How is Prince William of Gloucester connected to Cosmo Lang? Tell the world.
How is Prince William of Gloucester connected to Mary of Teck? Tell the world.

This biography says:

...His father was Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester (1900-1974), the third eldest son of King George V and Queen Mary. His mother was Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester (1901-2004), the third daughter of the 7th Duke of Buccleuch. As a grandson of the British monarch in the male line he was styled Prince of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland with the style His Royal Highness...

That biography says:

...The couple received a grace and favour residence at York House, St James's Palace, London and, in 1938, they purchased Barnwell Manor in Northamptonshire. The Duke and Duchess had two sons: *Prince William of Gloucester (18 December 1941 – 28 August 1972) *Prince Richard of Gloucester (born 26 August 1944)...
How is Prince William of Gloucester connected to Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester? Tell the world.
How is Prince William of Gloucester connected to Princess Helena Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein? Tell the world.

This biography says:

Prince William was born at Barnet, Hertfordshire. His father was Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester (1900-1974), the third eldest son of King George V and Queen Mary. His mother was Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester (1901-2004), the third daughter of the 7th Duke of Buccleuch...

That biography says:

...Following their wedding, Alice was known as HRH The Duchess of Gloucester. Together they had two sons: * Prince William of Gloucester, 1941-1972 * Prince Richard of Gloucester, born 1944; now Duke of Gloucester.
How is Prince William of Gloucester connected to Prince Philip? Tell the world.

That biography says:

...At the time of his birth he was fifth in the line of succession to the throne, and second in line to his father's Dukedom, behind his brother, Prince William of Gloucester....
How is Prince William of Gloucester connected to John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort? Tell the world.
How is Prince William of Gloucester connected to John Montagu-Douglas-Scott, 7th Duke of Buccleuch? Tell the world.

This biography says:

...His father was Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester (1900-1974), the third eldest son of King George V and Queen Mary. His mother was Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester (1901-2004), the third daughter of the 7th Duke of Buccleuch...

This biography says:

...Prince William was the second member of the British Royal Family to work in the civil service or the diplomatic service (the first was his late uncle, Prince George, Duke of Kent in the 1920s). He joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 1965 and was posted to Lagos as the third secretary to the British High Commission...
How is Prince William of Gloucester connected to George VI of the United Kingdom? Tell the world.
How is Prince William of Gloucester connected to Queen Elizabeth II? Tell the world.
How is Prince William of Gloucester connected to Prince Alfred, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha? Tell the world.
How is Prince William of Gloucester connected to Charles, Prince of Wales? Tell the world.