Duke of Cumberland and Teviotdale was a title in the Peerage of Great Britain that was held by junior members of the British royal family. It was named after the county of Cumberland in England, and after Teviotdale in Scotland. Held by the Hanoverian royals, it was suspended under the Titles Deprivation Act 1917, which revoked titles belonging to enemies of the United Kingdom during the Great War.
History
The title Duke of Cumberland had been created three times in the Peerages of England and Great Britain.
In 1799, the double dukedom of Cumberland and Teviotdale, in the Peerage of Great Britain, was bestowed on Ernest Augustus (later King of Hanover), fifth son of King George III of the United Kingdom. Cumberland is a historic county in northwest England, while Teviotdale refers to the basin of the River Teviot in Scotland. In 1837, Ernest became king of Hanover, and on his death in 1851 the title descended with the kingdom to his son King George V of Hanover, and on George's death in 1878 to his grandson Prince Ernest Augustus, Crown Prince of Hanover. In 1866, Hanover was annexed by Prussia, but King George died without renouncing his rights. His son Ernest, while maintaining his claim to the kingdom of Hanover, was generally known by his title of Duke of Cumberland in Britain.
The title was suspended for Ernest's pro-German activities during World War I under the Titles Deprivation Act 1917, as it was for his son. Under the Act, the lineal male heirs of the 3rd Duke of Cumberland and Teviotdale have the right to petition the British Crown for the restoration of his peerages. To date, none has done so. The present heir is Prince Ernst August of Hanover (born 26 February 1954), great-grandson of the 3rd Duke and current head of the House of Hanover. He is the senior male-line descendant of George III of the United Kingdom.
Dukes of Cumberland and Teviotdale After the Union of Great Britain, the Hanoverian kings liked to grant double titles (one from one constituent country, one from another) to emphasise unity.
Duke Portrait Birth Marriage(s) Death Succession Arms Prince Ernest AugustusHouse of Hanover1799–1851also Earl of Armagh (1799), King of Hanover (1837) 5 June 1771Buckingham Palaceson of George III and Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz Duchess Frederica of Mecklenburg-Strelitz29 May 18153 children 18 November 1851Hanoveraged 80 The son of George III Prince GeorgeHouse of Hanover1851–1878also Earl of Armagh (1851), King of Hanover (1851) 27 May 1819Berlinson of Prince Ernest Augustus and Frederica of Mecklenburg-Strelitz Princess Marie of Saxe-Altenburg18 February 18433 children 12 June 1878Parisaged 59 The son of Prince Ernest Augustus, the 1st Duke Prince Ernest AugustusHouse of Hanover1878–1919also Earl of Armagh (1878), Crown Prince of Hanover (1851) 21 September 1845Hanoverson of Prince George and Marie of Saxe-Altenburg Princess Thyra of Denmark21 December 18786 children 14 November 1923Gmundenaged 78 The son of Prince George, the 2nd DukeThe Titles Deprivation Act 1917 suspended the title on 28 March 1919.
See also King of Hanover
References