Category Archives: British Royals

Katharine, The Duchess of Kent

by Scott Mehl
© Unofficial Royalty 2014

 

Her Royal Highness The  Duchess of Kent, wife of Prince Edward, The Duke of Kent, was born Katharine Lucy Mary Worsley on February 22, 1933, at Hovington Hall in Yorkshire, England, the Worsley family home. She is the daughter of Sir William Arthington Worsley, 4th Baronet and Joyce Morgan Brunner.

Katharine had three older brothers:

Following her education at St Margaret’s School in York, England and Runton Hill School in Norfolk, England, Katharine worked in a children’s home in York and taught in a kindergarten in London. After failing to gain entry into the Royal Academy of Music, she studied at Miss Hubler’s Finishing School in Oxford. From an early age, Katharine had a talent for music and learned to play the piano, organ, and violin.

 

In 1956, Katharine met her future husband, Prince Edward, The Duke of Kent, while he was stationed at Catterick Garrison, near Richmond, England. They married on June 8, 1961, at York Minster in York, England. Her bridesmaids included Princess Anne, and Jane Spencer, the elder sister of Diana, Princess of Wales.

The Duke and Duchess of Kent had three children:

The couple also had a stillborn child born in 1977. The Duchess of Kent suffered severe depression, something which she has spoken about publicly.

The family lived at Coppins, in Buckinghamshire, England until 1972, when they moved to York House at St James’ Palace in London, England. Since 1996, they have lived at Wren House on the grounds of Kensington Palace in London, England. They also have a country house, The Old Forge, in Oxfordshire, England which they purchased in 2002.

In 1994, the Duchess converted to Catholicism, the first senior member of the royal family to convert publicly since the enactment of the Act of Settlement in 1701. In the years following, one of her children and several of her grandchildren have also become Catholic.

Some of the organizations the Duchess was associated with include:

  • Patron, Making Music (the National Federation of Music Societies)
  • Trustee, The National Foundation for Youth Music, London
  • President and Board Member, The Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester
  • Ambassador, Aldeburgh Productions, in Suffolk
  • Patron, RUC Benevolent Fund in Northern Ireland
  • President, NCH Action for Children
  • President and Board Member, Macmillan Cancer Research
  • UNICEF
  • VSO (Voluntary Services Overseas)

Venus Williams receives the trophy from the Duchess of Kent as the Duke of Kent looks on after  winning the Women’s Singles Final of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships in 2001

The Duchess of Kent was known for handing out the trophies for the women’s singles final at the annual Wimbledon Championships from the 1970s to 2001. With her warm-hearted and informal demeanor, such as her comforting hug to Jana Novotná on Center Court, who had lost to Steffi Graf in 1993,  the Duchess won many admirers. After the 2001 Wimbledon Championships, the Duchess gave up her official role at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships as part of her withdrawal from public life.

In 2002, she chose to reduce her public role and asked to be known as Katherine, Duchess of Kent (a style typically used for one widowed or divorced). However, formally she remains HRH The Duchess of Kent. She began teaching music at Wansbeck Primary School in Kingston upon Hull. She also purchased an apartment in Notting Hill which she used to teach music lessons. She continues to support organizations relating to music and music education, and in 2004, she co-founded Future Talent, a children’s music charity established to find, fund, and nurture talented musicians in the United Kingdom.

The Duchess has not been seen in public recently. She did not attend the 2021 funeral of Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh, the 2022 funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, or the 1923 coronation of King Charles III although her husband did attend all three.

The Duke and Duchess of Kent attend a service for the national minute of silence and mosaic unveiling at the base of Grenfell Tower as part of commemorations on the one-year anniversary of the Grenfell Tower block fire in west London, 2018

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Prince Edward, Duke of Kent

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

The Duke of Kent at the National Service Of Remembrance in 2020

Prince Edward George Nicholas Paul Patrick of Kent was born on October 9, 1935, at No. 3 Belgrave Square, his parents’ London residence. He is the eldest child of Prince George, Duke of Kent (a son of King George V, and younger brother of Kings Edward VIII and George VI), and Princess Marina of Greece. Through his father, he is a first cousin of Queen Elizabeth II, and through his mother, he is a first cousin once removed of Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh.

Prince Edward was christened in the Private Chapel at Buckingham Palace in London, England on November 20, 1935. His godparents were:

 

Shortly after his birth, the family moved to Coppins, in Buckinghamshire, England which his father inherited from Princess Victoria of Wales, a daughter of King Edward VII.  Edward has two younger siblings:

Prince George, Duke of Kent, was killed in a plane crash on August 25, 1942. At just six years old, Prince Edward succeeded his father as Duke of Kent, Earl of St. Andrews, and Baron Downpatrick.

