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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 three kingdoms and one principality 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 Ireland 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.
In view of the warming of relations between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland in the 1990s Queen Elizabeth II could award her third son, Prince Edward, the Dukedom of Connaught. This has so far not happened. The feelings of the Irish might be perturbed at the unwarranted imposition upon the populace of an English 'Duke' even if only of the most ephemerally titular sort. It was decided, however, that Prince Edward shall be created Duke of Edinburgh following the deaths of both his parents.
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, which he did only 15 months after his grandfather.
A Canadian Military Regiment, The British Columbia Regiment (The Duke of Connaught's Own), was a Canadian Armoured Regiment in the Dukes 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)
- The Prince Arthur, 1st Duke of Connaught and Strathearn (1850–1942)
- Alastair Arthur Windsor, 2nd Duke of Connaught and Strathearn (1914–1943)
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