DUKE'S FIANCEE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22202, 31 August 1935, Page 13

DUKE'S FIANCEE

FAMILY HISTORY MANY TITLES CONFERRED LARGE ESTATES ACQUIRED Lady Alice Montagu-Douglas-Scott is one of the eight children of the Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch. The founder of the wealth of the family was Sir Walter Scott, a bold Scottish nobleman who carried on a predatory warfare against the English. On the conclusion of a, peaceful arrangement between Queen Elizabeth and James VI. of Scotland, who became .Tames I. of England, Sir Walter was sent to England as a hostage and on the accession of .Tames to the English throne was made Lord Scott of Buccleuch for his gallant deeds. That was in 1606 and it was the first of a lonp; list of titles which were subsequently to come to the Buccleuchs, although it was not until 1663 that the head of the family was created a Duke. The story of how this honour came to him makes interesting reading. Tn 1651 Francis of Buccleuch died, leaving two daughters. The elder one died and her sister, who, as heiress to the Buccleuch estate, was regarded as a great matrimonial prize, was married to the Duke of Monmouth, son of Charles 11. Immediately after the marriage?the King created the Duke of Monmouth Duke of Buccleuch, with the Earldom of Dalkeith, and although he was afterward executed by his uncle, King James IT., for rebellion, the titles were not affected, being held jointly by his wife and going to her descendants. Large estates were acquired in subsequent marriages of members of the family.

The present Duke of Buccleuch, the seventh, has been a naval officer and politician. He divides his interest equally between his Scottish and English possessions and takes great pleasure in preserving ancient traditions.

PRINCE HENRY VISIT TO DOMINION A MILITARY CAREER The Duke of Gloucester, Prince Henry William Frederick Albert, third son of King George and Queen Mary, is particularly well known in New Zealand, having visited the Dominion about eight months ago. He is aced 35. The Dukedom of Gloucester was conferred on him on his 28th birthday, the title, which dates back to 1122, and which had been out of the peerage since 1834, having been revived for the purpose. At an early age the Duke of Gloucester decided upon a military career and at Eton joined the army class, from which he passed direct into Sandhurst by examination. From Sandhurst he wont to Trinity College, Cambridge. He devoted himself to outdoor sports, especially cricket and long-distance running, and later took up polo and hunting. In August, 1920, he was gazetted a second lieutenant of the King's Royal Rifles and subsequently became a second lieutenant in the 10th Hussars, in which he had risen by March, .1926, ! to his present position of captain. In 1930 the Duke represented His Majesty at tho coronation of the Emperor of Abyssinia.