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:

• King George V (his paternal grandfather)
• Queen Mary (his paternal grandmother)
• Prince Nicholas of Greece (his maternal grandfather)
• The Prince of Wales (his paternal uncle, later King Edward VIII and Duke of Windsor)
• Princess Mary, Princess Royal and Countess of Harewood (his paternal aunt)
• Prince Arthur, The Duke of Connaught (Queen Victoria’s son, his paternal great-great-uncle)
• Princess Louise, The Duchess of Argyll (Queen Victoria’s daughter, his paternal great-great-aunt)

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:

• Princess Alexandra of Kent (born 1936), married The Honorable Angus Ogilvy, had one son and one daughter
• Prince Michael of Kent (born 1942), married Baroness Marie-Christine von Reibnitz, had one son and one daughter

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:

• George Philip Nicholas Windsor, Earl of St Andrews (1962) – married Sylvana Tomaselli in 1988, had three children
  •  Edward Edmund Maximilian George Windsor, Lord Downpatrick (born 1988)
  • Lady Marina Charlotte Alexandra Katharine Helen Windsor (born 1992)
  • Lady Amelia Sophia Theodora Mary Margaret Windsor (born 1995)
• Lady Helen Marina Lucy Taylor (1964) – married Timothy Taylor in 1992, had four children
  • Columbus George Donald Taylor (born 1994)
  • Cassius Edward Taylor (born 1996)
  • Eloise Olivia Katherine Taylor (born 2003)
  • Estella Olga Elizabeth Taylor (born 2004)
• Lord Nicholas Charles Edward Jonathan Windsor (1970) – married Paola de Frankopan in 2006, had three children
  • Albert Louis Philip Edward Windsor (born 2007)
  • Leopold Ernest Augustus Guelph Windsor (born 2009)
  • Louis Arthur Nicholas Felix Windsor (born 2014)

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.

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.

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:

• Walter Montagu-Douglas-Scott, 8th Duke of Buccleuch (his maternal uncle)
• George Cambridge, 2nd Marquess of Cambridge (his father’s first cousin)
• General The Honorable Sir Harold Alexander (later Field-Marshal Earl Alexander of Tunis)
• Queen Elizabeth (his paternal aunt by marriage, later Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother)
• Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone (Queen Victoria’s granddaughter)
• Princess Marie Louise (Queen Victoria’s granddaughter)
• Lady Sybil Phipps (his maternal aunt)

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:

• Alexander Patrick Gregers Richard Windsor, Earl of Ulster (born 1974) married Claire Booth. The couple had two children:
  • Xan Richard Anders Windsor, Lord Culloden (born 2007)
  • Lady Cosima Rose Alexandra Windsor (born 2010)
• The Lady Davina Elizabeth Alice Benedikte Lewis (born 1977), married Gary Lewis, divorced in 2018.  The couple had two children:
  • Senna Kowhai Lewis (born 2010)
  • Tāne Mahuta Lewis (born 2012)
• The Lady Rose Victoria Birgitte Louise Gilman (born 1980), married George Gilman. The couple had two children:
  • Lyla Beatrix Christabel Gilman (born 2010)
  • Rufus Gilman (born 2012)

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:

• Order of St. John: Grand Prior
• University of Worcester: Chancellor
• Richard III Society: Patron (The Duke shares a name and a title, Duke of Gloucester, with Richard III.)
• Severn Valley Railway: Patron
• Pestalozzi International Village Trust: Patron
• De Havilland Aircraft Heritage Centre: Patron

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.

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.

photo: The Guardian/PA

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.

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.

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

photo: USA Today/WireImage

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 has an elder brother:

• Peter Phillips (born 1977), married Autumn Kelly, had two daughters, divorced

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

• Prince Andrew, The Duke of York – her uncle
• Leonora Anson, Countess of Lichfield – a lady-in-waiting to her mother
• Helen, Lady Stewart – wife of Sir Jackie Stewart, a family friend
• Andrew Parker Bowles – a close friend of her mother, and former husband of The Duchess of Cornwall
• Hugh Thomas – a friend of her parents

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.

photo: The Telegraph/Mark Stewart

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

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.

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.

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.

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

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.

photo: The Telegraph/PA

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.

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

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 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:

• Zara Phillips (born 1981), married Mike Tindall, had two daughters and one son

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

• The Prince of Wales (his paternal uncle)
• The Right Reverend Geoffrey Tiarks
• Captain Hamish Lochore, an equestrian colleague of his parents
• Lady Cecil Cameron of Lochiel
• Jane Holderness-Roddam, an equestrian colleague of his parents

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.

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.

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:

• Princess Beatrice, Mrs. Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi (born 1988), married Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, had one daughter

photo: Days of Majesty

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.

photo: Daily Mail/REX

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.

• Unofficial Royalty: Wedding of Princess Eugenie of York and Jack Brooksbank

Photo Credit – https://www.facebook.com/TheBritishMonarchy

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.

by Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

Princess Beatrice, Mrs. Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi; Credit – Wikipedia

Princess Beatrice of York was born on August 8, 1988, at 8:18 pm at Portland Hospital in London, England. She is the elder of the two daughters of Prince Andrew, Duke of York and his former wife née Sarah Ferguson. Princess Beatrice has a younger sister, Princess Eugenie (born 1990). As male-line grandchildren of a British sovereign, Beatrice and Eugenie have the style Royal Highness and the title Princess and they used the name of the area over which her father holds his dukedom, York, in their title until their marriages.