Edward attended Ludgrove School and Eton College in England, and Le Rosey in Switzerland. He then entered the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, graduating in July 1955, commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Royal Scots Greys. He went on to serve in the British Army for 21 years. In 1976, the Duke retired from active service, having reached the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He was later made Honorary Major General in 1983, and Honorary Air Marshal in 1993.

 

In 1956, while stationed at Catterick Garrison, near Richmond, England, Edward met his future wife Katharine Worsley, the daughter of Sir William Arthington Worsley, 4th Baronet, and Joyce Morgan Brunner. The couple was married on June 8, 1961, at York Minster in York, England.

The Duke and Duchess of Kent had three children:

The Duke and Duchess of Kent in 2013; Credit – Wikipedia

The family lived at Coppins until 1972, when they moved to York House at St James’ Palace in London, England. They remained at York House until 1996, taking up residence at Wren House, on the grounds of Kensington Palace in London, England. They also own a country home, The Old Forge, in Brightwell Baldwin, Oxfordshire, England which they purchased in 2002.  Prior to that, they leased Anmer Hall on the Queen’s Sandringham Estate in Norfolk England from 1972-1990, and from 1989-1996 owned Crocker End House in Nettlebed, Oxfordshire, England.

After retiring from the Army, the Duke of Kent served as Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, promoting the United Kingdom and British businesses both within the UK and abroad. He stepped down In 2001, after 25 years.

The Duke of Kent has been an active member of the Royal Family and represented his first cousin Queen Elizabeth II at events in the United Kingdom around the world. As he aged, his engagements became more limited.

The Duke of Kent holds several royal appointments:

  • Colonel of the Scots Guards
  • Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers
  • Colonel-in-Chief of the Devonshire and Dorset Regiment
  • Royal Colonel, 1st Battalion, The Rifles
  • Colonel-in-Chief of the Lorne Scots Regiment in Canada
  • Deputy Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards
  • Honorary Air Chief Marshall (RAF)
  • Honorary Air Commodore, RAF Leuchars

In addition, he is the patron of numerous organizations. He is probably most recognized for his role as President of The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, serving from 1969 – 2021, a position to which he succeeded upon his mother’s death in 1968. In this role, he presented the champion’s trophies at Wimbledon each year.

 

Some of The Duke of Kent’s other organizations and patronages:

  • President, The Scout Association (since 1975)
  • President, Commonwealth War Graves Commission
  • RAF Benevolent Fund
  • Royal National Lifeboat Institution
  • The Stroke Association
  • The Royal Institution
  • Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies (RUSI)

The Duke is a Royal Knight of the Order of the Garter, Grand Master of the Order of St. Michael and St. George, and was Personal Aide-de-Camp to his first cousin Queen Elizabeth II. He has been a Freemason since 1963, and since 1967 has served as Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England, the governing body of Freemasonry in England and Wales. He also serves as Chancellor of the University of Surrey.

Despite a minor stroke in March 2013, the Duke made a very quick recovery and returned to his official duties just a few weeks later.

 

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Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester

by Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

Credit – By The National Churches Trust – Luke March, HRH The Duke of Gloucester, Pippa Jacob, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=78033822

Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester was born at Hadley Common in Hertfordshire, England on August 26, 1944.  He was the second of the two sons of Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester and his wife Lady Alice Montagu Douglas Scott, daughter of John Montagu Douglas Scott, 7th Duke of Buccleuch,  and one of the nine grandchildren of King George V of the United Kingdom.

The prince’s christening took place at the Private Chapel at Windsor Castle on October 20, 1944. The location of the christening was not announced at the time due to security concerns because of World War II. The names given to the royal baby were Richard Alexander Walter George, three of the names after his three godfathers, and his godparents were:

Prince Richard had one elder brother, Prince William of Gloucester who was killed in an airplane accident at an airshow in 1972 (scroll down).  At that time, Prince Richard became the heir to his father’s titles.

Richard started his education at home. He then attended Wellesley House School in Broadstairs, Kent, England, and Eton College in Eton, Berkshire, England. In 1963, Richard began studying architecture at Magdalene College, Cambridge University where he received a Diploma of Architecture. He was a partner in a London architecture firm and planned to make it his career. However, upon his brother’s death in 1972, when Richard became his father’s heir, he took on increased royal duties and the responsibility for the family estate, so he resigned from his partnership.

