Peerage Record – 10074

     Elisabeth Alexandra Louise Alice Prinzessin von Hessen und bei Rhein was born on 1 November 1864.¹ She was the daughter of Ludwig IV Friedrich Wilhelm Karl Großherzog von Hessen und bei Rhein and Alice Maud Mary Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Princess of the United Kingdom. She married Sergei Aleksandrovich Romanov, Grand Duke of Russia, son of Aleksandr II Nikolaievich Romanov, Tsar of Russia and Marie Prinzessin von Hessen und bei Rhein, on 15 June 1884 at St. Petersburg, Russia^G.¹ She died on 17 July 1918 at age 53 executed by the Bolsheviks by being thrown down a mineshaft.¹ She was buried at Russian Orthodox Cathedral of St. Mary Magdalene , Mount of Olives, Jerusalem, Israel^G.²
     She gained the title of Prinzessin von Hessen und bei Rhein, (Prince of Hesse and By Rhine).¹ From 15 June 1884, her married name became Elizabeta Feodorovna Romanov.³ She was appointed Lady, Royal Order of Victoria and Albert (V.A.)⁴

     Marie Victoria Feodore Leopoldine Prinzessin von Hessen und bei Rhein was born on 24 May 1874 at Darmstadt, Hessen, Germany^G.¹ She was the daughter of Ludwig IV Friedrich Wilhelm Karl Großherzog von Hessen und bei Rhein and Alice Maud Mary Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Princess of the United Kingdom. She died on 16 November 1878 at age 4 at Hesse-Darmstadt Palace, Darmstadt, Hessen, Germany^G, from black diptheria.^1,2
     She gained the title of Prinzessin von Hessen und bei Rhein.¹

     Friedrich Wilhelm August Viktor Leopold Ludwig Prinz von Hessen und bei Rhein was born on 7 October 1870 at Darmstadt, Hessen, Germany^G.¹ He was the son of Ludwig IV Friedrich Wilhelm Karl Großherzog von Hessen und bei Rhein and Alice Maud Mary Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Princess of the United Kingdom. He died on 29 May 1873 at age 2 at Darmstadt, Hessen, Germany^G, from haemophilia, triggered as a result of a fall from a bedroom window.¹
     He gained the title of Prinz von Hessen und bei Rhein.¹ He suffered from haemophilia.¹

     William Henry Andrew Frederick Windsor, Prince of Gloucester was born on 18 December 1941 at Lady Carnarvon’s Nursing Home, Hadley Common, Barnet, Hertfordshire, England^G.¹ He was the son of Henry William Frederick Albert Windsor, 1st Duke of Gloucester and Lady Alice Christabel Montagu Douglas Scott.² He was baptised on 22 February 1942. He died on 28 August 1972 at age 30 at Halfpenny Green, Warwickshire, England^G, killed in a flying accident.¹ He was buried at Royal Mausoleum, Frogmore House, Windsor, Berkshire, England^G.³
     He gained the title of HRH Prince William of Gloucester on 18 December 1941. He was educated at Eton College, Windsor, Berkshire, England^G.⁴

     Richard Alexander Walter George Windsor, 2nd Duke of Gloucester was born on 26 August 1944 at Hadley Common, Barnet, Hertfordshire, England^G.¹ He is the son of Henry William Frederick Albert Windsor, 1st Duke of Gloucester and Lady Alice Christabel Montagu Douglas Scott.³ He was baptised on 20 October 1944. He married Birgitte Eva van Deurs, daughter of Asger Preben Wissing Henriksen and Vivian van Deurs, on 8 July 1972 at Barnwell Parish Church, Barnwell, Northamptonshire, England^G.¹
     He gained the title of HRH Prince Richard of Gloucester on 26 August 1944.⁴ He was educated at Eton College, Windsor, Berkshire, England^G.⁵ He graduated from Magdalene College, Cambridge University, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England^G, with a Master of Arts (M.A.) and Diploma of Architecture.⁵ He was appointed Knight Grand Cross, Royal Victorian Order (G.C.V.O.) in 1974.⁵ He succeeded as the 2nd Duke of Gloucester [U.K., 1928] on 10 June 1974.¹ He succeeded as the 2nd Earl of Ulster [U.K., 1928] on 10 June 1974.¹ He succeeded as the 2nd Baron Culloden [U.K., 1928] on 10 June 1974.¹ He was appointed Knight, Order of the Garter (K.G.)⁵ He was appointed Fellow, Royal Society of Arts (F.R.S.A.)⁵ He was appointed Knight, Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem (K.St.J.)⁵ He lived in 1999 at Kensington Palace, Kensington, London, England^G.⁵ He was registered as a Associate, Royal Institute of British Architects (A.R.I.B.A.)⁵

     Birgitte Eva van Deurs was born on 20 June 1946 at Odensee, Isle of Funen, Denmark^G.¹ She is the daughter of Asger Preben Wissing Henriksen and Vivian van Deurs.¹ She married Richard Alexander Walter George Windsor, 2nd Duke of Gloucester, son of Henry William Frederick Albert Windsor, 1st Duke of Gloucester and Lady Alice Christabel Montagu Douglas Scott, on 8 July 1972 at Barnwell Parish Church, Barnwell, Northamptonshire, England^G.¹
     After her marriage, Birgitte Eva van Deurs was styled as Princess Brigitte of Gloucester on 8 July 1972.³ After her marriage, Birgitte Eva van Deurs was styled as Duchess of Gloucester on 10 June 1974.³ She was appointed Dame Grand Cross, Royal Victorian Order (G.C.V.O.) in 1989.⁴ She was appointed Dame of Grace, Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem (D.St.J.)⁴

