Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester (born Birgitte Eva van Deurs Henriksen; 20 June 1946) is a Danish-born member of the British royal family. She is married to Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester, a grandson of King George V.

Early life and education Birgitte Eva van Deurs Henriksen was born on 20 June 1946 in Odense, Denmark, the younger daughter of lawyer Asger Preben Wissing Henriksen and his wife, Vivian van Deurs. She was educated in Odense and later attended finishing schools in Lausanne and Cambridge. She took her mother's ancestral name, van Deurs, on 15 January 1966 following her parents' separation.Name change is mentioned in parish register of Th. Kingo, Odense (Regional Archive, Odense)- After completing a three-year course in Commercial and Economic Studies in Copenhagen, she moved to the United Kingdom in 1971 to work as a secretary at the Royal Danish Embassy in London.

Marriage and family

Birgitte first met Prince Richard of Gloucester, the younger son of Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, and Alice, Duchess of Gloucester, in the late 1960s in Cambridge, while she was attending finishing school and he was studying architecture. Their engagement was announced in February 1972. They married on 8 July 1972 at St Andrew's Church, Barnwell, Northamptonshire.

Her wedding dress, designed by Norman Hartnell, was made of Swiss organdie with a high collar, long sleeves, a simple skirt and a small train. Instead of a tiara, she wore stephanotis flowers securing her veil. Upon marriage, she assumed the style Her Royal Highness Princess Richard of Gloucester.

Six weeks after the wedding, Richard's elder brother, Prince William of Gloucester, was killed in a flying accident. Richard became heir apparent to the dukedom, and on his father's death in 1974 the couple became the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.

They have three children: Alexander (born 1974), Davina (born 1977), and Rose (born 1980), all born at St Mary's Hospital, London. Birgitte and Richard reside at Kensington Palace. They had leased their private home, Barnwell Manor, since 1994. In September 2022, Richard put the manor up for sale for £4.75 million and it was sold in April 2024.

Activities

Birgitte has accompanied Richard on numerous official overseas visits. Her first was in 1973, when they represented the Queen at the 70th birthday celebrations of King Olav V of Norway. Other joint visits have included Australia, Belgium, China, Denmark, Gibraltar, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Luxembourg, Nepal, New Zealand, Norway, the Philippines, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Tonga, Tunisia and the United States. She has also travelled abroad in support of her own patronages and military affiliations, including a visit to Iraq in December 2008.

She and her husband represented the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh at the state funeral of King Tāufaāhau Tupou IV of Tonga on 19 September 2006, and at the coronation of King George Tupou V of Tonga on 1 August 2008 in Nukuʻalofa.

Birgitte is sponsor of two Royal Navy ships, and , and is royal patron of the Bermuda Regiment. She is patron of SeeAbility; The Lullaby Trust; and Music in Hospitals & Care. She regularly attends events at institutions of which she is president or patron, including St Paul's Cathedral School; the Friends of St Paul's Cathedral; the Cathedral Music Trust; St John's School, Leatherhead; Bridewell Royal Hospital (King Edward's School, Witley); the Royal Alexandra and Albert School; the Children's Society; Parkinson's UK; Hope for Youth Northern Ireland; Scottish Opera; Lawn Tennis Association; the Royal School of Needlework; Turn2us; Missing People; and Princess Helena College. After the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, she became president of the Royal Academy of Music. She is also patron of Prostate Cancer UK, and in March 2006, she opened the Prostate Centre.

Honours and arms

Honours CountryDateAppointmentRibbonPost-nominal lettersOther1973Recipient of the Royal Family Order of Elizabeth II1975Dame of Justice of the Order of St JohnDStJRecipient of the Service Medal of the Order of St JohnImage pinimg.com1977Recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal1978Recipient of the Solomon Islands Independence Medal1989Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian OrderGCVO2002Recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal2012Recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal2022Recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal2024Royal Lady Companion of the Most Noble Order of the GarterLG2024Recipient of the Royal Family Order of Charles III1 August 2008Grand Cross of the Royal Order of the Crown of Tonga3 March 2015Sash of the Mexican Order of the Aztec Eagle

Honorary military appointments Australia Colonel-in-Chief, of the Royal Australian Army Educational Corps

Bermuda Colonel-in-Chief, of the Royal Bermuda Regiment (2006–present)

Canada Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Canadian Dental Corps (January 2006 – present)

New Zealand Colonel-in-Chief, of the Royal New Zealand Army Educational Corps

United Kingdom Colonel-in-Chief, of the Royal Army Dental Corps (until 2024 when the corps was amalgamated) Colonel-in-Chief, of the Adjutant General's Corps (2023–present; Deputy Colonel-in-Chief 1992–2023) Colonel-in-Chief, of the Royal Irish Rangers Deputy Colonel-in-Chief, of the Royal Army Medical Service (2024–present) Royal Colonel, of the 7th (V) Battalion The Rifles Lady Sponsor, of Lady Sponsor, of

Non-national titles and honours 1991: Honorary Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Basketmakers Honorary Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Drapers 2005: Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Fan Makers Honorary Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Gold and Silver Wyre Drawers Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Vintners

Arms

Issue

References

External links

The Duchess of Gloucester at the Royal Family website