First row, seated: Princess Alice of Albany; Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester; The Queen Mother; Vivian van Deurs Second row, standing: Prince Michael of Kent; Princess Margaret; The Prince of Wales; Prince Richard of Gloucester; Birgitte van Deurs; Prince William of Gloucester; two members of Birgitte’s family; Asger Henriksen; Photo Credit – orderofsplendor.blogspot.com

While studying at Cambridge University, Richard met his future wife, the Danish-born Birgitte Eva Henriksen, who was attending the Bell School of Languages in Cambridge, England. Birgitte and Prince Richard became engaged in February 1972 and were married on July 8, 1972, at St. Andrew’s Church in Barnwell, Northamptonshire, England nearby the Gloucester family home Barnwell Manor.  Prince Richard’s father was unable to attend the wedding. Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester had suffered his first stroke in 1965 and subsequent strokes required him to use a wheelchair and rendered him unable to speak for his remaining years.

The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester had three children, all married with their own children:

 

On June 10, 1974, Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester died and Prince Richard succeeded his father as Duke of Gloucester. The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester’s official residence is at Kensington Palace in London. In 2019, they moved from the large Apartment 1 to the Old Stables, a smaller residence that is also located within the Kensington Palace grounds. They have leased out their private home Barnwell Manor in Northamptonshire, England since 1994.

The Duke of Gloucester in his robes as the Grand Prior of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem; Credit – Wikipedia

In support of his cousin Queen Elizabeth II, the Duke of Gloucester carried out a significant number of public duties and official engagements in the United Kingdom and overseas, and will continue to do so for his first cousin once removed King Charles III. He is associated with over 150 charities and organizations.  Some of the charities and organizations the Duke of Gloucester is associated with include:

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David Armstrong-Jones, 2nd Earl of Snowdon

by Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

David Armstrong-Jones, 2nd Earl of Snowdon; Credit – Wikipedia

David Albert Charles Armstrong-Jones, 2nd Earl of Snowdon was born on November 3, 1961, at Clarence House in London, England. He was the first child and only son of Princess Margaret of the United Kingdom and Antony Armstrong-Jones, and one of the six grandchildren of King George VI of the United Kingdom.

 

The month before David was born, his father was created Earl of Snowdon and Viscount Linley due to concerns that a British princess would give birth to a child without a title. The heir of a British peer is allowed to use the second title of the noble parent as a courtesy title, so David was styled Viscount Linley and became the 2nd Earl of Snowdon upon his father’s death on January 13, 2017. Professionally, he is known as David Linley. On December 19, 1961, David was christened in the Music Room of Buckingham Palace by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Michael Ramsey. His godparents were Lady Bruce Dundas, Nigel Harvey, Nick Powell, Orlando Rock, Lucinda Cecil, and Rita Konig.

 

David has one sibling:

When he was five years old, David began his education in the schoolroom at Buckingham Palace with his first cousin Prince Andrew.  David then attended the Gibbs School in Kensington, London, England, and the Ashdown House School in East Sussex, England. Next, he attended the now-closed Millbrook House School, near Abingdon, Oxfordshire, England. David finished his secondary education at Bedales School in Steep, Hampshire, England where he developed an interest in arts and crafts.

From 1980-1982, David studied the craft of woodworking at Parnham College in Beaminster, Dorset, England. In 1976, furniture maker John Makepeace bought Parnham House and founded the Parnham Trust and the School for Craftsmen in Wood. It later became Parnham College with the goal “to provide integrated courses in design, making and management for aspiring furniture makers, alongside but separately from his own furniture workshops.” In 2000, the school moved to a new campus in Hooke Park, England, and is now known as the Architectural Association School of Architecture.

LINLEY store on Pimlico Road in London

David Linley has had a career as a furniture designer and maker and set up his own company LINLEY in 1985. From his company’s website: “I was lucky enough to grow up surrounded by beautiful things. Instead of taking these for granted, I wanted to find out more about the making process, whether a vase, a car, a sculpture or indeed a piece of furniture. When I was a small boy, my grandmother challenged me to find a secret drawer in a bureau that she treasured. I still remember the exhilaration when I eventually found it. I couldn’t understand how it was possible to conceal something so cleverly, so resolved to find out how. This was really when my interest in woodworking began.”

