// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhy did Viscount Launceston go to the party? Because he was a count-er guest.

The peerage title of Viscount Launceston, named for Launceston in Cornwall, has been twice created, each time for an individual connected with the British royal family.

The first creation was in the Peerage of Great Britain, when Prince Frederick Louis, eldest son of the Prince of Wales, was created Duke of Edinburgh, Marquess of the Isle of Ely, Earl of Eltham, Viscount of Launceston and Baron of Snowdon, on 26 July 1726. These titles merged with the Crown when the grantee's son succeeded as King George III on 25 October 1760.

The second creation was in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, when Sir Alexander Mountbatten (formerly Prince Alexander of Battenberg), eldest son of the late Prince Henry of Battenberg and of Princess Beatrice of the United Kingdom, was created Marquess of Carisbrooke, Earl of Berkhampsted and Viscount Launceston, on 18 July 1917. These titles became extinct on the grantee's death on 23 February 1960.

First creation (1726)

• see Duke of Edinburgh, first creation

The precise text of the Gazette, for this creation reads "Viscount of Launceston". It is, however, common to see the "of" retroactively dropped in modern references.

Second creation (1917)

• see Marquess of Carisbrooke

Family tree

Family tree of the Dukes of Gloucester, Dukes of Edinburgh, the Dukes of Gloucester and Edinburgh, the Marquesses of Carisbrooke, and the Earls of Ulster (UK creations)

Edward III of England 1312–1377 Duke of Gloucester (1st creation), 1385 John of Gaunt 1340–1399 Duke of Lancaster Thomas of Woodstock 1355–1397 Duke of Gloucester Dukedom of Gloucester (1st creation) extinct, 1397 Henry IV of England 1367–1413 John Beaufort 1373–1410 1st Earl of Somerset Joan Beaufort c. 1379–1440 Duke of Gloucester (2nd creation), 1414 Humphrey of Lancaster 1390–1447 Duke of Gloucester John Beaufort 1404–1444 Duke of Somerset Cecily Neville 1415–1495 Dukedom of Gloucester (2nd creation) extinct, 1447 Duke of Gloucester (3rd creation), 1461 Margaret Beaufort 1443–1509 Edward IV of England 1442–1483 Richard of York 1452–1485 Duke of Gloucester Later Richard III of England Dukedom of Gloucester (3rd creation) merged in the Crown, 1483 Henry VII of England 1457–1509 Elizabeth of York 1466–1503 Margaret Tudor 1489–1541 Henry VIII of England 1491–1547 James V of Scotland 1512–1542 Mary, Queen of Scots 1542–1587 James VI & I of Scotland and England 1566–1625 Princess Elizabeth Stuart 1596–1662 Charles I of Scotland and England 1600–1649 Duke of Gloucester (4th creation), 1659 Sophia of Hanover 1630–1714 James II of Scotland and England 1633–1701 Prince Henry 1640–1660 Duke of Gloucester Dukedom of Gloucester (4th creation) extinct, 1660 George I of Great Britain 1660–1727 Anne of Great Britain 1665–1714 George II of Great Britain 1683–1760 Prince William 1689–1700 styled Duke of Gloucester Duke of Edinburgh (1st creation), Marquess of the Isle of Ely, Earl of Eltham (1st creation), Viscount Launceston, and Baron Snowdon, 1726 Prince Frederick Louis 1707–1751 1st Duke of Edinburgh, etc., styled Duke of Gloucester until created Duke of Edinburgh, 1726 Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh, 1764 Prince George William Frederick 1738–1820 2nd Duke of Edinburgh, etc. Later George III of Great Britain, later the United Kingdom Prince William Henry 1743–1805 1st Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh Dukedom of Edinburgh (1st creation) and subsidiary titles merged in the Crown, 1760 Dukedom of Gloucester and Edinburgh unused, 1805–1816 William IV of the United Kingdom 1765–1837 Prince Edward 1767–1820 Duke of Kent and Strathearn Princess Mary 1776–1857 Prince William Frederick 1776–1834 2nd Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh Dukedom of Gloucester and Edinburgh extinct, 1834 Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom 1819–1901 Duke of Edinburgh (2nd creation) and Earl of Ulster (UK, 1st creation), 1866 Princess Alice 1843–1878 Edward VII of the United Kingdom 1841–1910 Prince Alfred Ernest Albert 1844–1900 Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Duke of Edinburgh, etc. Princess Beatrice 1857–1944 Dukedom of Edinburgh (2nd creation) and subsidiary title extinct, 1900 Marquess of Carisbrooke, Earl of Berkhampstead, Viscount Launceston, 1917 Princess Victoria of Hesse and by Rhine 1863–1950 George V of the United Kingdom 1865–1936 Alexander Albert Mountbatten 1886–1960 Marquess of Carisbrooke, etc. Marquessate of Carisbrooke and subsidiary titles extinct, 1960 Duke of Gloucester (5th creation), Earl of Ulster (UK, 2nd creation), Baron Culloden (2nd creation), 1928 Princess Alice of Battenberg 1885–1969 George VI of the United Kingdom 1895–1952 Prince Henry 1900–1974 1st Duke of Gloucester, etc. Duke of Edinburgh (3rd creation), 1947 Prince Philip 1921–2021 1st Duke of Edinburgh Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom 1926–2022 Duke of Edinburgh (4th creation), 2023 Prince Charles b. 1948 2nd Duke of Edinburgh Later Charles III of the United Kingdom Prince Edward b. 1964 Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Wessex, Earl of Forfar, and Viscount Severn Prince Richard b. 1944 2nd Duke of Gloucester, etc. Dukedom of Edinburgh (3rd creation) merged in the Crown, 2022 Dukedom of Edinburgh (4th creation) is a life peerage and therefore not hereditary Alexander Windsor b. 1974 styled Earl of Ulster Heir-apparent to the Dukedom of Gloucester Xan Windsor b. 2007 styled Baron Culloden

External links

• Leighrayment.com
• Peerages.info