Duke of Clarence

Duke of Clarence is a title which has been traditionally awarded to junior members of the English and British royal families. The first three creations were in the Peerage of England, the fourth in the Peerage of Great Britain, and the fifth in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. The title was first granted to Lionel of Antwerp, the third son of King Edward III, in 1362. Since he died without sons, the title became extinct. The title was again created in favour of Thomas of Lancaster, the second son of King Henry IV. Upon his death, too, the title became extinct. The last creation in the Peerage of England was for George Plantagenet, brother of King Edward IV. The Duke forefited his title in 1478, after he had been convicted of treason against his brother. He allegedly met his end (at least according to William Shakespeare) drowned in a butt of Malmsey. A fourth creation in England was suggested and planned to take effect; the title of Duke of Clarence was going to be given to Guilford Dudley, husband of Lady Jane Grey, upon her coronation, as she declined to make her husband King Consort. However, she was deposed before this could take effect. The next creation (this time with the name "Clarence and St Andrews") was in 1789 for Prince William, third son of King George III. When Prince William succeeded his brother to the throne in 1830, the dukedom merged in the crown. The final creation ("Clarence and Avondale") was for Prince Albert Victor of Wales, the eldest son of Albert Edward, Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII). The Duke died of pneumonia in 1892 and the title again became extinct. The title also took the form of an earldom for Queen Victoria's son Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany and his son Prince Charles Edward, the Clarence earldom being a subsidiary title. The title is believed to originate from the town of Clare, Suffolk, although it has also been associated with the fort of Glarentza (Clarence as it was called by the Franks who built it) in the Principality of Achaea. St Andrews and Avondale were presumably added to associate the title with Scotland as well.

William IV was HRH The Duke of Clarence between his creation in 1789 and his accession in 1830

Dukes of Clarence, first Creation (1362)

• Lionel of Antwerp, 1st Duke of Clarence (1338-1368)

Dukes of Clarence, second Creation (1412)

• Thomas of Lancaster, 1st Duke of Clarence (1388-1421)

Dukes of Clarence, third Creation (1461)

• George Plantagenet, 1st Duke of Clarence (1449-1478) (forfeit 1478)

Dukes of Clarence and St Andrews (1789)

• Prince William, Duke of Clarence and St Andrews (1765-1837) (became King in 1830)

Earls of Clarence (1881)

• Prince Leopold, 1st Duke of Albany, Earl of Clarence & Baron Arklow (1853-1884)
• Prince Charles Edward, 2nd Duke of Albany, Earl of Clarence & Baron Arklow, Duke of Saxe-Coburg & Gotha (1884-1954) British titles suspended 1919.

Dukes of Clarence and Avondale (1890)

• Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence and Avondale (1864-1892)