Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester

Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester (Birgitte Eva(bree-gee-tae); formerly van Deurs; born Henriksen, 20 June 1946) is a member of the British Royal Family, the wife of Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester, a grandchild of George V.

The Duchess of Gloucester, with her husband, undertakes royal duties on behalf of the Duke's cousin, Elizabeth II.

Early life

Birgitte was born Birgitte (bree-gee-tae) Eva Henriksen, in Odense, Denmark, the younger daughter of Asger Preben Knud Wissing Henriksen, a lawyer, and his wife, Vivian van Deurs. She took her mother's last name, van Deurs, when her parents separated.

Birgitte moved to Cambridge, England and also worked at the Danish embassy in London.

Marriage

In February 1972, Birgitte became engaged to Prince Richard of Gloucester, the second eldest son of The Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester and Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester. The marriage took place on 8 July 1972 at St. Andrew's Church, Barnwell, Northamptonshire. At that date she was styled Her Royal Highness Princess Richard of Gloucester.

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

Together the couple have three children:

• Alexander Windsor, Earl of Ulster (born 24 October 1974)
• The Lady Davina Lewis (born 19 November 1977)
• The Lady Rose Gilman (born 1 March 1980)

Their children do not carry out any royal duties.

Official role

The Duchess of Gloucester is patron of a large number of organisations, many of which have medical, educational or welfare connections. She has also accompanied the Duke of Gloucester on his official visits overseas: her first such visit was in 1973, when The Duke and Duchess represented The Queen at the 70th birthday celebrations of King Olav V of Norway.

The Duchess is sponsor of two Royal Navy Ships: HMS Gloucester and HMS Sandown. The Duchess is the patron of the St Paul's Cathedral School and regularly attends school functions.

Titles, styles, honours and arms

Titles and styles

• 20 June 1946 – 15 January 1966: Frøken Birgitte Henriksen
• 15 January 1966 – 8 June 1972: Frøken Birgitte van Deurs
• 8 June 1972 – 10 June 1974: Her Royal Highness Princess Richard of Gloucester
• 10 June 1974 –: Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Gloucester

Honours

• GCVO: Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order, 23 June 1989
• DStJ: Dame of the Order of St. John
• GCStJ: Dame Grand Cross of the Order of St. John
• Royal Family Order of Queen Elizabeth II

Honorary military appointments

British

• Colonel-in-Chief, of the Royal Irish Rangers (until 1992)
• Colonel-in-Chief, of the Royal Army Dental Corps
• Deputy Colonel-in-Chief, of the Adjutant General's Corps
• Royal Colonel, of the 7th (V) Battalion The Rifles

Commonwealth Realms

• Colonel-in-Chief, Canadian Forces Dental Service
• Colonel-in-Chief, Royal Australian Army Educational Corps
• Colonel-in-Chief, Royal New Zealand Army Educational Corps
• Colonel-in-Chief, Bermuda Regiment

External links

• The Duchess of Gloucester at the official Royal website

References