Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester

Birgitte Duchess of Gloucester (more) Spouse Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester (m. 1972) Issue Alexander Windsor, Earl of Ulster Lady Davina Lewis Lady Rose Gilman Full name Birgitte Eva House House of Windsor Father Asger Henriksen Mother Vivian van Deurs Born (1946-06-20) 20 June 1946 Odense, Denmark Religion Christian (Anglican)

The Royal Family of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms HM The Queen HRH The Duke of Edinburgh HRH The Prince of Wales HRH The Duchess of Cornwall HRH The Duke of Cambridge HRH The Duchess of Cambridge HRH Prince Harry of Wales HRH The Duke of York HRH Princess Beatrice of York HRH Princess Eugenie of York HRH The Earl of Wessex HRH The Countess of Wessex Viscount Severn Lady Louise Windsor HRH The Princess Royal HRH The Duke of Gloucester HRH The Duchess of Gloucester HRH The Duke of Kent HRH The Duchess of Kent HRH Prince Michael of Kent HRH Princess Michael of Kent HRH Princess Alexandra

Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester GCVO GCStJ (Birgitte Eva; formerly van Deurs; born Henriksen, 20 June 1946), is the wife of Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester, who is a grandchild of King George V.

Together with her husband, Birgitte undertakes royal duties on behalf of her cousin-in-law, Queen Elizabeth II.

Early life

Birgitte was born Birgitte 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 ancestral 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 younger son of Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester and Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester. The groom designed her coral and silver engagement ring. Their marriage took place on 8 July 1972 at St Andrew's Church, Barnwell, Northamptonshire. The bride's wedding dress was designed by Norman Hartnell. At that time, 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 apparent to the dukedom and upon his father's death in 1974, the couple became the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.

Together the couple have three children:

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

Their children, formally being non-royal, have no obligation to carry out official duties.

Official role

The Duchess of Gloucester is patron of a large number of organizations, many of which have medical, educational or welfare connections. She attends meetings, such as the Governing Body of the Royal Academy of Music and the Council of the Lawn Tennis Association. She will periodically support The Queen at official engagements such as State Banquets, religious services, garden parties and receptions. She has also accompanied the Duke of Gloucester on his official visits overseas: her first such 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, 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 Taufa'ahau Tupou IV of Tonga on September 19 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 Nuku'alofa.

Birgitte is sponsor of two Royal Navy ships: HMS Gloucester and HMS Sandown. She is patron of Bliss, the special care baby charity, as well of St Paul's Cathedral School, St John's School, Leatherhead and Bridewell Royal Hospital (King Edward's School, Witley) and regularly attends functions at all three schools.

After the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, Birgitte became President of the Royal Academy of Music.

Titles, styles, honours and arms

Titles and styles

• 20 June 1946 – 15 January 1966: Miss Birgitte Eva Henriksen
• 15 January 1966 – 8 June 1972: Miss Birgitte Eva 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

Birgitte's full style and titles are: Her Royal Highness Princess Richard, Duchess of Gloucester, Countess of Ulster and Baroness Culloden, Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order, Dame Grand Cross of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem.

Honours

See also List of honours of the British Royal Family by country

• GCVO: Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order, 23 June 1989
• GCStJ: Dame Grand Cross of the Order of St. John, 2009
  • (DJStJ: Dame of Justice of the Order of St. John, 1974)
• Member of the Royal Family Order of Queen Elizabeth II, 1973
• Service Medal of the Order of St John, 1975
• Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal, 1977
• Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal, 2002
• Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, 2012

Foreign Honours

• Dame Grand Commander of the Order of the Crown of Tonga, 2008

Honorary military appointments

Australia

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

Bermuda

• Colonel-in-Chief, of the Bermuda Regiment

Canada

• Colonel-in-Chief, of the Canadian Forces Dental Services (January 2006 – present) [1]

New Zealand

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

United Kingdom

• 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

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 Lewis	19 November 1977	31 July 2004	Gary Lewis	Senna Lewis Tāne Mahuta Lewis
Lady Rose Gilman	1 March 1980	19 July 2008	George Gilman	Lyla Gilman

External links

• The Duchess of Gloucester at the official Royal website

References

Orders of precedence in the United Kingdom
Preceded by Lady Sarah Chatto	Ladies HRH The Duchess of Gloucester	Succeeded by The Duchess of Kent