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Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester

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Birgitte
Duchess of Gloucester
File:HRH The Duchess of Gloucester.jpg
SpousePrince Richard, Duke of Gloucester
IssueAlexander Windsor, Earl of Ulster
Lady Davina Lewis
Lady Rose Gilman
Names
Birgitte Eva[1]
HouseHouse of Windsor
FatherAsger Preben Wissing Henriksen
MotherVivian van Deurs

Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester (Birgitte Eva(beer-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, who is a grandchild of King George V.

HRH The Duchess of Gloucester, with her husband, undertakes royal duties on behalf of the Duke's cousin, HM The Queen.

Early life

Birgitte was born Birgitte (beer-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. Their marriage took place on 8 July 1972 at St. Andrew's Church, Barnwell, Northamptonshire. 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 to the Dukedom and upon his father's death in 1974, the couple became TRH The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.

Together the couple have three children:

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 St Paul's Cathedral School and St John's School, Leatherhead and regularly attends functions at both schools.

Afther the death of Princess Diana[2] she became the president of the Royal Academy of Music[3]

Titles, styles, honours and arms

Royal family of
the United Kingdom and the
other Commonwealth realms
Badge of the House of Windsor
Royal styles of
Birgitte, The Duchess of Gloucester
Reference styleHer Royal Highness
Spoken styleYour Royal Highness
Alternative styleMa'am

Titles and styles

  • 20 June 1946 – 15 January 1966[4]: Miss Birgitte Henriksen
  • 15 January 1966 – 8 June 1972: Miss 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

The Duchess of Gloucester's style and title in full: Her Royal Highness Princess Richard Alexander Walter George, Duchess of Gloucester, Countess of Ulster and Baroness Culloden, Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order.

Honours

Honorary military appointments

British

Commonwealth Realms

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

References

  1. ^ As a titled royal, Birgitte holds no surname, but, when one is used, it is Windsor
  2. ^ "SPECIAL REPORT: PRINCESS DIANA, 1961-1997". SEPTEMBER 18, 1997. Retrieved 2010-01-30. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ^ "Governing Body". Retrieved 8 July 2009.
  4. ^ Name change is mentioned in parish register of Th. Kingo, Odense (Regional Archive, Odense)
Orders of precedence in the United Kingdom
Preceded by Ladies
HRH The Duchess of Gloucester 		Succeeded by

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