Yearly Archives: 2014

January 1915: Royalty and World War I

by Susan Flantzer


“One loss follows another till one is dazed” ~ Lord Rosebery, former British Prime Minister

Robert Cornwallis Maude, 6th Viscount Hawarden; Photo Credit – http://www.chch.ox.ac.uk

A career in the British Army was not an unusual thing for British peers and their sons, and when World War I started, peers and their sons were well represented among the officers and also well represented in the deaths. It has been estimated that up to one third of the families of British peers lost at least one member. By the end of 1915, the British death toll included nine peers and 95 sons of peers, and it would get worse. By the end of the war, 20% of the peers and their sons who served in World War I had died. Although death did not discriminate between the aristocrat and the commoner, it did favor the young. Nine percent of the British male population under the age of 45 died in World War I.

Both an aristocrat and young, the first peer to die in World War I was only 23. Robert Cornwallis Maude, 6th Viscount Hawarden was born on September 6, 1890, the only child of Robert Maude, 5th Viscount Hawarden and Caroline Ogle, the daughter of a British Army Colonel. Young Robert succeeded to his father’s title at the age of 18. He was educated at St. Michael’s School in Westgate-on-Sea, Kent, England. Robert graduated from Christ Church, Oxford University with a Bachelor of Arts. While at university, he was a member of the University Contingent of the Officers’ Training Corps.

In August 1914, Robert was mobilized and joined the 3rd Battalion of the Coldstream Guards with the rank of Lieutenant. On August 26, 1914, Robert was killed in action at the Battle of Mons in Belgium.  He was buried at the Landrecies Communal Cemetery in Landrecies, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France.

Grave of Robert Cornwallis Maude, 6th Viscount Hawarden

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Timeline: January 1, 1915 – January 31, 1915

  • January 2 – April 12 – Russian offensive in the Carpathians begins
  • January 18–19 – Battle of Jassin in Jassin, German East Africa (now Burundi, Rwanda, and the mainland part of Tanzania)
  • January 19 – First Zeppelin raid on Great Britain
  • January 19 – December 22 – Battle of Hartmannswillerkopf in Alsace, France, a series of battles fought to control the peak
  • January 24 – Battle of Dogger Bank, naval battle fought in the North Sea off the coast of eastern England between squadrons of the British Grand Fleet and the German Hochseeflotte
  • January 24–26 – Chilembwe Uprising led by John Chilembwe in Nyasaland (now Malawi)
  • January 28 – February 3 – Ottomans fail to capture the Suez Canal
  • January 31 – Battle of Bolimov near Bolimów, Poland; first German use of chemical weapons

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A Note About German Titles

Most of the royals who died in action during World War I were German. The German Empire consisted of 27 constituent states, most of them ruled by royal families. Scroll down to German Empire here to see what constituent states made up the German Empire.  The constituent states retained their own governments, but had limited sovereignty. Some had their own armies, but the military forces of the smaller ones were put under Prussian control. In wartime, armies of all the constituent states would be controlled by the Prussian Army and the combined forces were known as the Imperial German Army.  German titles may be used in Royals Who Died In Action below. Refer to Unofficial Royalty: Glossary of German Noble and Royal Titles.

24 British peers were also killed in World War I and they will be included in the list of those who died in action. In addition, more than 100 sons of peers also lost their lives, and those that can be verified will also be included.

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January 1915 – Royals Who Died In Action

The list is in chronological order and does contain some who would be considered noble instead of royal. The links in the last bullet for each person is that person’s genealogical information from Leo’s Genealogics Website or to The Peerage website.  If a person has a Wikipedia page, their name will be linked to that page.

Captain The Honorable John Beresford Campbell

  • 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards
  • eldest son of Hallyburton George Campbell, 3rd Baron Stratheden of Cupar and Campbell of St. Andrews and Louisa Mary Hope
  • born June 20, 1866 at Prince’s Terrace, Prince’s Gate in London, England
  • married 1895 The Honorable Alice Susan Hamilton, had issue
  • killed in action at Cuinchy, Pas-de-Calais, France on January 25, 1915, age 48
  • his eldest son Donald Campbell died in action on July 19, 1916, age 20
  • http://www.thepeerage.com/p19873.htm#i198728

Antony Armstrong-Jones, 1st Earl of Snowdon

by Scott Mehl
© Unofficial Royalty 2014

Antony Armstrong-Jones, 1st Earl of Snowdon – photo: Wikipedia

Antony Charles Robert Armstrong-Jones, 1st Earl of Snowdon was the husband of Princess Margaret of the United Kingdom from 1960-1978. A gifted artist and photographer, he remained close to the British Royal Family even after his divorce from Princess Margaret.

