British Royal Family Profiles — Duchess of Gloucester, Princess Alexandra, Princess Charlotte, Prince Philip, and UK Monarchs Guide
The British Royal Family extends well beyond the immediately recognisable figures of the King and the Wales family — it includes a wider network of royals who carry out duties, hold historic titles, and connect the present institution to its long history. This guide profiles the less-covered but significant members and topics: the Duchess and Duke of Gloucester, Princess Alexandra of Kent, Princess Charlotte’s biography and birthday, Prince Philip’s early life, and a guide to British monarchs through the 20th century.
For the story of King Charles III including his marriage to Camilla, his siblings, military service, and the King’s Speech, see our article on King Charles III guide — Camilla wedding, siblings, military service, and the King’s Speech.
Who Is the Duchess of Gloucester?
The Duchess of Gloucester is Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester — born Birgitte Eva van Deurs on 20 June 1946 in Odense, Denmark. She is the wife of Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester, who is a first cousin of King Charles III and a grandchild of King George V. Birgitte came to the United Kingdom in 1966 to study English and subsequently worked as a bilingual secretary before her marriage to Prince Richard.
Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester — Key Facts
| Full name | Birgitte Eva, Duchess of Gloucester |
| Born | 20 June 1946, Odense, Denmark |
| Nationality at birth | Danish |
| Married | Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester, 8 July 1972 |
| Children | Alexander (Earl of Ulster), Davina Lewis, Rose Gilman |
| Royal duties | Patron of numerous charities; represents the Crown at official events |
| Residence | Kensington Palace (apartment 1) |
The Duchess of Gloucester is one of the most senior working members of the extended Royal Family. Despite her relatively low public profile compared to more prominent royals, she carries out a significant number of royal engagements each year, supporting charitable organisations in areas including health, education, and Danish-British relations. She became a British citizen upon her marriage to Prince Richard in 1972.
Who Is the Duke of Gloucester?
Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester (born 26 August 1944) is a first cousin of King Charles III — his father, Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, was King George V’s third son and a younger brother of King George VI. Prince Richard was not originally expected to become Duke of Gloucester; his elder brother Prince William of Gloucester died in an air accident in 1972, after which Richard inherited the ducal title upon his father’s death in 1974.
Before taking on full-time royal duties, Prince Richard trained and practised as an architect — a professional background that informs his significant work as Patron of English Heritage and his longstanding interest in historic buildings and conservation. He and Birgitte have three children: Alexander, Earl of Ulster; Davina Lewis; and Rose Gilman. The Duke of Gloucester undertakes a substantial number of royal engagements despite his relatively low public profile.
Princess Alexandra of Kent — Who Is She Today?
Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy (born 25 December 1936) is a first cousin of King Charles III and the daughter of Prince George, Duke of Kent (a younger son of King George V) and Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark. She is one of the most senior members of the extended Royal Family by age and lineage.
| Full name | Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy |
| Born | 25 December 1936, 3 Belgrave Square, London |
| Father | Prince George, Duke of Kent |
| Mother | Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark |
| Married | Angus Ogilvy, 24 April 1963 (died 2004) |
| Children | James Ogilvy and Marina Ogilvy |
| Relationship to King | First cousin of King Charles III |
Princess Alexandra Today
Princess Alexandra remains one of the older working members of the Royal Family. In her earlier decades she was one of the most active royals, carrying out an exceptionally large number of engagements and travelling widely as a representative of the Crown. In more recent years, with advancing age, her programme of engagements has naturally reduced but she continues to carry out selected duties and maintain her patronages. She is known within the Royal Family and among royal observers as one of the most naturally warm and personable members of the institution — her manner often cited as a model of what a working royal should be.
Princess Charlotte — Birthday, Biography, and Family
When Was Princess Charlotte Born?
Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana was born on 2 May 2015 at St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, London — the same hospital where her father Prince William and her brother Prince George were also born. She was born at 8:34 am and weighed 8 lbs 3 oz. Her birth was announced on an easel outside Buckingham Palace, continuing the traditional announcement method.
Princess Charlotte’s Full Name and Titles
Her full name is Charlotte Elizabeth Diana — the middle names honour both Queen Elizabeth II (Elizabeth) and her late grandmother Princess Diana (Diana). She holds the title Her Royal Highness Princess Charlotte of Wales, following her father’s creation as Prince of Wales in September 2022. Prior to that she was HRH Princess Charlotte of Cambridge. At birth, she was HRH Princess Charlotte of Cambridge.
