Edward Windsor, Lord Downpatrick

Last updated

Lord Downpatrick
Eddy Downpatrick in Lo Manthang, the medieval walled capital of the Kingdom of Lo in the upper reaches of Nepal, close to the Tibetan border.jpg
Downpatrick in 2023
Born
Edward Edmund Maximilian George Windsor

(1988-12-02) 2 December 1988 (age 35)
London, England
Education
Occupation(s)Travel consultant, fashion designer
Title Lord Downpatrick
Parents
Family House of Windsor

Edward Edmund Maximilian George Windsor, Lord Downpatrick (born 2 December 1988), known professionally as Eddy Downpatrick, is a British travel consultant, fashion designer, former financial analyst and member of the British royal family. [1] [2]

Contents

As second-in-line to the Dukedom of Kent, he uses one of his grandfather's subsidiary titles, Baron Downpatrick, by courtesy. A second cousin once removed of Charles III, Downpatrick is the most senior member of the House of Windsor to be excluded from the line of succession to the British throne due to his Roman Catholic faith. [3]

Early life and family

Lord Downpatrick was born on 2 December 1988 at St Mary's Hospital, London, and grew up in Cambridge. [4] [5] He is the eldest child of George Windsor, Earl of St Andrews, son and heir apparent of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent. Downpatrick's mother, Sylvana, Countess of St Andrews, by birth member of the Austrian Tomaselli family, is a Canadian born historian of Austro-Italian and French extraction. [5] [6] Diana, Princess of Wales, was Downpatrick's godmother, [7] but she died before he got to know her well. [5]

Downpatrick was educated at Eton College and matriculated at Keble College, Oxford, where he studied modern languages with a specialisation in French and German. He wanted to join the British Army after the university, but had not recovered from rugby injuries. [5]

Downpatrick is close to his third cousin Princess Beatrice and to his younger sisters Lady Marina and Lady Amelia Windsor, a fashion model. [5] His great-grandmother Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent, was the British royal family's fashion icon in the post-war era. [5]

Career

Downpatrick first had the idea to launch a fashion brand while hiking in Scotland in 2009, [5] but decided to focus on his studies and career as a financial analyst at JP Morgan. [7] [8]

Downpatrick left JP Morgan and began working as a fashion designer in 2016. In 2017, he co-founded the fashion label FIDIR with Justine Dalby, where he currently serves as the creative director. [4] [9] [10] The brand specialises in outdoor wear and accessories, providing products such as handbags, wallets, sweatshirts, wash bags, and T-shirts. [11] [5] [12] His designs are inspired by the Scottish Highlands. [13] [14] [15]

In 2021, Downpatrick founded Aristeia Travel, a company that organises tours and expeditions to various destinations worldwide, including Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America. [16] The company also arranges sporting adventures such as heliskiing and whale watching. [8]

Downpatrick is also a partner at Wheeler-Windsor Expeditions, along with California native Jack Wheeler, offering curated expeditions to clients. [1]

Succession rights

In 2003, aged 15, following the example of his grandmother, the Duchess of Kent, and his uncle Lord Nicholas Windsor, Downpatrick (who was baptised in the Church of England) chose to be confirmed into the Catholic Church. He was therefore barred from the line of succession to the British throne according to the Act of Settlement 1701. As a second cousin once removed of King Charles III, Downpatrick is the most senior person excluded from the line of succession for being a Catholic. [17]

As of January 2024, he would have been 43rd in line. [18] Downpatrick remains second in the line of succession, after his father, to the Dukedom of Kent. [19] [20]

Related Research Articles

The British royal family comprises King Charles III and his close relations. There is no strict legal or formal definition of who is or is not a member, although the Royal Household has issued different lists outlining who is a part of the royal family. Members often support the monarch in undertaking public engagements, and pursue charitable work and interests. Members of the royal family are regarded as British and world cultural icons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Duke of Edinburgh</span> Dukedom in the Peerage of the United Kingdom

Duke of Edinburgh, named after the city of Edinburgh in Scotland, is a substantive title that has been created four times since 1726 for members of the British royal family. It does not include any territorial landholdings and does not produce any revenue for the title-holder.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prince George, Duke of Kent</span> British prince (1902–1942)

Prince George, Duke of Kent was a member of the British royal family, the fourth son of King George V and Queen Mary. He was a younger brother of kings Edward VIII and George VI. Prince George served in the Royal Navy in the 1920s and then briefly as a civil servant. He became Duke of Kent in 1934. In the late 1930s he served as an RAF officer, initially as a staff officer at RAF Training Command and then, from July 1941, as a staff officer in the Welfare Section of the RAF Inspector General's Staff. He was killed in the Dunbeath air crash on 25 August 1942.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Duke of Kent</span> Title in the peerages the United Kingdom