 

Antony Charles Robert Armstrong-Jones was born on March 7, 1930, to Ronald Armstrong-Jones and his first wife Anne Messel. He had an older sister Susan, later Viscountess Vesci, and three half-siblings from his parents’ other marriages. He was educated at Sandroyd School, in Wiltshire, and Eton College, and then enrolled at Jesus College, Cambridge University where he studied architecture. Following university, Armstrong-Jones began working as a photographer, later becoming known for his portraits, including portraits of several British royal family members. Snowdon thrived in the art world and designed the 1969 investiture ceremony for the Prince of Wales, the future King Charles III, at Caernarfon Castle.

 

In February 1960, it was announced that Armstrong-Jones was engaged to Princess Margaret, the younger daughter of King George VI of the United Kingdom and Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon. The couple married in Westminster Abbey on May 6, 1960. On October 6, 1961, he was created Earl of Snowdon and Viscount Linley, just before the birth of their first child.

Antony and Margaret had two children:

The marriage of Antony and Margaret, while happy at the beginning, quickly turned sour. Both were rumored to have had affairs and often battled publicly. After many years of discord, the couple divorced in 1978.

A month later, on December 15, 1978, Snowdon married Lucy Mary Lindsay-Hogg (née Davies). and they had one daughter. This marriage, too, would end in 2000, after it was revealed that Snowdon had fathered a son in 1998 with another woman.

  • Lady Frances Armstrong-Jones (born 1979), married Rodolphe von Hofmannsthal, had two sons and one daughter

On November 16, 1999, Antony was created Baron Armstrong-Jones of Nymans, a life peerage, to retain his seat in the House of Lords. Despite no longer being married to a member of the royal family, Snowdon maintained a close relationship with them. At Princess Margaret’s funeral in 2002, he was among the leading mourners, alongside the couple’s children, Queen Elizabeth II, and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother.

On January 13, 2017, Lord Snowdon died peacefully at his home in Kensington, London, England at the age of 86 and was buried at St. Baglan’s Church in Llanfaglan, Wales. His son David succeeded him as 2nd Earl of Snowdon.  Antony’s former sister-in-law Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh along with their sons Prince Andrew and Prince Edward and their grandson Prince William, attended the memorial service for Antony Armstrong-Jones, 1st Earl of Snowdon on April 7, 2017, at the Church of St Margaret in Westminster, London, England on the grounds of Westminster Abbey.

 

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon  photo: Wikipedia

Princess Margaret was the second daughter of King George VI of the United Kingdom and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, daughter of Claude Bowes-Lyon, 14th and 1st Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne, and younger sister of Queen Elizabeth II. She was born Princess Margaret Rose of York on August 21, 1930, at Glamis Castle in Scotland. At the time of her birth, she was fourth in the line of succession to the British throne.

 

She was christened by Cosmo Gordon Lang, Archbishop of Canterbury in the Private Chapel at Buckingham Palace in London, England on October 30, 1930. Her godparents were:

 

Just six years after she was born, her grandfather King George V passed away and her uncle became King Edward VIII. Just eleven months later, he abdicated, and Margaret’s father became King George VI. The family moved from their modest home at 145 Piccadilly, to Buckingham Palace. Margaret was a Brownie with the 1st Buckingham Palace Brownie Pack, and later a Girl Guide and Sea Ranger. These organizations held a special place in Margaret’s heart, and she remained involved with them until her death. She was educated privately by a governess, Marion Crawford, who later wrote a book about the Princesses which resulted in her being banished from royal life. During World War II, Margaret and Elizabeth lived at Windsor Castle, deemed safer than living in London. It was suggested that the two be sent to Canada for the duration of the war, but their mother quickly dismissed that idea. Despite the war, the two girls managed to enjoy a relatively ‘normal’ life at Windsor.

 

Sadly, in February 1952, her father King George VI passed away, and her sister became Queen. Margaret and her mother soon moved into Clarence House, along with the new Comptroller of her mother’s household, Group Captain Peter Townsend. Townsend had been an equerry to King George VI, and later Deputy Master of the Household. He and Margaret began a relationship and quickly fell in love. In 1953, he proposed and Margaret accepted. However, there were many obstacles at the time. He was sixteen years older than Margaret and was divorced with two children. At the time, the Church of England would not sanction the marriage of a divorced person. The Queen, who was preparing for her Coronation and then the Commonwealth tour, asked the couple to wait a year. Hoping to dissuade them, Queen Elizabeth had Townsend transferred to her household. For the next two years, the couple waited, hoping to be permitted to marry, but Prime Minister Winston Churchill advised the Queen that Parliament would not approve the marriage unless Margaret relinquished her rights to the throne and her royal position. Margaret finally gave in. On October 31, 1955, she issued a statement announcing she would not marry Group Captain Townsend. She chose to put her royal role and duties ahead of her personal happiness.