David does not have an official role, but he does take part in Royal Family events, such as Trooping the Color. In 2002, while his grandmother Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother was lying in state at Westminster Hall, David, along with his first cousins The Prince of Wales, The Duke of York, and The Earl of Wessex, stood guard around their grandmother’s coffin.

 

David married The Honorable Serena Stanhope, a daughter of Viscount Petersham (now the 12th Earl of Harrington) at St. Margaret’s Church in Westminster, London, England on October 8, 1993. On February 17, 2020, David and Serena announced that they intend to divorce. A spokesperson for the couple said: “The Earl and Countess of Snowdon have amicably agreed that their marriage has come to an end and that they shall be divorced. They ask that the press respect their privacy and that of their family.”

The couple has two children:

In 2012, David’s son Charles was appointed to be the First Page of Honor of his great-aunt, Queen Elizabeth II. This is a ceremonial position granted to teenage sons of the nobility and requires attendance on state occasions when the pages usually carry the long train of the Sovereign’s attire.

Charles Armstrong Jones_Page

The Honorable Charles Patrick Armstrong-Jones (back right) at the State Opening of Parliament in 2013; Photo Credit – www.dailymail.co.uk. (PA)

David’s daughter Lady Margarita Elizabeth Rose Alleyne Armstrong-Jones was born shortly after the deaths of her grandmother Princess Margaret (whose middle name was Rose) and her great-grandmother Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother and was named after them. She was also a bridesmaid at the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton.

Lady Margarita Armstrong-Jones on the right

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Mike Tindall, husband of Zara Phillips

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

 

 

Mike Tindall is the husband of Zara Phillips, daughter of The Princess Royal. He was born Michael James Tindall on October 18, 1978, in Otley, West Yorkshire, England to Phil and Linda Tindall.

Mike was educated at the Queen Elizabeth Grammar School in Wakefield, England. After graduating, he joined Bath Rugby and played with them until 2005. During this time, he was also a member of the England Rugby team, playing with them from 2000-2011. In 2003, England won the Rugby World Cup, played in Australia. Along with his teammates, he was created a Member of the British Empire (MBE) after the win.

Besides playing with the national team, Mike continued playing local rugby. In 2005, he left Bath and began playing for Gloucester Rugby for the next seven years. He also played, in 2012 and 2013, for Barbarians FC, an invitational team based in England. On July 15, 2014, Mike announced his retirement from professional rugby.

Having met in Australia in 2003, during the Rugby World Cup, Mike became engaged to Zara Phillips, daughter of The Princess Royal, and eldest granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II. The engagement was announced by Buckingham Palace in December 2010. They married on July 30, 2011, at the Canongate Kirk in Edinburgh, Scotland.

 

Mike and Zara have two daughters and one son:

  • Mia Grace Tindall (born January 17, 2014, at the Gloucestershire Royal Hospital in Gloucestershire, England)
  • Lena Elizabeth Tindall (born June 18, 2018, at the Stroud Maternity Unit in Gloucestershire, England)
  • Lucas Philip Tindall (born March 21, 2021, born at the family home on The Princess Royal’s Gloucestershire estate)

Mike has been the host for charity sporting events and is active in several charitable organizations. He and his wife are often in attendance at major royal family events and the occasional formal function such as Trooping the Colour.

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Zara Phillips Tindall, daughter of The Princess Royal

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

Zara Phillips Tindall

Zara Anne Elizabeth Phillips was born on May 15, 1981, at St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, London, England. She is the younger child of Princess Anne, The Princess Royal, and Captain Mark Phillips and the second grandchild of Queen Elizabeth II and The Duke of Edinburgh. Like her brother, she holds no royal titles or styles but is still a member of the British Royal Family. She is formally styled as Mrs. Michael Tindall MBE, however, she uses her maiden name professionally.

Zara and her brother Peter, 1984. photo: NY Daily News

Zara and her brother Peter, 1984. photo: NY Daily News

Zara has an elder brother:

Zara was christened in the Private Chapel at Buckingham Palace on July 27, 1981, by The Dean of Windsor. Her godparents are:

Zara was educated at the Beaudesert Park School in Gloucestershire, the Port Regis School in Dorset, England, and Gordonstoun School in Scotland. She later attended the University of Exeter, qualifying as a physiotherapist, specializing in equine physiotherapy.

An accomplished equestrian from a young age, Zara participated in the 2005 European Eventing Championships, earning both team and individual gold medals. The following year she won team silver, and individual gold, at the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games. Having won gold, she was the reigning Eventing World Champion until 2010. In 2007, she again won team gold at the European Eventing Championships.

