Prince William of Gloucester

Prince William of Gloucester ( William Henry Andrew Frederick Windsor, born December 18, 1941 in Barnet, Hertfordshire, † August 28, 1972 near Wolverhampton) was a member of the British Royal Family and grandson of King George V.

His father was Henry, Duke of Gloucester, Prince of Great Britain and Ireland, the third son of George V. His mother was Alice, Duchess of Gloucester, daughter of John Montagu -Douglas -Scott, 7th Duke of Buccleuch and 9th Duke of Queensbury. As the grandson of a British monarch in the male line William of Gloucester was given the title His Royal Highness.

He spent his childhood in Barnwell Manor in Northamptonshire and later in Australia, where his father from 1945 to 1947 was Governor-General.

In 1947 he was one of the two pages at the wedding of the future Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, the other was Prince Michael of Kent.

After graduating in 1963 he went for a year to America, where he studied American history. After his return, he worked for a bank. In 1965 he went into the diplomatic service abroad, he left again due to the deteriorating health of his father in 1970 and returned to Britain.

He had a pilot's license, was the owner of several aircraft and appeared at air shows. He died on August 28, 1972 in a plane crash in Halfpenny Green, near Wolverhampton. His younger brother, Prince Richard was succeeded by his father as Duke of Gloucester in his stead.

William of Gloucester was suffering from the disease porphyria variegata.

He had a close relationship with Prince Charles, who named his son William after him.