Alexander Windsor, Earl of Ulster

Earl of Ulster
Born	Alexander Patrick Gregers Richard Windsor [1] (1974-10-24) 24 October 1974 (age 50) St Mary's Hospital, London, England
Other names	Alex Ulster
Education	Eton College King's College London Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
Spouse	Claire Booth ​ (m. 2002)​
Children	2
Parent(s)	Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester Birgitte van Deurs Henriksen
Relatives	House of Windsor
Military career
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Branch	British Army
Years of service	1998–2008
Rank	Major
Unit	King's Royal Hussars
Battles / wars	Kosovo War Iraq War
Awards	see Honours

Alexander Patrick Gregers Richard Windsor, Earl of Ulster (born 24 October 1974) is a member of the extended British royal family and the only son of Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester, and Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester. He is the heir apparent to the dukedom of Gloucester and is the second cousin of Charles III. He is also sometimes referred to as Alex Ulster. ^[2]

Early life and education

Alexander Windsor was born prematurely on 24 October 1974 at St Mary's Hospital, London. ^{[3] [4] [5]} He is the only son of Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester and Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester. ^[6] as of September 2025 ^[update] he is 33rd in the line of succession to the British throne. ^[7]

Windsor attended Eton College and later graduated with a degree in War Studies from King's College London in 1996. He subsequently trained at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. ^[8]

Military career

Ulster was commissioned in the King's Royal Hussars on 10 April 1998 as a subaltern (second lieutenant) with seniority from 14 April 1995; he was given the service number 548299. He was promoted to lieutenant on 10 April 1998 with seniority from 14 April 1997, ^[9] and to the rank of captain on 16 October 2000. ^[10] He saw active service in Northern Ireland, Kosovo in 2002, as well as Iraq. ^[8] On 14 January 2003, he transferred from a Short Service Commission to an Intermediate Regular Commission. ^[11] On 28 April 2008, he was appointed to the Reserve of Officers, signalling his retirement from the British Army with the rank of acting major. ^[12]

Since leaving the Army, he has worked in non-governmental organisation roles, and is a director of the Transnational Crisis Project. ^[13]

Marriage and family

On 22 June 2002, the Earl of Ulster married Claire Booth, a physician, at the Queen's Chapel, St James's Palace. ^[14] Lady Ulster is a professor of Gene Therapy and Paediatric Immunology at University College London's Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health. ^[15] The couple has two children:

• Xan Richard Anders Windsor, Lord Culloden (born 12 March 2007). ^{[16] [17]}
• Lady Cosima Rose Alexandra Windsor (born 20 May 2010). ^[18]

Ulster continues to make public appearances at state events alongside other members of the extended royal family, including the 2022 state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II and the 2023 coronation of King Charles III. ^{[19] [20]}

Honours

• NATO Kosovo Medal ^[21]

References

1. Burack, Emily (11 June 2023). "Meet the Children of Prince Richard, the Duke of Gloucester". Town & Country. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
2. "Alex Ulster". Crisis Project. Archived from the original on 26 August 2012.
3. Eilers, Marlene A. (1987). Queen Victoria's Descendants. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Co. p. 174.
4. "Earl of Ulster". Irish Independent. 4 November 1974. p. 5.
5. "The Duke of Gloucester holds his son, Alexander, the Earl of Ulster. who was born prematurely on October 24". Birmingham Daily Post. 23 December 1974. p. 1.
6. "Duchess leaves hospital". The Guardian . 4 November 1974. p. 20.
7. "Line of Succession". Debrett's . Retrieved 6 September 2025.
8. "Harry's Iraq family tour". Female First. 2 April 2007. Archived from the original on 15 October 2022. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
9. "No. 55136". The London Gazette (Supplement). 22 May 1998. p. 5819.
10. "No. 56055". The London Gazette . 12 December 2000. p. 13980.
11. "No. 56880". The London Gazette (Supplement). 18 March 2003. pp. 3414–3415.
12. "No. 58811". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 September 2008. p. 13339.
13. "Transnational Crisis Project Ltd". GOV.UK. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
14. "The Earl and Countess of Ulster expecting". People. 6 February 2007. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
15. "Prof. Claire Booth". University College London. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
16. "The Earl and Countess of Ulster welcome baby boy". People. 31 May 2007. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
17. "ULSTER – Births Announcements". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 28 February 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
18. "ULSTER – Births Announcements". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 24 October 2020. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
19. Arasteh, Amira (14 September 2022). "Who's invited to the Queen's funeral? The Royals, politicians and world leaders on the guest list". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 13 September 2022. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
20. "The Court Circular from 6 May 2023". The official web site of the British Royal Family.
21. "No. 55136". The London Gazette (Supplement). 22 May 1998. p. 5819.

Alexander Windsor, Earl of Ulster Born: 24 October 1974
Lines of succession
Preceded by The Duke of Gloucester	Succession to the British throne grandson of Henry, Duke of Gloucester great-grandson of George V	Succeeded by Lord Culloden