The infant princess and her parents; Photo Credit – www.parentdish.co.uk

Princess Beatrice was christened on December 20, 1988, in the Chapel Royal at St. James’s Palace in London, England by John Habgood, Archbishop of York. She was given the names Beatrice (after the youngest daughter of Queen Victoria), Elizabeth (after her paternal grandmother), and Mary (after Queen Mary, her great-great-great-grandmother). Her godparents were:

• David Armstrong-Jones, 2nd Earl of Snowdon (her father’s first cousin)
• Peter Palumbo, Baron Palumbo (her maternal grandfather’s friend)
• The Duchess of Roxburghe (the former Lady Jane Grosvenor, later Lady Jane Dawnay)
• The Honourable Mrs. John Greenall (her mother’s friend, the former Gabrielle James)
• Mrs. Henry Cotterell (her mother’s friend, the former Carolyn Beckwith-Smith)

Princess Beatrice’s christening; Photo Credit – entertainment.xin.msn.com

Princess Beatrice has one sibling:

• Princess Eugenie, Mrs. Jack Brooksbank (born 1990), married Jack Brooksbank, had two sons

Beatrice, on right, with her sister on Eugenie’s first day at Upton House School; Photo Credit – www.gettyimages.com

Princess Beatrice started her schooling in 1991 at Upton House School in Windsor, Berkshire, England. In 1995, Beatrice began attending Coworth Park School in Windlesham, Surrey, England which merged in 2004 with Flexlands School to become Coworth Flexlands School.  From 2000-2007, Beatrice attended St. George’s School in Ascot, Berkshire, England. She completed A-levels in Drama, History, and Film Studies, and in her final year, she was Head Girl.  In September 2008, Beatrice started a three-year course studying for a Bachelors degree in History and History of Ideas at Goldsmiths College, University of London, England graduating in 2011.

Princess Beatrice with her parents at her graduation from Goldsmiths College; Photo Credit – www.dailymail.co.uk

On her 18th birthday, Beatrice said she wanted to use her position to assist others through charity work. In 2007, she became a global ambassador for Children in Crisis, a charity founded by her mother, Sarah, Duchess of York, whose goal is to help educate children and women in some of the poorest countries. In April 2010, Beatrice became the first member of the Royal Family to complete the London Marathon. She ran with friends as part of Team Caterpillar to raise money for several charities including Children in Crisis.

Beatrice, third from the left, with Team Caterpillar at the 2010 London Marathon; Photo Credit – www.zimio.com

In 2010, Princess Beatrice and six friends founded The Big Change Charitable Trust which identifies and supports projects that improve the lives of young people. The Big Change works in partnership with charitable projects throughout the United Kingdom which inspire and encourage young people to be the very best that they can be. In September 2012, Beatrice and her fellow founders climbed Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in the Alps in The Big Change’s first fundraising project: The Big Climb.

Beatrice climbing Mont Blanc; Photo Credit – http://thedukeofyork.org

Beatrice is involved with other organizations including:

• York Musical Society (Patron)
• York Theatre Royal (Patron)
• The Sick Kids Friends Foundation (Patron)
• Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice (Patron)
• Broomwood African Education Foundation (Patron)
• The Berkshire Community Foundation (Patron)
• Helen Arkell Dyslexia Centre (Patron, Princess Beatrice is dyslexic)
• Teenage Cancer Trust (Ambassador)

In 2009, Princess Beatrice appeared as an extra, portraying a lady-in-waiting, in the film The Young Victoria which focused on the early reign of Queen Victoria, and her marriage to Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert are Beatrice’s great-great-great grandparents.

Princess Beatrice, second from the right, in “The Young Victoria”; Photo Credit – www.thesun.co.uk

Princess Beatrice was in a long-term relationship with Dave Clark, a Virgin Galactic businessman,  from 2007 – 2016. The couple met at a birthday party for Sean Brosnan, the son of actor Pierce Brosnan.

Beatrice attended a fundraising event in March 2019 at the National Portrait Gallery in London, accompanied by Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, a multi-millionaire property tycoon and the son of Alessandro (Alex) Mapelli Mozzi, a former British Olympian in Alpine Skiing.  It is believed that the couple started dating in 2018.  In May 2019, Beatrice and Edoardo attended their first royal family event together, the wedding of Beatrice’s second cousin once removed, Lady Gabriella Windsor.

Engagement Photo of Princess Beatrice of York and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi; Photo Credit – https://twitter.com/RoyalFamily  © Princess Eugenie

On September 26, 2019, Buckingham Palace announced the engagement of  Princess Beatrice to Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi. Beatrice and Edoardo’s wedding, scheduled for May 29, 2020, was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Photo Credit – https://www.instagram.com/p/CC05fTMH_HJ/ Photograph by Benjamin Wheeler

Beatrice and Edoardo were married in a private ceremony at the Royal Chapel of All Saints, on the grounds of Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park, on July 17, 2020.

• Unofficial Royalty: Wedding of Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi

Beatrice and Edoardo have one daughter:

• Sienna Elizabeth Mapelli Mozzi (born 2021)

On October 1, 2024, it was announced that Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi are expecting their second child early in the new year.

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