 

Five years later, on February 26, 1960, it was announced that Princess Margaret was engaged to Antony Armstrong-Jones. The two had managed to keep their relationship very private, taking many people by surprise when the engagement was announced. They married in Westminster Abbey in London, England on May 6, 1960. Their wedding would be the first British royal wedding to be televised. Despite her position as daughter and sister of a Sovereign, only one foreign royal attended, Queen Ingrid of Denmark, one of Margaret’s godparents. It was speculated that many other royals disapproved of Margaret’s marriage to a commoner, let alone a photographer.

Following a six-week cruise on HMS Britannia, the couple moved into Apartment 10 at Kensington Palace in London, England. The following year, Margaret’s husband was created Earl of Snowdon and Viscount Linley. Having initially turned down any titles, the couple decided to accept when they were expecting their first child. In Margaret’s eyes, it would have been “improper” for the child of a Princess to be born with no title. Two children were born to the couple:

With their family growing, in 1963, the couple moved into the newly renovated Apartment 1A at Kensington Palace. Princess Margaret would live there until her death. Another residence was on the island of Mustique. As a wedding present, Margaret had received a plot of land on the island from her friend Colin Tennant, 3rd Baron Glenconner. In 1971, Colin’s wife Anne Tennant, Baroness Glenconner became Margaret’s lady-in-waiting and remained in that position until Margaret’s death. Margaret had a home built on the plot of land in Mustique, called Les Jolies Eaux, in the early 1970s and often spent time there. She kept the home until 1996 when she gave it to her son as a wedding present. He subsequently sold the property.

The Snowdon marriage was anything but calm and peaceful. Two very strong personalities, often at odds, led to volatile rows and many affairs for both of them. Margaret’s many paramours included Robin Douglas-Home (who also had a relationship with Princess Margaretha of Sweden) and Roddy Llewellyn. Llewellyn became known as Margaret’s “boy toy”, and the press published photos of the two in their swimsuits together on Mustique. This finally brought about the formal end of Margaret’s marriage. The couple was formally divorced on July 11, 1978.

Margaret was the patron or president of numerous organizations. Her main charitable interests were welfare charities, music, and ballet. Among her charities were:

 

Having suffered from ill health for many years, Princess Margaret made her last public appearance at the 100th birthday celebration for her aunt Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester in December 2001. In a wheelchair for several years, she suffered several strokes which left her a shell of her former self. On February 9, 2002, Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon died at King Edward VII Hospital in London, England after suffering another stroke. Her funeral was held on February 15, 2022, the 50th anniversary of her father’s funeral,  at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor. Following the ceremony, her remains were cremated at her request and placed in the Royal Vault at St. George’s Chapel. Sadly, her funeral would also be one of the last public appearances of The Queen Mother, who would pass away just six weeks later. Following her mother’s funeral, Margaret’s ashes were placed in the King George VI Memorial Chapel at St George’s Chapel, alongside the tombs of her parents.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

King George VI of the United Kingdom

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

King George VI of the United Kingdom – Photo: Wikipedia

King George VI, the father of Queen Elizabeth II, was the second son of King George V and Queen Mary (at the time of his birth, they were the Duke and Duchess of York). He was born His Highness Prince Albert Frederick Arthur George of York on December 14, 1895, at York Cottage, his parents’ home on the grounds of Sandringham in Norfolk, England. Born on the 34th anniversary of the death of Queen Victoria’s husband, Prince Albert, and also on the 17th anniversary of the death of her daughter Princess Alice, his birth brought some joy and happiness to what was otherwise a very sad day in the British Royal Family. (See Unofficial Royalty: December 14 – Queen Victoria’s Dire Day.) In order to help ease the pain of the day, it was decided to name him Albert, in honor of his great-grandfather. Informally, he became known as Bertie. Three years later, Queen Victoria issued Letters Patent granting the style of Royal Highness to all the children of The Duke and Duchess of York.

Bertie had five siblings:

Bertie was christened at St Mary Magdalene’s Church, Sandringham, on February 17, 1896, by the Bishop of Norwich. His godparents were:

 

Along with his siblings, Bertie was raised at York Cottage and York House, St James’ Palace. In 1901, Queen Victoria died, and his grandfather became King Edward VII. His parents became the Prince and Princess of Wales, and soon after the family moved to Marlborough House, just next to St James’ Palace. A delicate child, he was educated privately for several years, before enrolling at the Royal Naval College, Osborne, in 1909. The following year, his grandfather died, and his father became King George V. Bertie was now 2nd in line to the throne, behind his elder brother.

 

Bertie continued his military training at the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth. He trained and served on HMS Cumberland and HMS Collingwood, and in 1914 began service in World War I. Aboard the Collingswood, he saw combat in the Battle of Jutland in 1916. The following year he underwent surgery for an ulcer and did not return to a combat position. By 1918, he had transferred to the Royal Air Force, eventually becoming qualified as a pilot – the first British royal to do so. He served with the Independent Air Force, stationed in France until the end of the war, finally returning to Britain in early 1919.