Zara receiving her Olympic medal from The Princess Royal, 2012. photo: Rex Features

Zara receiving her Olympic medal from The Princess Royal, 2012. photo: Rex Features

In 2006, she was named BBC Sports Personality of the Year, and in 2007, was made a Member of the British Empire (MBE) for her services to Equestrianism. Having been unable to compete in the 2004 and 2008 Olympic games due to injuries to her horse, Zara was named a member of the 2012 British Equestrian Team for the London Olympics. She was part of the Silver medal-winning team event, receiving her medal from her mother, The Princess Royal, herself a participant in the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal.

photo: Daily Mail/AFP/Getty Images

Wedding of Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall – photo: Daily Mail/AFP/Getty Images

On December 21, 2010, Buckingham Palace announced her engagement to English rugby player, Mike Tindall. The couple first met in 2003 during the Rugby World Cup in Australia. Zara and Mike were married on July 30, 2011, at Canongate Kirk in Edinburgh, Scotland. A reception followed at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, her grandmother’s official residence in  Edinburgh, Scotland.

 

Zara and Mike have two daughters and one son:

  • Mia Grace Tindall (born January 17, 2014 at the Gloucestershire Royal Hospital in Gloucestershire, England)
  • Lena Elizabeth Tindall (born June 18, 2018 at the Stroud Maternity Unit in Gloucestershire, England)
  • Lucas Philip Tindall (born March 21, 2021 at the family home on The Princess Royal’s Gloucestershire estate)

In addition to her equestrian pursuits, Zara is often seen at major royal events in the United Kingdom, such as The Trooping of the Colour. She is one of the godparents of Prince George of Wales, the son of her first cousin Prince William, Prince of Wales.

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Autumn Phillips, wife of Peter Phillips

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

photo: Zimbio

photo: Zimbio

Autumn Phillips

Autumn Phillips was the wife of Peter Phillips, son of The Princess Royal, and the eldest grandson of Queen Elizabeth II and The Duke of Edinburgh. On February 11. 2020, Peter and Autumn announced that they intended to divorce, and the divorce was final in 2021. Autumn Patricia Kelly was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada on May 3, 1978, to Brian Kelly and Katherine “Kitty” McCarthy. She has a twin brother, Christopher, an elder brother, Kevin, and two younger half-siblings, Jessica and Patrick.

Raised in the suburbs of Montreal, she attended a Roman Catholic primary school, and then St Thomas High School in Pointe-Claire. She then attended McGill University, graduating in 2002 with a Bachelors Degree in East Asian studies. Following university, she began working as a management consultant.

In 2003, Autumn met her future husband at the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal. Soon after, she relocated to the United Kingdom, working for an American computer firm in England. She and Peter lived together at his apartment in Kensington, and a cottage on his mother’s Gatcombe Park estate. Autumn later worked as a personal assistant to Sir Michael Parkinson.

The couple’s engagement was announced in July 2007. Autumn converted from Roman Catholicism to The Church of England, thereby avoiding her husband losing his place in the line of succession to the British throne. The wedding took place on May 17, 2008, at St George’s Chapel, Windsor, with a reception held at Frogmore House. The couple lived in Hong Kong for several years, but returned to England in 2010, just before the birth of their first child.

 

Autumn and Peter have two daughters, both born at the Gloucestershire Royal Hospital. They are the eldest great-grandchildren of The Queen.

  • Savannah Ann Kathleen Phillips (born 2010)
  • Isla Elizabeth Phillips (born 2012)

On February 11. 2020, Peter and Autumn Phillips announced that they intended to divorce. They had separated in 2019. A statement said, in part: “Both families were naturally sad at the announcement, but fully supportive of Peter and Autumn in the joint decision to co-parent their children. Both Peter and Autumn will remain in Gloucestershire to bring up their two children where they have been settled for a number of years.”

The divorce of Peter and Autumn Phillips became final on June 14, 2021. The statement on behalf of the couple read: “Mr. Peter Phillips and Mrs. Autumn Phillips are pleased to be able to report that the financial aspects of their divorce have been resolved through agreement, the terms of which have been approved and ordered by the High Court today. Whilst this is a sad day for Peter and Autumn, they continue to put the well-being and upbringing of their wonderful daughters Savannah and Isla first and foremost. Both Peter and Autumn are pleased to have resolved matters amicably with the children firmly at the forefront of those thoughts and decisions. Peter & Autumn have requested privacy and consideration for their children as the family adapts to a new chapter in their lives.”