| Full name | Charlotte Elizabeth Diana |
| Born | 2 May 2015, St Mary’s Hospital, London |
| Title | HRH Princess Charlotte of Wales |
| Parents | Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales |
| Siblings | Prince George (b. 2013) and Prince Louis (b. 2018) |
| Position in succession | Fourth in line to the throne (as of 2025) |
| School | Lambrook School, Berkshire (from 2022) |
Princess Charlotte’s Birthday — Celebrations
Princess Charlotte’s birthday on 2 May is typically marked by Kensington Palace releasing official photographs of the Princess, often taken by her mother Catherine, Princess of Wales, who is an accomplished amateur photographer. The birthday photographs have become a much-anticipated annual tradition among royal followers. Charlotte’s milestone birthdays — her first, fifth, and tenth — have attracted particular attention and media coverage. She shares her birthday month with her late great-grandmother Queen Elizabeth II (born 21 April) and her paternal grandfather King Charles III has his birthday on 14 November.
Prince George and Princess Charlotte
Prince George Alexander Louis (born 22 July 2013) is Princess Charlotte’s older brother by almost two years. As the eldest child of the Prince and Princess of Wales, George is second in line to the throne (behind his father William). Charlotte is George’s only sister — their younger brother is Prince Louis Arthur Charles, born 23 April 2018. The three Cambridge children, now the Wales children, have been photographed together at various royal events and their public appearances are among the most followed moments in British royal coverage. Charlotte is notable for being the first female member of the Royal Family not to lose her place in the line of succession to a younger brother — the Succession to the Crown Act 2013, which ended male-preference primogeniture, was passed before her birth.
Prince Philip — Birthplace and Height
Where Was Prince Philip Born?
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (1921–2021) was born on 10 June 1921 on the island of Corfu, Greece, in a villa called Mon Repos. His full name at birth was Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark — he was a prince of both the Greek and Danish royal houses through his father Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark. His family was exiled from Greece when he was approximately 18 months old, following a political crisis in Greece in 1922, and he was carried out of the country as an infant in a fruit box improvised as a crib, according to family accounts.
Prince Philip’s Height
Prince Philip stood at approximately 6 feet 0 inches (183 cm) — a notably tall figure that gave him a commanding physical presence at royal engagements throughout his life. He remained upright and physically robust well into his later decades, and was still actively driving on private estates into his late nineties before an accident in 2019 led him to voluntarily surrender his driving licence at the age of 97.
Prince Philip — Brief Biography
Philip studied in Germany, France, and Scotland (at Gordonstoun school) before joining the Royal Navy in 1939. He served with distinction during the Second World War, present at the Japanese surrender ceremony in Tokyo Bay in 1945 aboard HMS Vanguard. He renounced his Greek and Danish royal titles and became a naturalised British subject in 1947, taking the surname Mountbatten (derived from Battenberg, his mother’s family name). He married Princess Elizabeth on 20 November 1947 and became Duke of Edinburgh. He supported his wife through 70 years of her reign as Queen, carrying out over 22,000 solo engagements during his time as consort. He died on 9 April 2021 at Windsor Castle, two months before his 100th birthday.
UK Monarchs in the 20th Century — British Kings and Queens
| Monarch | Reign | Key Events |
| Queen Victoria | 1837–1901 | Died January 1901; 19th century monarch extending into 20th |
| King Edward VII | 1901–1910 | Victoria’s son; modernised the monarchy; died 1910 |
| King George V | 1910–1936 | First World War; changed family name to Windsor 1917; Christmas broadcast 1932 |
| King Edward VIII | January–December 1936 | Abdicated to marry Wallis Simpson; reigned less than one year |
| King George VI | 1936–1952 | Second World War; father of Queen Elizabeth II; died February 1952 |
| Queen Elizabeth II | 1952–2022 | Longest-reigning British monarch; 70-year reign; died September 2022 |
Who Was the Monarch After Queen Victoria?
The monarch after Queen Victoria was King Edward VII, her eldest son. Victoria died on 22 January 1901 at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight, at the age of 81. Edward, who had waited his entire adult life to become king (he was 59 at accession), reigned until his death in 1910 and gave his name to the Edwardian era. Edward VII was known for his sociability, his diplomatic efforts (earning the nickname ‘the Peacemaker’), and for modernising the image of the British monarchy after Victoria’s long years of seclusion following Prince Albert’s death in 1861.
Great British Monarchs — Highlights
- King George V (1910–1936): Navigated the First World War and the transformation of the British Empire; changed the Royal Family’s name from Saxe-Coburg and Gotha to Windsor in 1917; established the tradition of the Royal Christmas broadcast in 1932
- King George VI (1936–1952): Came to the throne unexpectedly after his brother’s abdication; rallied national morale during the Second World War alongside Churchill; father of Queen Elizabeth II
- Queen Elizabeth II (1952–2022): The longest-reigning British monarch at 70 years; witnessed immense social change; her constancy and sense of duty made her one of the most respected figures of the 20th and 21st centuries
For King Charles III’s full biography including his marriage to Camilla, his siblings, military career, and the King’s Speech broadcast time, see our article on King Charles III guide — Camilla wedding, siblings, military service, and the King’s Speech.
