Prince Harry’s predecessor as Duke of Sussex fought tirelessly to help British Jews
Augustus Frederick, who was the sixth son of King George III, worked hard to remove civil restrictions on Jews and was a supporter of the Jews’ Hospital and Orphan Asylum
Prince Harry’s official predecessor as the Duke of Sussex was an aristocratic student of the Hebrew language and of Jewish history and literature who fought tirelessly for the removal of civil restrictions on Jews.
Among the official titles bestowed on Harry after his marriage to Meghan Markle on Saturday was that of the Sussex dukedom, last held by Augustus Frederick, sixth son of King George III.
Frederick’s ‘liberal’ views caused a rift between his father and uncle, later King George IV, but despite that, Doreen Berger, vice-president of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Great Britain, said Frederick remained a huge supporter of Jewish causes.
“A supporter of the Jews’ Hospital and Orphan Asylum, which evolved into the modern charity, Norwood, he was patron of the oriental linguist, Louis Loewe, and his magnificent library contained 51 books in the Hebrew language,” said Berger.
“His usual custom was to wear a black skullcap and on the occasion of his friend, Moses Montefiore, receiving a knighthood, he exclaimed excitedly, ‘This is one of the things I have worked for all my life.’”
The dukedom became extinct on his death in 1853 and his famous 14th century copy of the Tanakh was sold to the British Museum.
The title of the Duchess of Sussex was actually never used, said Berger, as the previous Duke’s marriages were in contravention of the Royal Marriages Act of 1772. “So this is the first time that we have actually had a Duchess of Sussex!”
Listen to the Jewish Views podcast!
Keep community journalism free.
Jewish News is free for everyone. No paywall. No barriers. Just trusted journalism for anyone who wants to stay connected to Jewish life in Britain.
If you value that, please support us.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Every day, we report on the issues that matter to our community. We celebrate achievements, support charities, challenge antisemitism and ensure Jewish voices are heard more widely.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help us continue to:
- Report on the stories shaping Jewish life in the UK and beyond
- Bring our community together through shared stories, events and campaigns
- Celebrate the people, culture and moments that define our community
- Support organisations doing vital work across Jewish Britain
You can make a one-off donation or become a regular supporter. Every contribution helps keep our journalism free, independent and accessible to all.
If everyone who values Jewish News gave a small amount, it would make a real difference to our future.