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.

Peter Phillips, Son of The Princess Royal

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

photo: The Times/Getty Images

Peter Phillips; photo: The Times/Getty Images

Peter Phillips is the eldest child of The Princess Royal and the eldest grandchild of Queen Elizabeth II. Although he does not hold any royal titles, he is still very much a part of the British Royal Family.

Peter with his sister Zara, 1982. photo: Parent Dish/PA

Peter with his sister Zara, 1982. photo: Parent Dish/PA

Peter Mark Andrew Phillips was born on November 15, 1977, at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, London, England. He is the first child of Princess Anne, The Princess Royal and Captain Mark Phillips and the first grandchild of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. At the time of his parents’ marriage, it is believed that his father was offered a peerage but declined. Therefore, Peter and his younger sister Zara do not have any titles or styles.

Peter has one sibling:

Peter was christened in the Music Room at Buckingham Palace on December 22, 1977, by the Archbishop of Canterbury.  His godparents are:

Peter attended Port Regis Prep School in Dorset and following in the footsteps of his grandfather and uncles, attended Gordonstoun School in Scotland. He then enrolled at the University of Exeter, graduating in 2000 with a degree in sports science.

An avid sportsman, his career has been spent working in the area of sport and sporting events. After two years as an account manager for Jaguar, and another two years with WilliamsF1, Peter took a job as Head of Global Sponsorships, Global Banking, and Markets, for the Royal Bank of Scotland in 2005. In 2012, he left RBS to become Managing Director of SEL UK. He is also involved, along with his father, in coordinating the annual Festival of British Eventing, held each year at Gatcombe Park, his mother’s estate in Gloucestershire.

photo: Hello!

Peter Phillips and Autumn Kelly on their wedding day; photo: Hello!

In 2003, at the Canadian Grand Prix, in Montreal, he met his future wife, Autumn Kelly. She soon moved to the United Kingdom and the couple lived together at his apartment in Kensington, and a cottage on his mother’s Gatcombe Park estate. Their engagement was announced on July 28, 2007. They married on May 17, 2008, at St George’s Chapel, Windsor. A reception followed at Frogmore House. He was the first of The Queen’s grandchildren to marry. The couple caused some controversy when they were allegedly paid £500,000 by Hello! magazine for an interview and wedding photos. The couple resided in Hong Kong, where Peter was working for the Royal Bank of Scotland, before returning to England in 2010.

 

Peter and Autumn have two daughters, both born at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital. They were the first two great-grandchildren of Queen Elizabeth II, and both have dual citizenship, making them the first Canadians in the line of succession to the British throne.

    • Savannah Anna Kathleen Phillips (born 2010)
    • Isla Elizabeth Phillips (born 2012)

On February 11, 2020, Peter and Autumn Phillips announced they intended to divorce. They had separated in 2019. A statement said, in part: “Both families were naturally sad at the announcement, but fully supportive of Peter and Autumn in the joint decision to co-parent their children. Both Peter and Autumn will remain in Gloucestershire to bring up their two children where they have been settled for a number of years.”

The divorce of Peter and Autumn Phillips became final on June 14, 2021. The statement on behalf of the couple read: “Mr. Peter Phillips and Mrs. Autumn Phillips are pleased to be able to report that the financial aspects of their divorce have been resolved through agreement, the terms of which have been approved and ordered by the High Court today. Whilst this is a sad day for Peter and Autumn, they continue to put the wellbeing and upbringing of their wonderful daughters Savannah and Isla first and foremost. Both Peter and Autumn are pleased to have resolved matters amicably with the children firmly at the forefront of those thoughts and decisions. Peter & Autumn have requested privacy and consideration for their children as the family adapts to a new chapter in their lives.”

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 Eugenie, Mrs. Jack Brooksbank

by Scott Mehl © Unofficial Royalty 2014

 

Princess Eugenie Victoria Helena is the younger daughter of Prince Andrew, The Duke of York, and Sarah Ferguson. She is the sixth grandchild of Queen Elizabeth II and The Duke of Edinburgh.

Princess Eugenie was born on March 23, 1990, at the Portland Hospital in London, England. She is reportedly named for Princess Victoria Eugenie of Battenberg (later Queen of Spain), a granddaughter of Queen Victoria; and The Princess Helena, third daughter of Queen Victoria.