For official Royal Family biographies and news, see The Royal Family official website. For British royal history archives, see Historic Royal Palaces.
For profiles of the Sid Wilson and Kelly Osbourne, celebrity net worths, and entertainment guides with a British angle, see our article on Sid Wilson net worth, Kelly Osbourne biography, and British celebrity lifestyle guide.
The Minor Royals — Their Role and Significance
The so-called ‘minor royals’ — members of the extended Royal Family who are not in the immediate line of succession and do not hold senior working roles — serve an important function that is sometimes overlooked. They carry out engagements that would otherwise fall to a smaller pool of working royals, extend the reach of the institution into different sectors of British public life, and maintain the connection between the Crown and civil society across a wide range of organisations and causes. The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, Princess Alexandra of Kent, and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh (Prince Edward and Sophie) all fall into this category of senior extended royals who carry a meaningful share of the royal workload. The distinction between working and non-working royals became more formal under King Charles III, who as Prince of Wales spoke of his desire to streamline the public face of the monarchy around a smaller core group. This approach, which mirrors the model of Scandinavian monarchies, has reduced the number of royals receiving public funding through the Sovereign Grant whilst the extended family continues to carry out duties. For those interested in the full breadth of the British Royal Family, the less-prominent members often represent the most sustained and quietly devoted service to public life — Princess Alexandra of Kent’s decades of engagements being a prime example of royalty that works diligently without seeking headlines.
Bottom Line
| Duchess of Gloucester | Birgitte (née van Deurs), born 1946 in Denmark; married Prince Richard 1972 |
| Duke of Gloucester | Prince Richard (b. 1944); first cousin of King Charles; trained architect |
| Princess Alexandra | Born 25 December 1936; first cousin of King Charles; daughter of Prince George, Duke of Kent |
| Princess Charlotte’s birthday | 2 May 2015; full name Charlotte Elizabeth Diana |
| Charlotte’s position | Fourth in line to the throne; first female royal unaffected by male-preference succession |
| Prince George | Born 22 July 2013; second in line; Charlotte’s older brother |
| Prince Philip’s birthplace | Corfu, Greece, 10 June 1921 — exiled from Greece as an infant in 1922 |
| Prince Philip’s height | Approximately 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) |
| Monarch after Queen Victoria | King Edward VII (reigned 1901–1910) |
| 20th century monarchs | Edward VII, George V, Edward VIII, George VI, Elizabeth II |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the Duchess of Gloucester?
The Duchess of Gloucester is Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester (born Birgitte Eva van Deurs on 20 June 1946 in Odense, Denmark). She is the wife of Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester, who is a first cousin of King Charles III. Birgitte came to Britain in 1966, worked as a bilingual secretary, and married Prince Richard on 8 July 1972, becoming a British citizen. The couple have three children: Alexander, Earl of Ulster; Davina Lewis; and Rose Gilman. The Duchess of Gloucester is a working member of the Royal Family, carrying out royal engagements and patronages, and lives in Kensington Palace.
When is Princess Charlotte’s birthday?
Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana was born on 2 May 2015 at St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, London. She was born at 8:34 am, weighing 8 lbs 3 oz, to Prince William and Catherine (now Princess of Wales). Her middle names Elizabeth and Diana honour Queen Elizabeth II and her late grandmother Princess Diana. Princess Charlotte holds the title HRH Princess Charlotte of Wales and is fourth in line to the throne. Her birthday is traditionally marked by the release of official photographs, often taken by her mother Catherine.
Where was Prince Philip born?
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, was born on 10 June 1921 on the island of Corfu, Greece, at a villa called Mon Repos. He was born Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark, a member of both royal houses through his father. His family was exiled from Greece when he was approximately 18 months old following a political crisis. Philip later renounced his Greek and Danish titles, became a naturalised British subject in 1947, and married Princess Elizabeth the same year. He stood approximately 6 feet (183 cm) tall and died at Windsor Castle on 9 April 2021, two months before his 100th birthday.
Who were the British monarchs in the 20th century?
The British monarchs of the 20th century were: King Edward VII (1901–1910), Victoria’s son who gave his name to the Edwardian era; King George V (1910–1936), who navigated the First World War and established the Royal Christmas broadcast; King Edward VIII (1936, abdicated), who reigned less than one year before abdicating to marry Wallis Simpson; King George VI (1936–1952), who led the nation through the Second World War and was father to Queen Elizabeth II; and Queen Elizabeth II (1952–2022), who became the longest-reigning British monarch with a 70-year reign before her death in September 2022.