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Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester facts for kids

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Birgitte
Duchess of Gloucester (more)
The Duchess of Gloucester in her late sixties
Birgitte in 2015
Born Birgitte Eva van Deurs Henriksen
(1946-06-20) 20 June 1946 (age 78)
Odense, Denmark
Spouse
Issue
House Windsor (by marriage)
Father Asger Henriksen
Mother Vivian van Deurs


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 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. She took her mother's ancestral name van Deurs on 15 January 1966, after her parents' separation. 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.

Marriage and family

Duke and Duchess of Gloucester
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. They married on 8 July 1972 at St Andrew's Church, Barnwell, Northamptonshire. 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. 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.

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

Activities

The Duchess of Gloucester, Brisbane, March 1979
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. 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. Birgitte has also travelled overseas in support of her own patronages and military units, 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 Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV of Tonga on 19 September 2006. 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.

Coronation of Charles III and Camilla - Coronation Procession (68)
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. 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; 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, Birgitte became president of the Royal Academy of Music. She is also the patron of Prostate Cancer UK, and in March 2006, she opened the Prostate Centre.

Honours and arms

Country Date Appointment Ribbon Post-nominal

letters

Other
 United Kingdom 1973 Royal Family Order of Elizabeth II UK Royal Family Order of Queen Elizabeth II ribbon.svg
1975 Dame of Justice of the Order of St John Order of St John (UK) ribbon -vector.svg GCStJ
Service Medal of the Order of St John Service Medal of the Order of St John Ribbon.svg
1977 Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal UK Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal ribbon.svg
1978 Solomon Islands Independence Medal Solomon islands indendence medal.png
1989 Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order Royal Victorian Order UK ribbon.png GCVO
6 February 2002 Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal UK Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal ribbon.svg
6 February 2012 Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal QEII Diamond Jubilee Medal ribbon.svg
6 February 2022 Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal UK Queen EII Platinum Jubilee Medal ribbon.svg
6 May 2023 King Charles III Coronation Medal UK King Charles III Coronation Medal BAR.svg
2024 Royal Lady Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter Order of the Garter UK ribbon.svg LG
 Tonga 1 August 2008 Grand Cross with Collar of the Royal Order of the Crown of Tonga TON Order of the Crown of Tonga ribbon.svg
 Mexico 3 March 2015 Sash of the Mexican Order of the Aztec Eagle MEX Orden del Aguila Azteca 2011 Collar BAR.svg

Honorary military appointments

Australia
  • Australia Colonel-in-Chief, of the Royal Australian Army Educational Corps
Bermuda
Canada
  • Canada Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Canadian Dental Corps (January 2006 – present)
New Zealand
  • New Zealand Colonel-in-Chief, of the Royal New Zealand Army Educational Corps
United Kingdom
  • United Kingdom Colonel-in-Chief, of the Royal Army Dental Corps
  • United Kingdom Colonel-in-Chief, of the Adjutant General's Corps (2023–present; Deputy Colonel-in-Chief 1992–2023)
  • United Kingdom Royal Colonel, of the 7th (V) Battalion The Rifles
  • United Kingdom Lady Sponsor, of HMS Gloucester
  • United Kingdom Lady Sponsor, of HMS Sandown

Non-national titles and honours

  • 2005: Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Fan Makers

Arms

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

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Brígida de Gloucester para niños

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