Figure 1.-- We do not know a great deal about the clothing of the Gloucester boys. Prince William and Prince Richard when they were young wore kilts in public more often than not. For frmal occasions they commonly wore them with white ankle socks and formal patent leather strap shoes. This is Prince Richard about 1951. He would have been about 8 years old.

Prince William of Gloucester (William Henry Andrew Frederick) was born at Hadley Common, Hertfordshire.(1941), just after the Blitz. He was the elder son of Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, and Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester and a grandson of George V, nephew of Edward VIII and George VI. At birth he was fourth in line to the throne after his three older brothers. He was baptised in the Private Chapel at Windsor Castle Cosmo Gordon Lang, Archbishop of Canterbury (1942) Due to war-ime censorship, newspapers only reported that tyhe christening took place at 'a private chapel in the country'. His father served actvely in te services during the War enailing some risk. KIng George VI wrote to William's moher promising that if anything should happen to her husband he would become Prince William's guardian. his was no nidle matter. One of William's uncles was klled in the War. Prince William was a page boy for his cousin Princess Elizabeth at her wedding to Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (1947). The other page boy was Prince Michael of Kent. He he attended the coronation of Elizabeth II (1953). Prince William grew up at Barnwell Manor in Northamptonshire furing he WAr years. And then moved to Australia wih his parents where his father served as Governor-General (1945-47). His would have bee a complicate posting. Because of the War and Britan's inabiliy o defend Australia, the country's relationship to Britain was sifbificanly altered. WILliam He was educated at Wellesley House School, a prep school at Broadstairs in Kent, and hen for secondary school attended Eton College. He excelled at both cricket and football (rugby). After leaving Eton he went up to Magdalene College, Cambridge (1960). He read read history, the British term for major. He graduating with a BA degree (1963) and than a MA at Cambridge (1968). He did a post-baccalaureate year in America at Stanford University, studying political science, American history, and business. He then joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office assigned to Lagos and Tokyo. Because of his father's failing health, he retuned to Britain pursue his royal duties (1970). He enjoyed a very active life. He especially enjoyed flying. Other active pursuits included trekking through the Sahara and hot air ballooning. Like his royal ancestor George III, he suffered from porphyria, presumably hereditary. The Duke died in a tragic air crash while flying in a competition.

Created: 8:25 PM 8/7/2004
Last Updated: 6:50 AM 10/2/2009