Alexander Windsor, Earl of Ulster
Son of Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester

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

(1974-10-24) 24 October 1974 (age 51)
St Mary's Hospital, London, England
Other namesAlex Ulster
EducationEton 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
RelativesHouse of Windsor
Military career
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
BranchBritish Army
Service years1998–2008
RankMajor
UnitKing's Royal Hussars
ConflictsKosovo War
Iraq War
Awardssee Honours

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]

Early life and education

Alexander Patrick Gregers Richard 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]

Alexander 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

Alexander 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 and 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, Alexander 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 have two children:

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

Alexander 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 and Queen Camilla.[19][20]

Honours

Ribbons of Earl of Ulster
Country Date Appointment Ribbon Other
 United Kingdom 6 February 1977 Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal [21]
 NATO 22 May 1998 NATO Kosovo Medal [21][22]
 United Kingdom 6 February 2002 Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal [21][23]
6 February 2012 Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal [21][24]
6 February 2022 Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal [21][25]
6 May 2023 King Charles III Coronation Medal [26]
General Service Medal [21]
Iraq 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. ^ a b "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. ^ a b c d e f g "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". Alamy. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
  22. ^ "No. 55136". The London Gazette (Supplement). 22 May 1998. p. 5819.
  23. ^ "Queen's Jubilee Medal Honours". The Royal Family. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  24. ^ "Diamond Jubilee Medal Recipients". The Royal Family. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  25. ^ "Platinum Jubilee Medal Honours". The Royal Family. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  26. ^ "Coronation Medal Honours". The Royal Family. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
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