Bertie enrolled for a year at Trinity College, Cambridge, studying history, economics, and history, and then in 1920 began taking on more royal duties, having been created him Duke of York, Earl of Inverness, and Baron Killarney by his father. He traveled extensively representing his father, however, he was always overshadowed by his elder brother, The Prince of Wales. Bertie was painfully shy and suffered from a stammer that made him very uncomfortable speaking publicly, while his brother was immensely confident and outgoing.

 

As the second son of the Sovereign, Bertie was never expected to inherit the throne. His role, as traditionally held, would be to support his father, and then later his elder brother. This allowed him a bit more freedom when it came to choosing a bride. He fell in love with the daughter of the Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne, Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon. After several proposals, she finally accepted, and the couple married in Westminster Abbey on April 26, 1923.

The Duke and new Duchess took up residence at 145 Piccadilly in London and threw themselves into royal duty. And in 1926, the Duke of York, an avid tennis fan, actually played doubles in the Wimbledon Championship, partnering with his friend and equerry, Sir Louis Greig.

 

By 1930, two daughters had been born:

The family enjoyed a rather quiet life, aside from the Duke and Duchess’ royal duties. However, things were soon to change for the York family. January 1936, Bertie’s father, King George V, passed away at Sandringham. His elder brother became King Edward VIII and Bertie became heir-presumptive to the throne. The new King was unmarried and involved with Wallis Simpson, a twice-divorced American. This relationship would soon bring about unheard-of events in the British monarchy. Failing to reach an agreement with the Government by which he and Mrs. Simpson could marry, King Edward VIII abdicated on December 11, 1936, giving his famous “without the woman I love” speech on the radio. Upon Parliament’s passing of the Abdication Act, Bertie became the new King of the United Kingdom, taking the regnal name George VI, in honor of his father, and stressing the continuity of the British monarchy.

 

King George VI continued to work with Lionel Logue, a speech therapist he began seeing in the mid-1920s, to help with his stammer, as depicted in the film, The King’s Speech. The two would remain friends for the rest of the King’s life. His coronation was held in May 1937, the date originally planned for King Edward VIII. At the time, he was also Emperor of India and would remain so until India’s independence in 1947.

King Geroge VI and Queen Elizabeth traveled extensively, including a famous visit to Canada and the United States in mid-1939. Although he’d been there several times before, he became the first Canadian sovereign to visit the country. Following a successful tour of Canada, they visited the United States as guests of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, staying with the Roosevelts at the White House as well as their Hyde Park estate in NY. Soon after their trip, Britain declared war on Germany, and the country was drawn into World War II.

 

During the war, King George VI traveled abroad to visit troops, and along with his wife, traveled around Britain to help rally support and boost morale. Their daughters were sent off to Windsor Castle for the duration of the war, fearing bomb attacks on Buckingham Palace, while the King and Queen often spent their days at Buckingham Palace usually returning to Windsor in the evenings.

Finally, in 1945, peace was declared. The war was over, and now the country began to focus on healing and rebuilding. Again, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth were leading the drive to return the United Kingdom to its former glory. The next few years saw the end of the British Empire and the establishment of the Commonwealth. They saw the marriage of Princess Elizabeth and Philip Mountbatten and the birth of grandchildren and the succession of the monarchy.

 

By 1949, King George VI’s health was failing. He was suffering from lung cancer and several other ailments. Elizabeth and Philip began to take on more royal duties, often filling in for the King when he was unable to attend events. A tour of Australia had been postponed and in January 1952, Elizabeth and Philip set off in the King’s place. He came to the airport to see them off, looking drawn and frail. It would be the last time he would see his daughter. On February 6, 1952, King George VI passed away in his sleep at Sandringham in Norfolk, England. He was 56 years old. Elizabeth, now Queen Elizabeth II, was notified and returned immediately to London.

 

King George VI’s body was taken to St Mary Magdalene Church, Sandringham, for two days before laying in state at Westminster Hall in London. His funeral was held at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle in Windsor, England on February 15, 1952. His remains were initially interred in the Royal Vault at St. George’s Chapel and were later moved to the George VI Memorial Chapel at St.George’s Chapel in 1969.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

House of Windsor Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester

by Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

 

Lady Alice Christabel Montagu Douglas Scott was born on December 25, 1901, at Montagu House in Whitehall, London, England. She was the third daughter and the fifth of eight children of John Montagu Douglas Scott, 7th Duke of Buccleuch and 9th Duke of Queensberry and Lady Margaret Bridgeman, daughter of George Bridgeman, 4th Earl of Bradford.  Alice’s father was the largest landowner in Scotland, and she was a descendant of King Charles II through an illegitimate line.

