On his father's death, when he became Earl of Gloucester (October 1230), Richard was entrusted first to the guardianship of Hubert de Burgh.

[5][6] Even before Margaret died, the Earl of Lincoln offered 5,000 marks to King Henry to secure Richard for his own daughter.

The Earl and his companion, pretending to be the two of Roos's knights, obtained entry to Edinburgh Castle, and gradually introduced their attendants, so that they had a force sufficient for their defence.

In July 1258 he fell ill, supposedly poisoned together with his brother William by his steward, Walter de Scotenay.

[2] Richard died at John de Criol's Manor of Asbenfield in Waltham, near Canterbury, on 14 July 1262 at the age of 39.

On the following Monday, he was carried to Canterbury where a requiem mass was sung; his body was then transported about 45 miles (72 km) to the canons' church at Tonbridge and interred in the choir.

From there it was taken to Tewkesbury Abbey and buried on 28 July 1262, with great solemnity in the presence of two bishops and eight abbots in the presbytery at his father's right hand.