The tragic story of a royal sex symbol: Prince William of Gloucester – Famous

Some know him as “the other Prince William”, after whom Prince Charles named his first-born son, and as Elizabeth II’s first cousin, others describe him as a passionate thrill-seeker, others are hearing about him for the first time. However, two things are certain – this talented man with a rebellious spirit is gone too soon, and his story cannot leave anyone indifferent. But let’s start from the beginning.

Prince William of Gloucester (William Henry Andrew Frederick) was born on 18 December 1941 in Hadley Common, Hertfordshire. His father was Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, the third son of George V and Queen Mary. His mother was Alice, Duchess of Gloucester, the third daughter of the 7th Duke of Buccleuch and Lady Margaret Bridgman. His brother is Prince Richard, who is currently the 76-year-old Duke of Gloucester – the title that fell to William as the first-born. He was fourth in line to the throne at the time of his birth and ninth in line at the time of his death.

The 10 Smartest Royals

In 1947, Prince William was best man to his cousin Princess Elizabeth at her wedding to Prince Philip. The other page is Prince Michael of Kent.

As he grows up and becomes a young and capable man, he decides that he does not wish to follow royal etiquette. His desire for adventure and leading a normal life prevails. He thus became the second member of the British royal family to work in the civil service or in the diplomatic service (the first being his uncle Prince George, Duke of Kent).

He joined the Commonwealth Office in 1965 and was posted to Lagos as Third Secretary to the British High Commission. After three years, he moved to Tokyo as second secretary at the British Embassy. There he meets the love of his life, but we will tell you more about her in a few paragraphs.

According to royal experts, his work away from royal engagements gives him real pleasure. Moreover, he became known as the royal James Bond – attractive, intelligent, daring, brave and with an indomitable spirit of adventure. It is no coincidence that he is highly idealized by the young Prince Charles, who sees him as the perfect older cousin and role model.

In the 1970s, his father’s health became increasingly critical after suffering strokes. William has no choice but to give up the diplomatic service and return to Britain to look after his father’s estate, and, as he puts it, “to become a full-time royal prince”. For the next two years he ruled Barnwell Manor and began to perform public duties as a member of the royal family.

As well as taking on many commitments that his father could no longer fulfill, William became president of the National Ski Federation Supporters’ Association, the Magdalene Society (Cambridge), the East Midlands Tourist Board and the Royal African Society. Its patronage includes the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain, the British Society for the Study of Schools and the Talyllin Railway Preservation Society. He also served as State Councilor in the absence of his cousin, the Queen.

30 royal scandals that rocked the monarchy

The prince is constantly described by his friends as adventurous (almost to the point of recklessness), warm, gentle and extremely generous. But of all his qualities, the most frequently mentioned is his loyalty to his friends. Of course, his status also took its toll on his personality, sometimes being described as an “exhausting egotist”.

Unlike most royal families, maintains a wonderful and warm relationship with both parents. He says of his mother: “She is a human being and must have some flaws. If you ask me, I’d say she doesn’t have any.” She loves her father just as much. He says that his father could not be very happy as a young man because of the strict upbringing he received, and for that very reason he is very grateful to him for the freedom he received throughout his life.

A woman comes into his life whom he intends to marry, but according to royal etiquette she is not a suitable choice. He met her in Tokyo in 1968. Love at first sight, strong and burning. The lucky girl’s name is Susie Starkloff – former model and flight attendant.

Despite the supposed reluctance of senior members of the royal family to take William’s relationship with Starklough seriously, the standards regarding marriage within the royal family at this time were not as strict as they had been. Princess Margaret, while not encouraging William, did sympathize with him in this regard and told him to “wait a little” and “see how things go as time progresses” after he returned to Britain.

After returning to England, Starkloff goes to live with William’s family at Barnwell Manor, where his parents give her a warm and hospitable welcome. However, William’s intentions towards her remain unclear.

In the year of his death, he gave an interview to Audrey Whiting in the Sunday Mirror, in which he stated that if he ever married, he would do so to a woman not only suitable for him, but also in “the eyes of the other members of the family”. Somewhere at that time he began a relationship with Nicole Sief, who has two sons with ex-husband Jonathan Sief.

30 royal scandals that rocked the monarchy

A licensed pilot and president of the British Light Aviation Centre, Prince William owns several aircraft and participates in amateur air show competitions. On 28 August 1972 he competed in the Goodyear International Air Trophy near Wolverhampton with Virel Mitchell – a pilot with whom the Prince often flew – listed as a passenger.

Shortly after their takeoff and at a very low altitude, the Piper Cherokee banked sharply to port, with an extreme increase in turn speed and a corresponding loss of altitude. The wing hits a tree and the plane loses control, overturns and crashes into an embankment, bursting into flames. The disaster occurred in front of 30,000 spectators, the fire took two hours to bring under control, and the bodies were identified at the inquest the next day.

His father, Prince Henry, was in such poor health at the time that his mother was hesitant to break the tragic news to him at all. She later admitted in her memoirs that she did not, but he may have learned of their son’s death from television coverage of the incident.

Prince William is buried at Frogmore Royal Cemetery. The comprehensive school in Oundle, which he opened in 1971, was renamed Prince William School in his honour.

Look more: