Follow
Scope of project
This project identifies the Dukes and Duchesses of Cambridge.
Overview
Duke of Cambridge is a title (named after the city of Cambridge, England) occasionally conferred upon junior members of the British royal family. It was first used as a designation for Charles Stuart (1660–1661), the eldest son of James, Duke of York (later James II), though he was never formally created Duke of Cambridge. The latest holder of the title is Prince William following his marriage to Catherine Middleton. The latter is now the Duchess of Cambridge.
The first officially recognised creation was in the Peerage of England in 1664, when James Stuart, son of the Duke of York by his first wife, was granted the title. James, Duke of Cambridge died young and without heirs, and the title became extinct. The title was then again granted to Edgar Stuart, another son of the Duke of York by his first wife. Edgar, too, died young, and the title again became extinct.
The Duke of York's eldest son by his second wife, Charles Stuart (1677–1677), was also styled Duke of Cambridge, but, having died approximately a month old, did not live long enough to be formally created.
The Dukedom was next granted to George Augustus, son of Georg Ludwig, Hereditary Prince of Hanover and Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, who would later become George I of Great Britain. When George Augustus ascended to the throne as George II, the dukedom merged into the crown.
The title was next given, in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, to Prince Adolphus, the seventh son of George III. Upon the death of his only son without a legitimate heir, the title became extinct.
The first Duke's grandson (through a female line), Adolphus, Duke of Teck, who was the brother of Queen Mary, George V's consort, was created Marquess of Cambridge in 1917 when he gave up his German titles and took the surname "Cambridge". Upon the death of the second Marquess without any male heirs, the marquessate became extinct.
In 1999, with the marriage of Prince Edward younger son of Queen Elizabeth II, experts had suggested the Dukedom of Cambridge or Sussex as the most likely to be granted to Prince Edward, but he was instead created Earl of Wessex. It has subsequently been reported by The Sunday Telegraph that Prince Edward was originally to have been titled Duke of Cambridge after his marriage. However, after watching the 1998 film Shakespeare in Love, he was reportedly attracted to the title used by a character played by Colin Firth, and asked the Queen to be given the title of Earl of Wessex instead.
Prince William of Wales has been given the title at the time of his wedding to Kate Middleton.
Styled Duke of Cambridge (1660)
- Charles Stuart, Duke of Cambridge. (1660–1661), eldest son of James, Duke of York (later James II & VII), died in infancy having only been styled Duke
Dukes of Cambridge, first Creation (1664)
- James Stuart, 1st Duke of Cambridge (1663–1667), second son of James, Duke of York (later James II & VII), died in infancy
Dukes of Cambridge, second Creation (1667)
- Edgar Stuart, 1st Duke of Cambridge (1667–1671), fourth son of James, Duke of York (later James II & VII), died in infancy
Styled Duke of Cambridge (1677)
- Charles Stuart, Duke of Cambridge (1677), fifth son of James, Duke of York (later James II & VII), died in infancy having only been styled Duke
Dukes of Cambridge, third Creation (1706)
- George, Electoral Prince of Hanover, 1st Duke of Cambridge (1683–1760) was the only son of George, Elector of Hanover (later George I), and, in time, would become Duke of Cornwall, Prince of Wales and then King in 1727, at which point all of his British honours merged in the crown
Dukes of Cambridge, fourth Creation (1801)
- Prince Adolphus, 1st Duke of Cambridge (1774–1850) was the seventh son of George III
- Prince George, 2nd Duke of Cambridge (1819–1904), only son of the 1st Duke, died without legitimate issue and his honours were extinct
Marquesses of Cambridge (1917)
- Adolphus Frederick, 1st Marquess of Cambridge (1868–1927), son of a daughter of Prince Adolphus, was created Marquess when George V relinquished his family's German titles
- George Francis, 2nd Marquess of Cambridge (1895–1981), only son of the 1st Marquess, died without male issue and his honours were extinct
Duke of Cambridge (2011)
- William, Prince of Wales (1982-), son of HRH Charles, Prince of Wales