Eugenie has one sibling:

Eugenie was christened by Peter Nott, Bishop of Norwich on December 23, 1990, at the Church of St Mary Magdalene in Sandringham. It was the first public christening of a member of the royal family. Her godparents were:

  • James Ogilvy (her father’s second cousin)
  • Captain Alastair Ross (her father’s former commander on HMS Edinburgh)
  • Mrs. Ronald Ferguson (her mother’s stepmother)
  • Mrs. Patrick (Julia) Dodd-Noble (her parents’ friend)
  • Miss Louise Blacker (her mother’s friend)

Following a year at the Winkfield Montessori School, she attended the Upton House School in Windsor from 1993-1995. She then attended Coworth Park School from 1995-2001, St George’s School from 2001-2003, and Marlborough College from 2003-2008. Following a gap year, she enrolled at Newcastle University and graduated in 2012 with a 2:1 in English Literature and History of Art.

After internships at Christies and The Royal Collection Trust, Eugenie moved to New York and worked as a Benefit Auctions Manager for Paddle8, an online auction firm.  In July 2015, she moved back to London to work for the Hauser & Wirth art gallery as an associate director.

Princess Eugenie only occasionally undertakes any official royal duties. She does undertake occasional public engagements related to organizations she is involved with, such as the Teenage Cancer Trust. and Children in Crisis.

Princess Eugenie had been in a long-term relationship with Jack Brooksbank. He is the former manager of the nightclub Mahiki, in Mayfair, London, frequented by the younger royals. In 2022, he began working in marketing, sales, and promotion for property developer Michael Meldman’s Discovery Land Company in Portugal

Engagement Photo: Jack Brooksbank and Princess Eugenie; Credit – https://twitter.com/RoyalFamily

Buckingham Palace announced on January 22, 2018: “The Duke and Duchess of York are delighted to announce the engagement of Princess Eugenie to Mr. Jack Brooksbank. Her Royal Highness and Mr. Brooksbank became engaged in Nicaragua earlier this month. The wedding will take place in the Autumn of 2018 at St George’s Chapel in Windsor, with further details to be announced in due course.”

 

Eugenie and Jack were married on October 12, 2018, at St George’s Chapel in Windsor. Until her marriage, Eugenie was styled Her Royal Highness Princess Eugenie of York.  In keeping with the tradition, she dropped the territorial designation “of York” upon marriage, and is now officially styled Her Royal Highness Princess Eugenie, Mrs. Jack Brooksbank.

August Philip Hawke Brooksbank, the first child of Jack and Princess Eugenie was born by cesarean section on February 9, 2021, at Portland Hospital in London, England. He was the first grandchild of Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Sarah, Duchess of York.

  • August: The name August comes from August’s maternal great-great-great-great-great-grandfather Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (1819-1861), Queen Victoria’s husband, whose full name in German was Franz Albrecht August Karl Emanuel.
  • Philip: The name Philip comes from August’s great-grandfather Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (born 1921)
  • Hawke: The name Hawke comes from August’s paternal great-great-great-great-great-grandfather Reverend Edward Hawke Brooksbank (1789-1883). He graduated from Cambridge University with a Master of Arts and held the office of Justice of the Peace for the West Riding, Yorkshire, England.

On May 30, 2023, Princess Eugenie gave birth to her second son, Ernest George Ronnie Brooksbank at Portland Hospital in London, England.

  • Ernest: The name Ernest was a middle name of King George V.
  • George: The name George is a tribute to Jack Brooksbank’s father George Brooksbank, who died in 2021 after being ill for some time.

  • Ronnie: The name Ronnie is in honor of the father of Sarah, Duchess of York, Major Ronald Ferguson, who died in 2003.

  • 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 Maurice of Battenberg

by Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

Prince Maurice of Battenberg; By Royal Photographers Bassano National Portrait Gallery, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=74566003

Prince Maurice of Battenberg was born on October 3, 1891, at Balmoral Castle, his grandmother’s beloved home in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. He was the third son and the youngest of the four children of Princess Beatrice of the United Kingdom, Queen Victoria’s youngest child, and Prince Henry of Battenberg. The birth of a prince in Scotland was cause for great celebration. A royal salute was fired, a bonfire was built, and the locals who lived and worked on the Balmoral estate drank whiskey to the newborn prince’s health, paraded, and danced.