     Alexander Patrick Gregers Richard Windsor, Earl of Ulster was born on 24 October 1974 at St. Mary’s Hospital, Praed Street, Paddington, London, England^G.¹ He is the son of Richard Alexander Walter George Windsor, 2nd Duke of Gloucester and Birgitte Eva van Deurs.² He was baptised on 9 February 1975 at Barnwell Parish Church, Barnwell, Northamptonshire, England^G. He married Dr. Claire Alexandra Booth, daughter of Robert Booth and Barbara Patricia Hitchen, on 22 June 2002 at Queen’s Chapel, St. James’s Palace, Westminster, London, England^G.^3,4
     He was styled as Earl of Ulster on 24 October 1974.⁵ He was educated at Eton College, Windsor, Berkshire, England^G.² He was educated at King’s College London, London, England^G.³ He was educated at Royal Military College, Sandhurst, Berkshire, England^G.² He gained the rank of Lieutenant in 1998 in the King’s Royal Hussars.³ He gained the rank of Captain in 2002.³ He fought in the campaign in Kosovo in 2002.³

     Commander Earl Winfield Spencer Jr. was born on 20 September 1888 at Kinsley, Kansas, U.S.A.^G.³ He was the son of Earl Winfield Spencer and Agnes Lucy Hughes.² He married, firstly, Bessie Wallis Warfield, daughter of Teackle Wallis Warfield and Alice M. Montague, on 8 November 1916 at Christ Protestant Episcopal Church, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A.^G.⁴ He and Bessie Wallis Warfield were divorced on 10 December 1927.⁴ He married, secondly, Miriam J. Caro, daughter of Simon Caro, after 1927.² He and Miriam J. Caro were divorced in 1936.² He married, thirdly, Norma Reese, daughter of Carl Reese, on 4 July 1937 at Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.^G.² He and Norma Reese were divorced in 1940 at Santa Monica, California, U.S.A.^G.² He married, fourthly, Lilian Philips after 1940.² He and Norma Reese were separated on 9 February 1940.² He died on 29 May 1950 at age 61 at Coronado, California, U.S.A.^G.^1,3
     Commander Earl Winfield Spencer Jr. usually went by his middle name of Win.² He was educated at Racine College, Racine, Wisconsin, U.S.A.^G.² He gained the rank of Commander in the U.S. Navy.² He was awarded the Knight, Order of the Crown of Italy in 1936.⁵

     Ernest Aldrich Simpson was born on 6 May 1897 at New York City, New York, U.S.A.^G.³ He was the son of Ernest Louis Simpson and Charlotte Gaines.² He married, firstly, Dorothea Webb Parsons, daughter of Arthur Webb Parsons, in 1923.² He and Dorothea Webb Parsons were divorced in 1928.² He married, secondly, Bessie Wallis Warfield, daughter of Teackle Wallis Warfield and Alice M. Montague, on 21 July 1928 at Chelsea Registrar’s Office, Chelsea, London, England^G.⁴ He and Bessie Wallis Warfield were divorced on 27 October 1936.⁴ He married, thirdly, Mary Huntemuller Kirk, daughter of Henry Child Kirk and Edith Huntemuller, on 19 November 1937 at Brooklawn County Club, Fairfield, Connecticut, U.S.A.^G.² He married, fourthly, Avril Joy Mullens, daughter of Sir John Ashley Mullens and Evelyne Maude Adamson, on 12 August 1948 at London, England^G.² He died on 30 November 1958 at age 61 at London, England^G, from throat cancer.^3,2
     He was educated at Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.A.^G.² He fought in the First World War.² He gained the rank of Captain in the Coldstream Guards.² He was a shipping executive.²

     Hon. Frances Ruth Burke Roche was born on 20 January 1936 at Sandringham, Norfolk, England^G.^3,4 She was the daughter of Edmund Maurice Burke Roche, 4th Baron Fermoy and Ruth Sylvia Gill.⁵ She married, firstly, Edward John Spencer, 8th Earl Spencer, son of Albert Edward John Spencer, 7th Earl Spencer and Lady Cynthia Elinor Beatrix Hamilton, on 1 June 1954 at Westminster Abbey, Westminster, London, England^G.⁶ She and Edward John Spencer, 8th Earl Spencer were divorced in 1969.⁶ She married, secondly, Peter Shand Kydd, son of Norman Shand Kydd and Frances M. Foy, on 2 May 1969.⁶ She and Peter Shand Kydd were divorced in 1990.⁶ She died on 3 June 2004 at age 68.⁷
     After her marriage, Hon. Frances Ruth Burke Roche was styled as Viscountess Althorp on 1 June 1954. From 1 June 1954, her married name became Spencer. From 2 May 1969, her married name became Shand Kydd.⁶ She lived in 2003 at Callanish, Isle of Seil, Oban, Argyllshire, Scotland^G.⁸