Alice had seven siblings:

  • Lady Margaret Montagu Douglas Scott (1893 – 1976), married Admiral Sir Geoffrey Hawkins
  • Walter Montagu Douglas Scott, 8th Duke of Buccleuch (1894 – 1973), married Vreda Lascelles (granddaughter of William Beauclerk, 10th Duke of St Albans), had issue
  • Lord William Montagu Douglas Scott (1896 – 1958), married Lady Rachel Douglas-Home (daughter of Charles Douglas-Home, 13th Earl of Home), had issue
  • Lady Sybil Montagu Douglas Scott (1899 – 1990), married Charles Phipps, had issue
  • Lady Mary Montagu Douglas Scott ( 1904 – 1984), married David Cecil, 6th Marquess of Exeter, had issue
  • Lady Angela Montagu Douglas Scott (1906 – 2000), married Vice-Admiral Sir Peter Dawnay, had issue
  • Lord George Montagu Douglas Scott (1911 – 1999), married Mary Bishop, had issue

Alice grew up in her family’s country homes Boughton House in Northamptonshire, England,  Drumlanrig Castle in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland and Bowhill House near Selkirk, Scotland. She attended St. James’ School for Girls, in West Malvern, Worcestershire, England.

In August of 1935, Lady Alice became engaged to Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, the third son of King George V. Alice’s father died from cancer on October 19, 1935, less than a month before the wedding date, November 6, 1935. The wedding was originally set to be held at Westminster Abbey, but the wedding venue was changed. It was deemed more appropriate to have the wedding at the Private Chapel at Buckingham Palace. Among the bridesmaids were the groom’s nieces Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret Rose.

NPG x134883; The wedding of Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester and Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester by and after Vandyk

Photo Credit – The wedding of Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester and Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester by and after Vandyk, hand-coloured bromide print, 6 November 1935, NPG x134883 © National Portrait Gallery, London

The couple had two sons and the family lived at the 16th-century Barnwell Manor in Northamptonshire, England, and York House, St. James’s Palace in London, England.

 

During World War II, Alice worked with the Red Cross and the Order of St John. She became head of the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force.  The Duke of Gloucester served as Governor-General of Australia from 1945 – 1947 and the family lived in Canberra, Australia. During the early reign of the Duke’s niece Queen Elizabeth II, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester carried out royal engagements including some overseas tours.

The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester leaving for Australia in 1945; Photo Credit – Wikipedia, Commonwealth Department of Information – National Library of Australia

In 1965, while driving back to Barnwell Manor after attending the funeral of Winston Churchill, the Duke suffered a stroke causing a car accident. The Duchess suffered injuries to the face which required 57 stitches. Three years later, the Duke suffered another stroke which left him incapacitated. The Duchess continued to talk and read to her husband hoping he could hear and understand. In 1972, her elder son died in a crash at a plane show. Alice never did tell her husband about the death of their son William, but she thought he understood from watching television.

On June 14, 1973, Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester died at Barnwell Manor, his country home at the age of 74. He was buried at the Royal Burial Ground, Frogmore near Windsor Castle. After the Duke’s death, his widow received permission from Queen Elizabeth II to style herself Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester to distinguish herself from her son’s wife.

Alice_Gloucester

Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester photographed with her dogs; Photo Credit – www.royal.gov.uk

On October 29, 2004, Princess Alice died peacefully in her sleep at Kensington Palace in London at the age of 102, the longest-lived member of the British Royal Family so far. Her funeral was held on November 5, 2004, at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle and was attended by members of the British Royal Family including Queen Elizabeth II. Alice was buried next to her husband and elder son in the Royal Burial Ground at Frogmore in Windsor, England.

Graves of Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester and Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester. photo: www.findagrave.com

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Prince William of Gloucester

by Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

Prince William of Gloucester; Credit – Wikipedia

Prince William of Gloucester was born on December 18, 1941, at Hadley Common in Hertfordshire, England.  His father was Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, the third son of King George V and Queen Mary, and his mother was Lady Alice Montagu Douglas Scott, the third daughter of John Montagu Douglas Scott, 7th Duke of Buccleuch.

On February 22, 1942, Prince William was christened William Henry Andrew Frederick at the Private Chapel in Windsor Castle. His godparents were:

Embed from Getty Images 
William, his mother, and his brother

William had one younger brother:

Prince William attended Wellesley House Preparatory School, Broadstairs in Kent, and Eton College. In 1960, he went to Magdalene College, Cambridge to read history, graduating with a BA degree in 1963, which was raised to an MA degree in 1968. Following Cambridge, he spent a year at Stanford University in California studying political science, American history, and business.  Upon his return to the United Kingdom, he worked for Lazard, an investment bank.  In 1965, he became the second member of the British Royal Family (after his uncle Prince George, Duke of Kent) to work in the civil service or the diplomatic service.  Prince William was employed by the Commonwealth Office and was posted to Lagos, Nigeria as the third secretary at the British High Commission. In 1968, he transferred to Tokyo to accept the post of second secretary in the British Embassy.

