Birgitte, Duchess Of Gloucester

Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester (born Birgitte Eva van Deurs Henriksen) was born on 20 June 1946 in Odense, Denmark. She is a member of the Danish royal family by nationality and a British royal by marriage. Her parents were lawyer Asger Preben Wissing Henriksen and Vivian van Deurs.

For her education, she attended schools in Odense and later completed finishing schools in Lausanne and Cambridge. In 1966, she adopted her mother’s ancestral surname, van Deurs, following her parents’ separation. She further completed a three-year course in Commercial and Economic Studies in Copenhagen.

In 1971, she relocated to the United Kingdom to work as a secretary at the Royal Danish Embassy in London. During her time in Cambridge in the late 1960s, she met Prince Richard of Gloucester, the younger son of Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, and Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester. The couple announced their engagement in February 1972 and married on 8 July 1972 at St Andrew's Church in Barnwell, Northamptonshire. Her wedding dress was designed by Norman Hartnell; it was made of Swiss organdie featuring a high collar, a simple skirt, long sleeves, and a small train. She wore stephanotis flowers in her hair instead of a tiara.

Following their marriage, she was styled as Her Royal Highness Princess Richard of Gloucester. The Duke and Duchess's elder son, Alexander, was born in 1974; their daughter Davina in 1977; and their younger daughter Rose in 1980. All three children were born at St Mary’s Hospital in London. The couple resides at Kensington Palace.

In the period shortly after their marriage, Prince Richard's elder brother, Prince William of Gloucester, died in a flying accident, which led Richard to become heir apparent to the dukedom. When their father, the Duke of Gloucester, passed away in 1974, Richard inherited the title, and she became the Duchess of Gloucester.

The Duchess has participated in numerous official visits abroad alongside her husband. Their first such visit was in 1973 to Norway, where they represented the Queen at King Olav V’s 70th birthday celebrations. Other international visits have included countries such as 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. She has traveled for her patronages and military units as well, including a visit to Iraq in December 2008.

Together with her husband, she represented the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh at the state funeral of King Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV of Tonga in 2006 and at the coronation of King George Tupou V of Tonga in 2008.

The Duchess holds patronage and sponsor roles for various organizations and military units. She is a sponsor of the Royal Navy ships HMS Gloucester and HMS Sandown, and she is the patron of the Bermuda Regiment, SeeAbility, The Lullaby Trust, and Music in Hospitals & Care. She regularly attends functions at several educational and charitable institutions, including St Paul’s Cathedral School, the Children's Society, Parkinson's UK, Scottish Opera, the Lawn Tennis Association, the Royal School of Needlework, Turn2us, Missing People, and Princess Helena College. Following the death of Princess Diana, she became president of the Royal Academy of Music. She is also a patron of Prostate Cancer UK and opened the Prostate Centre in March 2006.

Her honorary military appointments include roles such as Colonel-in-Chief of various military units in Australia, Bermuda, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. Additionally, she has been recognized as an Honorary Liveryman and Freeman within several livery companies in London.

Her coat of arms, titles, and honors are documented, reflecting her roles and recognition within the United Kingdom and Commonwealth.

Her children are Alexander (born 1974), Davina (born 1977), and Rose (born 1980).