Duke of Kent is a title that has been created several times in the peerages of Great Britain and the United Kingdom, most recently as a royal dukedom for the fourth son of King George V. Since 1942, the title has been held by Prince Edward, a first cousin of Queen Elizabeth II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prince Edward, Duke of Kent</span> British prince (born 1935)

Prince Edward, Duke of Kent is a member of the British royal family. The son of Prince George, Duke of Kent, and Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark, he is a grandson of King George V, nephew of King George VI and Edward VIII, and first cousin of Queen Elizabeth II. Edward's mother was also a first cousin of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, consort of Elizabeth II, making him both a second cousin and first cousin once removed to King Charles III. He is 41st in the line of succession to the British throne.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prince Michael of Kent</span> British prince (born 1942)

Prince Michael of Kent is a member of the British royal family who is 52nd in line to the British throne as of January 2024. Queen Elizabeth II and Michael were first cousins through their fathers, King George VI, and Prince George, Duke of Kent. Michael's mother Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark was also a first cousin of the Queen's husband Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, making him both a second cousin and first cousin once removed to King Charles III.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alastair Windsor, 2nd Duke of Connaught and Strathearn</span> British member of the royal family (1914–1943)

Alastair Arthur Windsor, 2nd Duke of Connaught and Strathearn was a member of the British Royal Family. He was the only child of Prince Arthur of Connaught and Princess Alexandra, 2nd Duchess of Fife. He was a great-grandson of Queen Victoria through his father and a great-great-grandson of Queen Victoria through his mother. He was also a descendant of Victoria's paternal uncle and predecessor, William IV, through an illegitimate line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maud Carnegie, Countess of Southesk</span> Granddaughter of King Edward VII (1893-1945)

Maud Carnegie, Countess of Southesk, titled Princess Maud from 1905 to 1923, was a granddaughter of Edward VII. Maud and her elder sister, Alexandra, had the distinction of being the only female-line descendants of a British sovereign officially granted both the title of Princess and the style of Highness.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Katharine, Duchess of Kent</span> Member of the British royal family

Katharine, Duchess of Kent is a member of the British royal family. She is married to Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, a grandson of King George V.

Lady Sarah Frances Elizabeth Chatto is a member of the British royal family. She is the only daughter of Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, and Antony Armstrong-Jones, 1st Earl of Snowdon. She and her brother, David Armstrong-Jones, 2nd Earl of Snowdon, are the only maternal first cousins of King Charles III. She is the youngest grandchild of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. At her birth, she was 7th in line to the British throne; as of May 2023, she is 28th. Though she does not undertake public duties, she frequently attends events and ceremonies with the wider royal family.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lord Frederick Windsor</span> British financial analyst (born 1979)

Lord Frederick Michael George David Louis Windsor is a member of the British royal family. He is a British financial analyst, and the only son of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent. He is married to British actress Sophie Winkleman. He is 53rd in the line of succession to the British throne.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Duchess of Kent</span> Royal title

Duchess of Kent is the principal courtesy title used by the wife of the Duke of Kent. There have been four titles referring to Kent since the 18th century. The current duchess is Katharine, the wife of Prince Edward. He inherited the dukedom on 25 August 1942 upon the death of his father, Prince George, the fourth son of George V.

James Robert Bruce Ogilvy is a British landscape designer, and the founder and editor of Luxury Briefing. He is a member of the extended British royal family as the elder child and only son of Princess Alexandra of Kent and Sir Angus Ogilvy. Queen Elizabeth II was a first cousin of his mother, both being granddaughters of King George V. As a result, he is a second cousin of King Charles III and 58th in the line to the British throne.

George Philip Nicholas Windsor, Earl of St Andrews is an English philanthropist, former diplomat and a member of the British royal family. He was a member of the Diplomatic Service in New York and Budapest. St Andrews became chancellor of the University of Bolton in 2017. He is the trustee of the Next Century and Global eHealth foundations and patron of the Welsh Sinfonia. He is the elder son of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, and his wife Katharine, Duchess of Kent, and heir-apparent to the dukedom of Kent. He is 42nd in the line of succession to the British throne.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Succession to the British throne</span> Law governing who can become British monarch

Succession to the British throne is determined by descent, sex, legitimacy, and religion. Under common law, the Crown is inherited by a sovereign's children or by a childless sovereign's nearest collateral line. The Bill of Rights 1689 and the Act of Settlement 1701 restrict succession to the throne to the legitimate Protestant descendants of Sophia of Hanover who are in "communion with the Church of England". Spouses of Catholics were disqualified from 1689 until the law was amended in 2015. Protestant descendants of those excluded for being Roman Catholics are eligible.

