Alexander Windsor, Earl of Ulster

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]

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 names	Alex Ulster
Education	Eton College King's College London Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
Spouse	Claire Booth ​ (m. 2002)​
Children	2
Parent(s)	Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester Birgitte van Deurs Henriksen
Relatives	House of Windsor
Military career
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Branch	British Army
Years of service	1998–2008
Rank	Major
Unit	King's Royal Hussars
Battles / wars	Kosovo War Iraq War
Awards	see Honours

Early life and education

Alexander 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]

Windsor 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

Ulster 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 in 2002, as well as 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, the Earl of Ulster 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]

Ulster 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.^[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]