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Edward Windsor, Lord Downpatrick

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Lord Downpatrick
Downpatrick in 2022
Born
Edward Edmund Maximilian George Windsor

(1988-12-02) 2 December 1988 (age 35)
London, England
Education
Occupation(s)Travel consultant, fashion designer
TitleLord Downpatrick
Parents
FamilyHouse of Windsor

Edward Edmund Maximilian George Windsor, Lord Downpatrick (born 2 December 1988), known professionally as Eddy Downpatrick, is a British travel consultant, fashion designer, former financial analyst and relative of the British royal family.[1][2]

As second-in-line to the Dukedom of Kent, he uses one of his grandfather's subsidiary titles, Baron Downpatrick, by courtesy. A second cousin once removed of Charles III, Downpatrick is the most senior member of the House of Windsor to be excluded from the line of succession to the British throne due to his Roman Catholic faith.[3]

Early life and family

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Lord Downpatrick was born on 2 December 1988 at St Mary's Hospital, London, and grew up in Cambridge.[4][5] He is the eldest child of George Windsor, Earl of St Andrews, son and heir apparent of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent. Downpatrick's mother, Sylvana, Countess of St Andrews, by birth member of the Austrian Tomaselli family, is a Canadian born historian of Austro-Italian and French extraction.[5][6] Diana, Princess of Wales, was Downpatrick's godmother,[7] but she died before he got to know her well.[5]

Downpatrick was educated at Eton College and matriculated at Keble College, Oxford, where he studied modern languages with a specialisation in French and German. He wanted to join the British Army after the university, but had not recovered from rugby injuries.[5]

Downpatrick is close to his third cousin Princess Beatrice and to his younger sisters Lady Marina and Lady Amelia Windsor, a fashion model.[5] His great-grandmother Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent, was the British royal family's fashion icon in the post-war era.[5]

Career

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Downpatrick first had the idea to launch a fashion brand while hiking in Scotland in 2009,[5] but decided to focus on his studies and career as a financial analyst at JP Morgan.[7][8]

Downpatrick left JP Morgan and began working as a fashion designer in 2016. In 2017, he co-founded the fashion label FIDIR with Justine Dalby, where he currently serves as the creative director.[4][9][10] The brand specialises in outdoor wear and accessories, providing products such as handbags, wallets, sweatshirts, wash bags, and T-shirts.[11][5][12] His designs are inspired by the Scottish Highlands.[13][14][15]

In 2021, Downpatrick founded Aristeia Travel, a company that organises tours and expeditions to various destinations worldwide, including Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America.[16] The company also arranges sporting adventures such as heliskiing and whale watching.[8]

Downpatrick is also a partner at Wheeler-Windsor Expeditions, along with California native Jack Wheeler, offering curated expeditions to clients.[1]

Succession rights

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In 2003, aged 15, following the example of his grandmother, the Duchess of Kent, and his uncle Lord Nicholas Windsor, Downpatrick (who was baptised in the Church of England) chose to be confirmed into the Catholic Church. He was therefore barred from the line of succession to the British throne according to the Act of Settlement 1701. As a second cousin once removed of King Charles III, Downpatrick is the most senior person excluded from the line of succession for being a Catholic.[17]

As of January 2024, he would have been 43rd in line.[18] Downpatrick remains second in the line of succession, after his father, to the Dukedom of Kent.[19][20]

References

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  1. ^ a b Reginato, James (23 June 2022). "Meet the Baron Who'll Plan Your Next Vacation". Town & Country. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  2. ^ Marett, Coco. "This British royal is in search of the world's most epic adventures—and he wants to take you with him". Tatler Asia. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  3. ^ Dixon, Christine Liwag (21 August 2023). "Edward Windsor, Lord Downpatrick: 12 Facts About The Royal Turned Fashion Designer". The List. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Founder of FIDIR: Eddy Downpatrick – Twenty Mile Club". TwentyMileClub. Archived from the original on 24 October 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h Carington, Francesca (11 October 2018). "Eddy Downpatrick on the inspiration behind his menswear collection". Tatler. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  6. ^ Ronald Allison; Sarah Riddell (1991). The Royal Encyclopedia. Macmillan Press. p. 145. ISBN 9780333538104. Retrieved 14 July 2010.
  7. ^ a b "Hugh Grosvenor is the new Duke of Westminster – but who are Britain's other most eligible bachelor aristocrats?". The Telegraph. 12 August 2016. Archived from the original on 5 April 2019.
  8. ^ a b "The sporting black book". The Field. 22 January 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  9. ^ Smith, Kenny (12 April 2018). "Scotland's on the cusp of a fashion renaissance". Scottish Field.
  10. ^ Smith, Kenny (8 October 2018). "Scottish fashion labels unite for stylish release". Scottish Field. Archived from the original on 9 December 2023.
  11. ^ "Our Story". FIDIR. 31 March 2017.
  12. ^ Furness, Joseph (29 December 2017). "Glass talks to Edward Windsor – founder of menswear brand Fidir". The Glass Magazine.
  13. ^ Fraser, Ross (15 January 2018). "Q&A Lord Eddy Downpatrick Founder of FIDIR". The Luxury Editor.
  14. ^ "Interview with Eddy Downpatrick Founder of Fidir". Hidden Scotland. 11 May 2018.
  15. ^ "The Scottish Inspired FIDIR Clothing". The Gentleman Select. 7 May 2018.
  16. ^ Dixon, Christine Liwag (21 August 2023). "Edward Windsor, Lord Downpatrick: 12 Facts About The Royal Turned Fashion Designer". The List. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  17. ^ "People by Andrew Pierce". The Times. 16 April 2003.
  18. ^ "What is the British Monarchy's Line of Succession". Debrett's. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  19. ^ Elser, Daniela (15 December 2018). "Lord Eddy Downpatrick: The royal family has been hiding this serious hottie". news.com.au.
  20. ^ Chang, Mahalia (8 April 2018). "13 Hot Eligible Princes You Can Still Marry". ELLE.


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