Since 1965, William had been suffering from fever and skin rashes. Some of these episodes lasted several months. In addition, he noticed that he often developed a blistering rash, especially after being out in the sun. In 1968, Prince William was tentatively diagnosed with porphyria, later confirmed by two additional doctors. Porphyria is a disorder that results from a buildup of porphyrin in the human body. Porphyrin is necessary for the proper function of hemoglobin in the blood, but high levels of porphyrin can cause significant problems. Porphyria mainly affects the nervous system, skin, and other organs. Porphyria is usually inherited, but in some types of porphyria, environmental factors may trigger the development of symptoms. It is thought that the ill health of King George III, an ancestor of William’s father, was caused by porphyria. A member of the British Royal Family reliably diagnosed with porphyria gave credence to this theory first proposed by Dr. Ida MacAlpine and Dr. Richard Hunter in 1966.

 

Prince William was a licensed pilot, owned several airplanes, and enjoyed competing in air shows. On August 28, 1972, the prince planned on competing at the Goodyear International Air Trophy races at Halfpenny Green, near Wolverhampton, England. Express and Star photographer Ray Bradbury, an eyewitness, described what happened: “I saw Prince William’s Piper, number 66, and another Piper, number 69, take off. Number 69 appeared to get airborne before the prince. Then it seemed he was in some sort of trouble. He banked to port. It looked as though the Prince might have been troubled by the other aircraft making a turn at a higher altitude. His port wing seemed to hit the trees and he disappeared from view. Then there was an explosion.” See Unofficial Royalty: Tragedy in the British Royal Family at the End of August (scroll down).

William of Gloucester_plane

Prince William at the air show on the day of his death; Photo Credit- www.bobbington-village.co.uk

Prince William of Gloucester’s funeral was held on September 2, 1972, at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor. Queen Elizabeth II, the Queen Mother, and Princess Margaret had been at Balmoral and flew from Scotland for the funeral. The Duke of Edinburgh and Princess Anne arrived from Munich, Germany where they had been attending the Olympics. Prince William’s gold and crimson personal standard was draped over his coffin, carried by eight Scots Guards. After the service, Prince William of Gloucester was buried at the Royal Burial Grounds, Frogmore in Windsor, England. Prince William was the elder son of his parents and would have succeeded his father as Duke of Gloucester.  His younger brother Prince Richard succeeded their father as Duke of Gloucester. King Charles III, then the Prince of Wales, was close to the older Prince William of Gloucester and named his first child in honor of him.

Prince William’s grave; Photo Credit – www.findagrave.com

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

The Honourable Gerald Lascelles

by Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

The Honourable Gerald Lascelles; Credit – www.thepeerage.com

The Honourable Gerald David Lascelles was born on August 21, 1924, at Goldsborough Hall, near Knaresborough in North Yorkshire, England. He was the younger son of Henry Lascelles, 6th Earl of Harewood and Mary, Princess Royal, the only daughter of King George V of the United Kingdom. Gerald had one older brother, George Lascelles, 7th Earl of Harewood. He was a first cousin of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom.

NPG x17403; Hon. Gerald David Lascelles; Princess Mary, Countess of Harewood by Speaight Ltd, published by J. Beagles & Co

Hon. Gerald David Lascelles; Princess Mary, Countess of Harewood by Speaight Ltd, published by J. Beagles & Co, postcard print, 1924 NPG x17403 © National Portrait Gallery, London

Gerald attended Eton College. During World War II, he served as a Captain in The Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort’s Own), an infantry rifle regiment of the British Army.

Gerald married twice. His first married actress Angela Dowding on July 15, 1952, at St. Margaret’s Church, Westminster in London, England. Members of the British Royal Family attended the wedding except for Gerald’s first cousin Queen Elizabeth II, who had a last-minute cold. The Queen’s absence was seen as a snub to her cousin. The wedding reception was held at St. James’ Palace with Queen Mary, the groom’s grandmother, in attendance. Gerald and his family moved to Fort Belvedere in Surrey, England, the former country home of Gerald’s uncle, King Edward VIII (the Duke of Windsor).

Gerald and Angela had one son:

  • Henry Ulick Lascelles (born 1953), married (1) Alexandra Morton, had one son, divorced  (2) Fiona Wilmott, no children

Angela and Gerald divorced in 1978. Their marriage had collapsed when Gerald left Angela to live with another former actress Elizabeth Collingwood, whom he had known for 20 years and with whom he already had a son. After the divorce, Angela continued living in Windsor Great Park and remained on friendly terms with the Royal Family. Queen Elizabeth II often invited her to the Royal Enclosure at Ascot. Angela died in 2007 at the age of 87.

On November 17, 1978, in Vienna, Austria, Gerald married Elizabeth Collingwood (1924 – 2006). The couple had one child, a son Martin, but because Martin was born before his parents’ marriage, neither he nor his descendants are in the line of succession to the British throne.

  • Martin David Lascelles (born 1962), married Charmaine Eccleston, had one son. Martin also has an illegitimate daughter with singer Carol Anne Douet.

