Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester

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 George V.

Birgitte
Duchess of Gloucester (more)
Birgitte in 2015
Born	Birgitte Eva van Deurs Henriksen (1946-06-20) 20 June 1946 (age 77) Odense, Denmark
Spouse	Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester ​ ​ (m. 1972)​
Issue	Alexander Windsor, Earl of Ulster Lady Davina Windsor Lady Rose Gilman
House	Windsor (by marriage)
Father	Asger Henriksen
Mother	Vivian van Deurs

Early life and education

Birgitte was born Birgitte Eva van Deurs Henriksen, in Odense, Denmark, the younger daughter of Asger Preben Wissing Henriksen, a lawyer, and his wife, Vivian van Deurs. She was educated in Odense and at finishing schools in Lausanne and Cambridge.^[1] She took her mother's ancestral name van Deurs on 15 January 1966, after her parents' separation.^{[2][non-primary source needed]} After completing a three-year course in Commercial and Economic Studies in Copenhagen, she moved back to the United Kingdom in 1971 to work as a secretary at the Royal Danish Embassy in London.^[1]

Marriage and family

 

The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester

Van Deurs Henriksen first met Prince Richard of Gloucester, the younger son of Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, and Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester, in the late 1960s in Cambridge, where he attended university. In February 1972, their engagement was announced.^[1] They married on 8 July 1972 at St Andrew's Church, Barnwell, Northamptonshire.^[1] The bride's wedding dress was designed by Norman Hartnell. It was constructed of Swiss organdie, with a high collar, a simple skirt, long sleeves and a small train. Instead of wearing a tiara, she wore stephanotis flowers on her hair which secured the veil.^[3] Upon marriage, she assumed the style Her Royal Highness Princess Richard of Gloucester.

Six weeks after their wedding, Prince Richard's elder brother, Prince William of Gloucester, was killed in a flying accident. Prince Richard unexpectedly became heir apparent to the dukedom and upon his father's death in 1974, the couple became the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.^[1]

The couple have three children: Alexander (born 1974), Davina (born 1977), and Rose (born 1980). They were born at St Mary's Hospital, London.^[1] The Duke and Duchess officially reside at Kensington Palace.^[4]

Activities

 

The Duchess in Brisbane, 1979

The Duchess of Gloucester has accompanied the Duke of Gloucester on his official visits overseas: her first visit was in 1973, when they represented the Queen at the 70th birthday celebrations of King Olav V of Norway.^[5] 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.^[5] Birgitte has also travelled overseas in support of her own patronages and military units, including a visit to Iraq in December 2008.^[5]

She and her husband represented the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh at the state funeral of King Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV of Tonga on 19 September 2006.^[6] They also represented the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh at the coronation of King George Tupou V of Tonga on 1 August 2008 in Nukuʻalofa.^[7]

 

The Duke and Duchess riding in the Scottish State Coach with Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence following the coronation on 6 May 2023

Birgitte is sponsor of two Royal Navy ships: HMS Gloucester and HMS Sandown. She is also the royal patron of the Bermuda Regiment. She is patron of SeeAbility, a charity for people with learning disabilities and sight loss; The Lullaby Trust, a baby charity aiming to prevent unexpected deaths in infancy and promote infant health; and Music in Hospitals & Care.^[8] She regularly attends functions at schools of which she is president or patron: St Paul's Cathedral School; the Friends of St Paul's Cathedral;^[9] the Cathedral Music Trust;^[10] St John's School, Leatherhead;^[11] Bridewell Royal Hospital (King Edward's School, Witley); the Royal Alexandra and Albert School;^[12] the Children's Society;^[13] Parkinson's UK;^[14] Hope for Youth Northern Ireland;^[15] Scottish Opera;^[16] Lawn Tennis Association;^[17] the Royal School of Needlework;^[18] Turn2us;^[19] Missing People;^[20] and Princess Helena College. After the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, Birgitte became president of the Royal Academy of Music.^[21] She is also the patron of Prostate Cancer UK,^[22] and in March 2006, she opened the Prostate Centre.^[23]

Honours and arms

See also: List of honours of the British royal family by country

•   1973: Royal Family Order of Queen Elizabeth II^[24]
•   1975: Dame of Justice of the Order of St. John (DStJ)^[25]
•   1975: Service Medal of the Order of St John^[26]
•   1977: Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal^[26]
•   1978: Solomon Islands Independence Medal^[26]
•   1989: Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO)^[24]
•   2002: Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal^[26]
•   2012: Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal^[24]
•   2022: Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal^[27]
•   2023: King Charles III Coronation Medal^[28]
•   23 April 2024: Royal Lady Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter (LG)^[29]

Foreign

•   Tonga: Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Order of the Crown of Tonga (1 August 2008)^[30]
•   Mexico: Grand Cross of the Mexican Order of the Aztec Eagle (3 March 2015)^[31]

Honorary military appointments

Australia

•   Colonel-in-Chief, of the Royal Australian Army Educational Corps^[1]

Bermuda

•   Colonel-in-Chief, of the Royal Bermuda Regiment^[1]

Canada

•   Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Canadian Dental Corps (January 2006 – present)^[32]

New Zealand

•   Colonel-in-Chief, of the Royal New Zealand Army Educational Corps^[1]

United Kingdom

•   Colonel-in-Chief, of the Royal Army Dental Corps^[1]
•   Colonel-in-Chief, of the Adjutant General's Corps^[33] (2023–present; Deputy Colonel-in-Chief 1992–2023^[1][34])
•   Royal Colonel, of the 7th (V) Battalion The Rifles^[1]
•   Lady Sponsor, of HMS Gloucester^[35]
•   Lady Sponsor, of HMS Sandown^[35]

