Duke of Gloucester () is a British royal title (after
Gloucester), often conferred on one of the sons of the reigning monarch. The first four creations were in the
Peerage of England, the next in the
Peerage of Great Britain, and the last in the
Peerage of the United Kingdom; this current creation carries with it the subsidiary titles of
Earl of Ulster and
Baron Culloden.
The title was first conferred on Thomas of Woodstock, the thirteenth child of King
Edward III. The title became extinct at his death, as it did upon the death of the Duke of the second creation, Humphrey of Lancaster, fifth son of King
Henry IV.
The title was next conferred on
Richard Plantagenet, brother to King
Edward IV. When Richard himself became King, the dukedom merged into the crown. After Richard's death, the title was considered ominous, since the first three such Dukes had all died without issue to inherit their titles. The title was not awarded for over 150 years, the next to receive the dukedom being the son of King Charles I, Henry Stuart, upon whose death the title became officially extinct.
William, son of
Queen Anne, was styled "Duke of Gloucester" for his whole life (1689-1700), but never created as such.
The next actual creation was for the brother of
George III, Prince William Henry, the full title being "Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh".
The fifth and final creation was for
Prince Henry, son of
King George V. Upon Prince Henry's death, the dukedom was inherited by his son
Prince Richard, who still holds the title. The heir to the title is presently
Alexander Windsor, styled
Earl of Ulster.
There is a preserved steam locomotive called
Duke of Gloucester. 