Gerald was a race car driver, a director of the Silverstone Circuit, a car race track in Northamptonshire, England, and served as president of the British Racing Drivers’ Club from 1964 to 1991. Like his brother, Gerald was interested in music. While his brother George was an opera enthusiast, Gerald preferred jazz. In the 1950s, he collaborated with jazz music critic Sinclair Traill in compiling the Just Jazz yearbooks.

Gerald Lascelles died on February 27, 1998, in Bergerac, France at the age of 73. He was buried at All Saint’s Church in Harewood, West Yorkshire, England where his parents and brother are also buried.

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World War I – Princess Mary’s 1914 Christmas Gift

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2014

Princess Mary of the United Kingdom; Photo Credit – Wikipedia, US Library of Congress Collection

World War I had started in August of 1914, and as the Christmas season approached, 17-year-old Princess Mary, the only daughter of King George V of the United Kingdom, wanted to do something for the British soldiers and sailors. The princess’s original idea was to purchase a gift using her private allowance. When this idea became impractical, the idea of a public fund was developed. The first meeting of The Princess Mary’s Christmas Gift Fund was held on October 14, 1914, at the Ritz Hotel in London. Princess Mary was present and remained personally involved throughout the life of the fund.

The next day, the following letter signed by Princess Mary was released by Buckingham Palace:

“I want you now to help me to send a Christmas present from the whole of the nation to every sailor afloat and every soldier at the front. I am sure that we should all be happier to feel that we had helped to send our little token of love and sympathy on Christmas morning, something that would be useful and of permanent value, and the making of which may be the means of providing employment in trades adversely affected by the war. Could there be anything more likely to hearten them in their struggle than a present received straight from home on Christmas Day?

The response from the public was overwhelming. The gift was an embossed brass box with various provisions inside. The lid was decorated with a portrait of Princess Mary, surrounded by a laurel wreath and with an ‘M’ on both sides. ‘Imperium Britannicum’ was at the top with a sword and scabbard on either side. At the bottom are the words ‘Christmas 1914′ surrounded by battleships.  In the corners are the names of the Allies: Belgium, Japan, Montenegro, and Serbia, with France and Russia on either side.

Princess-Mary-Christmas-Gift-Tin-1914

Photo Credit – www.yorkcastlemuseum.org.uk

The tins were filled with various items, including tobacco, candy, spices, pencils, a Christmas card, and a picture of the princess. Over 426,000 of these tins were distributed on Christmas Day, 1914. However, a shortage of brass meant that many of the tins were delivered on later dates. When the fund closed in 1920, almost £200,000 had been donated and more than two and a half million tins had been delivered.

PM-Gift-Box

Photo Credit – http://harewood.org

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Henry Lascelles, 6th Earl of Harewood

by Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

Henry Lascelles, 6th Earl of Harewood; Credit – Wikipedia

Henry George Charles Lascelles was born on September 9, 1882, in London, England. He was the elder son and the eldest of the three children of Henry Ulrick Lascelles, 5th Earl of Harewood and Lady Florence Bridgeman, daughter of Orlando Bridgeman, 3rd Earl of Bradford. At the time of his birth, Henry was styled The Honourable Henry Lascelles. When his grandfather died in 1892 and his father became the 5th Earl of Harewood, Henry was able to use one of his father’s subsidiary titles and be styled Viscount Lascelles. He became 6th Earl of Harewood upon the death of his father in 1929.

The Earl of Harewood is a Peerage of the United Kingdom and was created in 1812 for Edward Lascelles, 1st Baron Harewood (2nd creation), a wealthy sugar plantation owner and former Member of Parliament. The family seat is Harewood House, near Leeds in Yorkshire, England, which was built 1759 – 1771 for wealthy trader Edwin Lascelles, 1st Baron Harewood (first creation). The Earl of Harewood also holds the subsidiary titles Viscount Lascelles and Baron Harewood.

Henry had a sister and a brother:

  • Lady Margaret Selina Lascelles (1883–1978), married Gustavus Hamilton-Russell, 9th Viscount Boyne, had issue
  • Major Hon. Edward Cecil Lascelles (1887–1935), married Joan Balfour, a granddaughter of George Campbell, 8th Duke of Argyll

Henry attended the Royal Military College Sandhurst and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant into the Grenadier Guards on February 12, 1902. He gained the rank of Captain in the service of the Grenadier Guards and fought in World War I where he commanded the 3rd Battalion Grenadier Guards. He was mentioned in dispatches and wounded twice. He also served with the Yorkshire Hussars Yeomanry and attained the rank of Major.

Henry married Princess Mary, the only daughter of King George V of the United Kingdom at Westminster Abbey in London, England on February 28, 1922. Despite their fifteen-year age difference and rumors that the marriage was not happy, their elder son George Lascelles, 7th Earl of Harewood said the marriage was a happy one. He wrote in his memoirs that they “got on well together and had a lot of friends and interests in common.”

