Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester

Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester GCB CI GCVO GBE (Alice Christabel Montagu-Douglas-Scott) (December 25, 1901 – October 29, 2004) was the wife of Prince Henry,Duke of Gloucester — the third son of King George V and Queen Mary. She was thus the sister-in-law of King George VI and King Edward VIII, and the mother of the current Duke of Gloucester. She was an aunt of Queen Elizabeth II through her marriage to the Queen's paternal uncle.

Marriage

In August 1935, Lady Alice became engaged to Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, third son of George V of the United Kingdom. They were married in a private ceremony in the chapel of Buckingham Palace on November 6 of that year. The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester initially lived at Aldershot, where the Duke was taking the Army staff course. The Duke of Gloucester left the army to take on more public duties following the abdication of Edward VIII in December 1936.

Related Topics:
Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester - Buckingham Palace - November 6 - Aldershot - Edward VIII - 1936

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The couple received a grace and favour residence at York House, St. James's Palace, London and, in 1938, they purchased Barnwell Manor in Northamptonshire. The Duke and Duchess had two sons, Prince William of Gloucester (December 18, 1941 – August 28, 1972) and Prince Richard of Gloucester (born August 26, 1944).

Related Topics:
Grace and favour - St. James's Palace - 1938 - Barnwell Manor - Prince William of Gloucester - December 18 - 1941 - August 28 - 1972 - Prince Richard of Gloucester - August 26 - 1944

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The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester travelled extensively to perform their royal duties. During World War II, the Duchess worked with the Red Cross and the Order of St. John. She became head of the Women's Royal Air Force (WRAF) in 1940 and was given the honorary title of Air Chief Commandant in 1945. She also served as deputy to Queen Elizabeth, the consort of George VI as Commandant-in-Chief of the Nursing Corps. From 1945 to 1947, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester lived in Canberra, where the Duke was serving as Governor General of Australia. The Duchess of Gloucester served as Colonel-in-Chief or deputy Colonel-in-Chief of a dozen regiments in the British Army, including the King's Own Scottish Borderers, the Northamptonshire Regiment, the 2nd East Anglian Regiment (Duchess of Gloucester's Own Royal Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire), the Royal Hussars, and the Royal Irish Rangers (27th Inniskilling).

Related Topics:
World War II - Red Cross - Order of St. John - Women's Royal Air Force - 1940 - 1945 - George VI - 1947 - Canberra - Governor General of Australia - Colonel-in-Chief - British Army - King's Own Scottish Borderers - Northamptonshire Regiment - 2nd East Anglian Regiment - Royal Hussars - Royal Irish Rangers

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