Sylvana Palma Windsor, Countess of St Andrews is a Canadian-born academic and historian. By virtue of marriage she is a member of the House of Windsor and is related to the British royal family as the wife of George Windsor, Earl of St Andrews, eldest son of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, second cousin of King Charles III.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James, Earl of Wessex</span> Member of the British royal family (born 2007)

James Alexander Philip Theo Mountbatten-Windsor, Earl of Wessex is the younger child and son of Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh. He is the youngest grandchild of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and the youngest nephew of King Charles III. At the time of his birth, he was 8th in line to the British throne. He is now 15th in line.

In the British peerage, a royal duke is a member of the British royal family, entitled to the titular dignity of prince and the style of His Royal Highness, who holds a dukedom. Dukedoms are the highest titles in the British roll of peerage, and the holders of these particular dukedoms are princes of the blood royal. The holders of the dukedoms are royal, not the titles themselves. They are titles created and bestowed on legitimate sons and male-line grandsons of the British monarch, usually upon reaching their majority or marriage. The titles can be inherited but cease to be called "royal" once they pass beyond the grandsons of a monarch. As with any peerage, once the title becomes extinct, it may subsequently be recreated by the reigning monarch at any time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lady Amelia Windsor</span> British fashion model and member of the extended Royal family

Lady Amelia Sophia Theodora Mary Margaret Windsor is an English fashion model and a member of the British royal family. As a daughter of an earl, she is free to retain the title of lady. She is currently 43rd in the line of succession to the British throne, as of May 2023. She is a granddaughter of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, so she is consequently a great-great-granddaughter of George V and Queen Mary; she is a second cousin once removed of Charles III.

Lady Marina Charlotte Alexandra Katharine Helen Windsor is a British noblewoman and relative of the British royal family. Although she is a great-great-granddaughter of King George V, and a second cousin once removed of Charles III, she was removed from the line of succession to the British throne in 2008 after being confirmed into the Roman Catholic Church.

References

  1. 1 2 Reginato, James (23 June 2022). "Meet the Baron Who'll Plan Your Next Vacation". Town & Country . Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  2. Marett, Coco. "This British royal is in search of the world's most epic adventures—and he wants to take you with him". Tatler Asia. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  3. Dixon, Christine Liwag (21 August 2023). "Edward Windsor, Lord Downpatrick: 12 Facts About The Royal Turned Fashion Designer". The List. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  4. 1 2 "Founder of FIDIR: Eddy Downpatrick – Twenty Mile Club". TwentyMileClub. Archived from the original on 24 October 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Carington, Francesca (11 October 2018). "Eddy Downpatrick on the inspiration behind his menswear collection". Tatler . Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  6. Ronald Allison; Sarah Riddell (1991). The Royal Encyclopedia. Macmillan Press. p. 145. ISBN   9780333538104 . Retrieved 14 July 2010.
  7. 1 2 "Hugh Grosvenor is the new Duke of Westminster – but who are Britain's other most eligible bachelor aristocrats?". The Telegraph. 12 August 2016. Archived from the original on 5 April 2019.
  8. 1 2 "The sporting black book". The Field. 22 January 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  9. Smith, Kenny (12 April 2018). "Scotland's on the cusp of a fashion renaissance". Scottish Field.
  10. Smith, Kenny (8 October 2018). "Scottish fashion labels unite for stylish release". Scottish Field. Archived from the original on 9 December 2023.
  11. "Our Story". FIDIR.
  12. Furness, Joseph (29 December 2017). "Glass talks to Edward Windsor – founder of menswear brand Fidir". The Glass Magazine.
  13. Fraser, Ross (15 January 2018). "Q&A Lord Eddy Downpatrick Founder of FIDIR". The Luxury Editor.
  14. "Interview with Eddy Downpatrick Founder of Fidir". Hidden Scotland. 11 May 2018.
  15. "The Scottish Inspired FIDIR Clothing". The Gentleman Select. 7 May 2018.
  16. Dixon, Christine Liwag (21 August 2023). "Edward Windsor, Lord Downpatrick: 12 Facts About The Royal Turned Fashion Designer". The List. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  17. "People by Andrew Pierce". The Times.
  18. "What is the British Monarchy's Line of Succession". Debrett's. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  19. Elser, Daniela (15 December 2018). "Lord Eddy Downpatrick: The royal family has been hiding this serious hottie". news.com.au .
  20. Chang, Mahalia (8 April 2018). "13 Hot Eligible Princes You Can Still Marry". ELLE .