Photo Credit – Wikipedia, US Library of Congress Prints and Photos

Mary and Henry had two sons:

 

Henry and his wife enjoyed country pursuits. They both regularly rode with the Bramham Moor Hunt where Henry was Master of the Hunt. Henry was a Freemason and served as Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England from 1942-47. Henry Lascelles, 6th Earl of Harewood died on May 23, 1947, at Harewood House at the age of 67, and was buried at All Saints Church in Harewood, West Yorkshire, England. Princess Mary survived him for 18 years and was buried with her husband.

Grave of Mary, Princess Royal, Countess of Harewood and her husband, George Lascelles, 6th Earl of Harewood. photo: www.findagrave.com

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Princess Mary, Princess Royal, Countess of Harewood

by Susan Flantzer © Unofficial Royalty 2014

Princess Mary, Princess Royal, Countess of Harewood; Credit – Wikipedia

The only daughter of King George V and Queen Mary was born on April 25, 1897, in the year of the Diamond Jubilee of her great-grandmother Queen Victoria, at York Cottage on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, England. She was the third of the six children of her parents, the Duke and Duchess of York at the time of her birth. The new baby was named Victoria Alexandra Alice Mary, but was always known as Mary.

Mary was christened on June 7, 1897, at St. Mary Magdalene Church, Sandringham. Her godparents were:

 

Princess Mary had five siblings, all brothers:

Princess Mary and her mother during World War I;  Credit: Wikipedia, United States Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division

Educated by governesses, Mary also shared some lessons with her brothers. During World War I, when she was a teenager, Mary accompanied her mother Queen Mary on visits to hospitals and other organizations that assisted soldiers and their families. Mary had her own project, Princess Mary’s Christmas Gift Fund, which sent a gift box to British soldiers and sailors for Christmas 1914. In 1918, Princess Mary began a nursing course at the Great Ormond Street Hospital, working two days a week in the Alexandra Ward. Mary actively supported the Voluntary Aid Detachment, the Women’s Land Army, and the Girl Guides. She was the honorary president of the British Girl Guide Association from 1920 until her death.

Photo Credit – Wikipedia

Mary was the first of her siblings to marry. On November 20, 1921, she became engaged to Henry, Viscount Lascelles, the eldest son of Henry Lascelles, 5th Earl of Harewood and Lady Florence Bridgeman, daughter of Orlando Bridgeman, 3rd Earl of Bradford.  Lord Lascelles was staying at York Cottage, the country home of Mary’s family, and it was there that the proposal took place. Queen Mary wrote in her diary for that day, “At 6.30 Mary came to my room to announce to me her engagement to Lord Lascelles! We then told G. (King George V) & then gave Harry L. our blessing. We had to keep it quiet owing to G. having to pass an order in council to give his consent. Of course, everybody guessed what had happened & we were very cheerful & almost uproarious at dinner. We are delighted.”

Princess Mary and Lord Lascelles (Henry) were married at Westminster Abbey on February 28, 1922. The wedding was the first time a child of a monarch had married at Westminster Abbey since 1290, when Margaret of England, daughter of King Edward I, married the future Jean II, Duke of Brabant. It was also the first royal occasion for Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (later wife of Mary’s brother King George VI), a friend of Mary’s and one of her bridesmaids. Despite their fifteen-year age difference and rumors that the marriage was not happy, their elder son, George Lascelles, 7th Earl of Harewood, said the marriage was a happy one. He wrote in his memoirs that they “got on well together and had a lot of friends and interests in common.”

 

 

Mary and Henry had two sons:

In the early years of their marriage, Mary and Henry lived at Chesterfield House in London and Goldsborough Hall in Yorkshire.  In 1929, Henry’s father died, he became the 6th Earl of Harewood, and the family moved to Harewood House near Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. On January 1, 1932, Mary was given the style Princess Royal by her father, a style for the eldest daughter of the sovereign. The previous Princess Royal, Mary’s aunt Louise, had died the previous year.

Mary continued to carry out engagements during the reigns of her brother King George VI and her niece Queen Elizabeth II. Henry, 6th Earl of Harewood died at Harewood House on May 23, 1947. After her husband’s death, Mary lived at Harewood House with her elder son, the 7th Earl of Harewood, and his family.

On March 28, 1965, Mary, her elder son George, and two of her grandsons went for a walk on the grounds of Harewood House. She stumbled and fell, and her son helped her to a seat while his sons ran back to the house to get help. Before help arrived, Mary died peacefully in her son’s arms from a heart attack at the age of 67. Her funeral at All Saints Church in Harewood, West Yorkshire, England, was attended by members of the British Royal Family, including Mary’s niece, Queen Elizabeth II. Mary was buried with her husband at All Saints Church in Harewood, West Yorkshire, England.

Grave of Mary, Princess Royal, Countess of Harewood and her husband, George Lascelles, 6th Earl of Harewood. photo: www.findagrave.com

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