Duke of Connaught and Strathearn

"Duke of Connaught" redirects here. For ships with this name, see SS Duke of Connaught.

HRH The Prince Arthur, the first Duke

The title Duke of Connaught and Strathearn was granted by Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland to her third son, Prince Arthur.

By tradition members of the sovereign's family received titles associated with England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, the four home nations that made up the United Kingdom. The Dukedom of Connaught and Strathearn was named after one of the four provinces of Ireland, now known by its modern Irish language-based spelling of Connacht. It was seen as the title that if available would henceforth be awarded to a monarch's third son; the first son was traditionally Duke of Cornwall (in England) and Duke of Rothesay (in Scotland), and would be made Prince of Wales at some point, while the second son would often become Duke of York, if the title were available.

Since the exit of the Republic of Ireland from the United Kingdom in 1922, titles related to locations in the Republic have not been awarded (though Prince Edward, Prince of Wales—in 1936 briefly King Edward VIII—was made a Knight of the Order of St Patrick). However, territorial titles relating to Northern Ireland have continued to be awarded.

After Prince Arthur's death in 1942, the title was inherited by his grandson, Alastair. In the absence of any male heirs, the Dukedom became extinct when Alastair died, 15 months after his grandfather.

A Canadian military regiment, The British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own), is a Canadian armoured regiment in the duke's name. A British Indian Army cavalry regiment, 6th Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers (Watson's Horse) was named for the duke.

Dukes of Connaught and Strathearn (1874)

Other titles: Earl of Sussex (1874)

• The Prince Arthur, 1st Duke of Connaught and Strathearn (1850–1942), third son of Queen Victoria
  • Prince Arthur of Connaught (1883–1938), only son of the 1st Duke, predeceased his father
• Alastair Windsor, 2nd Duke of Connaught and Strathearn (1914–1943), only son of the younger Prince Arthur, died unmarried

See also

• Connaught Place, New Delhi
• O'Conor Don, the ancient Gaelic Royal Family of Connacht
• www.Duke100th.com Duke of Connaught Public School, Toronto, Ontario, Canada - 100th Anniversary

Memorial Site for HRH The Duke of Connaught, Governor General of Canada