Non-national titles and honours

• 2005: Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Fan Makers^[36]

Arms

Coat of arms of the Duchess of Gloucester

Notes The coat of arms of the Duchess of Gloucester, depicting her husband's armorial bearings surmounted by an escutcheon of pretence granted to her by Royal Warrant.^[37] Adopted 18 July 1973 Coronet Coronet of a grandchild of the sovereign. Escutcheon The Duke of Gloucester's arms and in the centre an escutcheon of pretence Azure a lapwing proper, on a chief Or two pairs of ostrich feathers in saltire Sable^[37] Supporters The Royal Supporters differenced with the like coronet and label. Orders The Garter circlet; motto: Honi soit qui mal y pense (Shame be to him who thinks evil of it). Previous versions   The Duchess of Gloucester's previous arms featuring the circlet of the Royal Victorian Order (1989−2024)

Issue

Name	Birth	Marriage		Issue
Alexander Windsor, Earl of Ulster	24 October 1974	22 June 2002	Claire Booth	Xan Windsor, Lord Culloden Lady Cosima Windsor
Lady Davina Windsor	19 November 1977	31 July 2004 Divorced 2018	Gary Lewis	Senna Lewis Tāne Lewis
Lady Rose Gilman	1 March 1980	19 July 2008	George Gilman	Lyla Gilman Rufus Gilman

References

1. "The Duchess of Gloucester". The Royal Family. 13 November 2015. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
2. Name change is mentioned in parish register of Th. Kingo, Odense (Regional Archive, Odense)
3. "The 22 Most Gorgeous Royal Wedding Tiara Moments of All Time (slide 18)". Harper's Bazaar Singapore. 28 March 2018. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
4. Hampson, Laura (8 December 2017). "Meet Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's new neighbours - the royals who live in Kensington Palace". London Evening Standard. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
5. . Official website of the Royal Family. Archived from the original on 20 September 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
6. "Tonga Mourns King's Death". CBS News. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
7. "His Majesty King George Tupou V of Tonga". The Daily Telegraph. 18 March 2012. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
8. "Meet MiHC Office Staff and Patrons across the UK". Music in Hospitals & Care. 27 July 2017. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
9. "A Royal Celebration of St Paul's Friends and Benefactors". St Paul's Cathedral. 13 July 2016. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
10. "HRH The Duchess of Gloucester becomes Royal Patron for Cathedral Music Trust". Cathedral Music Trust. 24 January 2022. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
11. . St John's School, Leatherhead. 5 March 2014. Archived from the original on 26 May 2018. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
12. "Our Royal Heritage". Royal Alexandra and Albert School. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
13. . The Children's Society. 1 October 2015. Archived from the original on 27 July 2020. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
14. "The Duchess of Gloucester, Patron". Parkinson's UK. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
15. "HRH The Duchess of Gloucester attends 'Hope for Youth Northern Ireland' gala dinner at Belfast City Hall". GOV.UK. 21 March 2012. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
16. "The Board of Scottish Opera". Retrieved 25 May 2018.
17. "Lawn Tennis Association pays tribute to Her Majesty The Queen". Lawn Tennis Association. 20 December 2016. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
18. "Royal School of Needlework". Retrieved 11 June 2019.
19. "Thank you". Turn2us. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
20. "Our Patrons and Ambassadors". Missing People. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
21. . Royal Academy of Music. Archived from the original on 10 April 2019. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
22. "Prostate Research receives royal attention". PR Newswire. 4 March 2003. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
23. "About The Prostate Centre". The Prostate Centre. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
24. . Royal Household. Archived from the original on 11 October 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
25. "No. 46574". The London Gazette. 16 May 1975. p. 6404.
26. Image pinimg.com
27. Longstaff, Emma (27 April 2023). "What medals are the royal family wearing?". Homes & Antiques. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
28. "Honours, Decorations and Medals". gov.uk. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
29. Milss, Rhiannon (23 April 2024). "King recognises Queen and Prince William in honours list and creates new role for Kate, Princess of Wales". Sky News. from the original on 23 April 2024. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
30. "Royal orders presented at Palace". Matangi Tonga Online. 1 August 2008. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
31. "TRH THE PRINCE OF WALES AND THE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL AWARDED WITH THE MEXICAN ORDER OF THE AZTEC EAGLE". Official website of the Mexican Embassy in the United Kingdom. Retrieved 11 April 2019.
32. . National Defence and the Canadian Forces. Archived from the original on 23 September 2012. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
33. "Further Military Appointments for Members of the Royal Family". The Royal Family. 11 August 2023. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
34. "No. 52834". The London Gazette (2nd supplement). 13 February 1992. p. 2582.
35. Ilse, Jess (30 June 2021). "What is a royal ship sponsor?". Royal Central. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
36. Jones, Tony (13 February 2024). "Fans fan Camilla made Honorary Liveryman in special ceremony". Evening Standard. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
37. Boutell, Charles; Brooke-Little, John Philip (1978). Boutell's Heraldry (8th (revised) ed.). Frederick Warne. p. 226. ISBN 9780723220961.

External links

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester.

• The Duchess of Gloucester at the Royal Family website
• Portraits of Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester at the National Portrait Gallery, London  
• Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester at IMDb

Orders of precedence in the United Kingdom
Preceded by Zara Tindall	Ladies HRH The Duchess of Gloucester	Succeeded by The Duchess of Kent