Alexander Windsor, Earl of Ulster

Last updated
Earl of Ulster
Born
Alexander Patrick Gregers Richard Windsor [1]

(1974-10-24) 24 October 1974 (age 50)
Other namesAlex Ulster
Education Eton College
King's College London
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
Spouse
Claire Booth
(m. 2002)
Children2
Parent(s) Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester
Birgitte van Deurs Henriksen
Relatives House of Windsor
Military career
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Branch British Army
Years of service1998–2008
Unit King's Royal Hussars
Battles / wars Kosovo War
Iraq War
Awardssee Honours

Major Alexander Patrick Gregers Richard Windsor, Earl of Ulster (born 24 October 1974) is a member of the 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]

Contents

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 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:

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

Ribbons of Major Earl of Ulster
NATO Medal w Sluzbie Pokoju i Wolnosci BAR.svg General Service Medal 1962 BAR.svg Iraq Medal BAR.svg UK Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal ribbon.svg
UK Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal ribbon.svg QEII Diamond Jubilee Medal ribbon.svg UK Queen EII Platinum Jubilee Medal ribbon.svg UK King Charles III Coronation Medal BAR.svg
CountryDateAppointmentRibbonOther
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom 6 February 1977 Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal UK Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal ribbon.svg [21]
Flag of NATO.svg NATO22 May 1998 NATO Kosovo Medal NATO Medal w Sluzbie Pokoju i Wolnosci BAR.svg [21] [22] [23]
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom 6 February 2002 Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal UK Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal ribbon.svg [21] [24]
6 February 2012 Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal QEII Diamond Jubilee Medal ribbon.svg [21] [25]
6 February 2022 Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal UK Queen EII Platinum Jubilee Medal ribbon.svg [21] [26]
6 May 2023 King Charles III Coronation Medal UK King Charles III Coronation Medal BAR.svg [21] [27]
General Service Medal General Service Medal 1962 BAR.svg [21]
Iraq Medal Iraq Medal BAR.svg [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. 1 2 "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. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Limited, Alamy. "The Earl of Ulster and the Duchess of Gloucester arrive at the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, held at Westminster Abbey, London. Picture date: Monday September 19, 2022 Stock Photo - Alamy". www.alamy.com. Retrieved 2024-11-05.{{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  22. "No. 55136". The London Gazette (Supplement). 22 May 1998. p. 5819.
  23. "No. 55136". The London Gazette (Supplement). 22 May 1998. p. 5819.
  24. "Queen's Jubilee Medal Honours" . Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  25. "Diamond Jubilee Medal Recipients" . Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  26. "Platinum Jubilee Medal Honours" . Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  27. "Coronation Medal Honours" . Retrieved 4 June 2023.
Alexander Windsor, Earl of Ulster
Born: 24 October 1974
Preceded by Line of succession
son of Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester
grandson of Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester
great-grandson of George V
Succeeded by
Preceded by Succession to the Dukedom of Gloucester
heir apparent to the Duke of Gloucester

1st in line
Succeeded by
Preceded by Order of precedence in the United Kingdom
Gentlemen
Earl of Ulster
Succeeded by