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The Baptism of Prince Maurice of Battenberg by George Ogilvy Reid; Credit – The National Galleries of Scotland

The infant prince was christened on October 31, 1891, in the drawing-room of Balmoral Castle. It was the first christening of a prince in Scotland for 300 years. Queen Victoria, the proud grandmother, commissioned a painting to commemorate the christening (above).  She can be seen in the painting by the Scottish artist Sir George Reid holding her grandson, dressed in the same christening gown used by so many princes and princesses before him, with the baby’s father Prince Henry, wearing the Royal Stuart tartan, standing next to her. The new prince was given the names Maurice (his father’s middle name), Victor (after his grandmother Queen Victoria), and Donald (a compliment to Scotland).

His godparents were:

Prince Maurice had three older siblings, two brothers and a sister:

Princess Beatrice and her children; Photo Credit – Wikipedia

Prince Maurice’s mother was one of two daughters (Princess Alice was the other) of Queen Victoria who was a hemophilia carrier. His brother Leopold was a hemophiliac and died during a hip operation. His sister Victoria Eugénie, known as Ena, was a hemophilia carrier and had two hemophiliac sons. For more information on hemophilia in Queen Victoria’s family see Unofficial Royalty: Hemophilia in Queen Victoria’s Descendants.

Queen Victoria had allowed Maurice’s parents to marry under the condition that Beatrice and Henry live permanently in the United Kingdom with her. Henry was increasingly bored with court activity and longed to do something on his own. Ten years after his marriage, Henry pleaded with his mother-in-law to allow him to join the Ashanti expedition fighting in the Anglo-Ashanti Wars. Queen Victoria reluctantly agreed and Henry left for Africa on December 6, 1895. In Africa, Henry contracted malaria, was sent back home but died aboard the ship on January 20, 1896. Maurice was four years old, the same age his mother Beatrice was when her father Prince Albert died.

 

Maurice was the child that most resembled his father and he was his mother’s favorite. He attended Lockers Park School, a day and boarding preparatory school in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, England, and then attended Wellington College in Crowthorne, Berkshire, England.

Prince Maurice; Photo Credit – Wikipedia

In 1900, Prince Maurice’s much older first cousin Prince Christian Victor of Schleswig-Holstein, son of Queen Victoria’s daughter Princess Helena, was participating in the Boer War when he came down with malaria and then enteric fever and subsequently died. Maurice was upset with his cousin’s death especially since Christian Victor had served with his father in the Anglo-Ashanti Wars. Prince Christian Victor’s regiment was the 60th King’s Royal Rifles.  The news of Prince Christian Victor’s death arrived at Balmoral Castle where Maurice’s family and Christian Victor’s family were both staying. In his dressing gown, Maurice went to the room of Christian Victor’s sister Princess Helena Victoria (known as Thora), and said, “Cousin Thora, it may comfort you to know that I have decided to join the 60th when I am old enough.”

In 1910, Prince Maurice fulfilled this promise to his cousin Thora and joined the 60th King’s Royal Rifles. When World War I started, all three of Princess Beatrice’s sons were serving in the British Army and the princess received a letter asking her what effort she would play in the effort to win the war. Princess Beatrice replied that her husband had died on active duty and that all three of her sons had left for the front on August 12, 1914, just eight days after the United Kingdom had declared war.

On October 27, 1914, Prince Maurice was leading an attack on the German frontline at Zonnebeke near Ypres in the Belgian province of West Flanders when he was mortally wounded by shrapnel. The platoon sergeant tried to offer help to the wounded prince, but Maurice, aged 23, died before his men could bring him to a safer place. Upon hearing the news, King George V, Prince Maurice’s first cousin, and Queen Mary drove to Kensington Palace to console Princess Beatrice. Lord Kitchener, Secretary of State for War, offered to bring Prince Maurice’s body back to England, but Princess Beatrice replied, “No, let him lie with his comrades.” Prince Maurice was buried in the Ypres Town Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery in Ypres, Belgium.

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Prince Maurice’s grave in 1915; Photo Credit – http://media.iwm.org.uk

On November 5, 1914, a memorial service for Prince Maurice was held at the Chapel Royal at St. James’ Palace in London. Those who attended included Princess Beatrice, King George V, Queen Mary, Queen Alexandra, Prime Minister Herbert Asquith, Field Marshal Kitchener, Field Marshal Grenfell, and the former Empress Eugénie of France whose only child was killed in 1879 while serving with the British in the Anglo-Zulu War.

Prince Maurice’s grave today; Photo Credit – Wikipedia

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.

Sources
Dennison, Matthew. The Last Princess. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2007. Print.
Duff, David. The Shy Princess. London: William Clowes and Sons, Limited, 1958. Print.
“Prince Maurice of Battenberg.” Wikipedia. Web. 13 Oct. 2014.