Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Birgitte
Duchess of Gloucester (more)
Birgitte in 2015
Born	Birgitte Eva van Deurs Henriksen (1946-06-20) 20 June 1946 (age 79) 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

Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester, was born Birgitte Eva van Deurs Henriksen on June 20, 1946. She is a member of the British royal family, originally from Denmark. She is married to Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester. Prince Richard is a grandson of King George V.

Early Life and Education
Marriage and Family Life
Royal Duties and Activities
Honours and Military Appointments
Children
Images for kids
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Early Life and Education

Birgitte Eva van Deurs Henriksen was born in Odense, Denmark. She is the younger daughter of Asger Henriksen, a lawyer, and his wife, Vivian van Deurs. She went to school in Odense and also attended schools in Lausanne and Cambridge.

After her parents separated, she started using her mother's family name, van Deurs, on January 15, 1966. She studied Commercial and Economic Studies in Copenhagen for three years. In 1971, she moved back to the United Kingdom. She worked as a secretary at the Royal Danish Embassy in London.

Marriage and Family Life

The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester

Birgitte van Deurs Henriksen first met Prince Richard of Gloucester in the late 1960s. They met in Cambridge, where he was attending university. Prince Richard is the younger son of Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, and Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester.

Their engagement was announced in February 1972. They got married on July 8, 1972, at St Andrew's Church in Barnwell, Northamptonshire. Her wedding dress was designed by Norman Hartnell. It was made of Swiss organdie fabric. The dress had a high collar, a simple skirt, long sleeves, and a small train. Instead of a tiara, she wore stephanotis flowers in her hair to hold her veil. After her marriage, she became known as Her Royal Highness Princess Richard of Gloucester.

Just six weeks after their wedding, Prince Richard's older brother, Prince William of Gloucester, died in a flying accident. This meant Prince Richard unexpectedly became the next in line to inherit the title of Duke. When his father passed away in 1974, Prince Richard and Birgitte became the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.

The Duke and Duchess have three children. Their son, Alexander, was born in 1974. Their first daughter, Davina, was born in 1977. Their second daughter, Rose, was born in 1980. All their children were born at St Mary's Hospital, London. The Duke and Duchess officially live at Kensington Palace in London.

Royal Duties and Activities

The Duchess in Brisbane, 1979

The Duchess of Gloucester often joins the Duke of Gloucester on his official trips to other countries. Her first trip was in 1973. They represented Queen Elizabeth II at the 70th birthday party of King Olav V of Norway. They have traveled together to many places, including Australia, China, Denmark, Japan, New Zealand, and the United States.

Birgitte has also traveled on her own to support the organizations she helps. For example, she visited Iraq in December 2008. She and her husband represented the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh at the funeral of King Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV of Tonga in 2006. They also represented them at the coronation of King George Tupou V of Tonga in 2008.

The Duke and Duchess riding in the Scottish State Coach after the coronation on May 6, 2023

The Duchess is the sponsor of two Royal Navy ships: HMS Gloucester and HMS Sandown. She is also a royal patron of the Bermuda Regiment. She supports many charities and organizations. These include SeeAbility, which helps people with learning disabilities and sight loss. She also supports The Lullaby Trust, a charity that works to prevent unexpected deaths in babies. Another group she helps is Music in Hospitals & Care.

She regularly attends events at schools and organizations where she is president or patron. These include St Paul's Cathedral School, the Royal Alexandra and Albert School, and the Children's Society. After the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, Birgitte became president of the Royal Academy of Music. She is also a patron of Prostate Cancer UK. In March 2006, she opened the Prostate Centre.

Honours and Military Appointments

The Duchess of Gloucester has received many honours and awards. These include medals for the Queen's Jubilee celebrations. In 1989, she became a Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order. In 2024, she became a Royal Lady Companion of the Order of the Garter, which is a very high honour.

She also holds honorary military appointments in several countries.

Australia

Colonel-in-Chief, of the Royal Australian Army Educational Corps

Bermuda

Colonel-in-Chief, of the Royal Bermuda Regiment

Canada

Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Canadian Dental Corps (since January 2006)

New Zealand

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

United Kingdom

Colonel-in-Chief, of the Adjutant General's Corps (since 2023; she was Deputy Colonel-in-Chief from 1992 to 2023)
Deputy Colonel-in-Chief, of the Royal Army Medical Service (since 2024)
Royal Colonel, of the 7th (V) Battalion The Rifles

Children

The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester have three children.

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