Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester explained

Birgitte
Duchess of Gloucester (more)
Birth Name:Birgitte Eva van Deurs Henriksen
Birth Date:20 June 1946
Birth Place:Odense, Denmark
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.[1] She took her mother's ancestral name van Deurs on 15 January 1966, after her parents' separation.[2] [3] 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.[1]

Marriage and family

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.[1] They married on 8 July 1972 at St Andrew's Church, Barnwell, Northamptonshire.[1] 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.[4] 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.[1]

The couple have three children: Alexander (born 1974), Davina (born 1977), and Rose (born 1980). They were born at St Mary's Hospital, London.[1] The Duke and Duchess officially reside at Kensington Palace.[5]

Activities

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.[6] Birgitte has also travelled overseas in support of her own patronages and military units, including a visit to Iraq in December 2008.[6]

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.[7] 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.[8]

Birgitte is sponsor of two Royal Navy ships: and . 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.[9] 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;[10] the Cathedral Music Trust;[11] St John's School, Leatherhead;[12] Bridewell Royal Hospital (King Edward's School, Witley); the Royal Alexandra and Albert School;[13] the Children's Society;[14] Parkinson's UK;[15] Hope for Youth Northern Ireland;[16] Scottish Opera;[17] Lawn Tennis Association;[18] the Royal School of Needlework;[19] Turn2us;[20] Missing People;[21] and Princess Helena College. After the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, Birgitte became president of the Royal Academy of Music.[22] She is also the patron of Prostate Cancer UK,[23] and in March 2006, she opened the Prostate Centre.[24]

Honours and arms

See also: List of honours of the British royal family by country.

Foreign

Honorary military appointments

Australia
Bermuda
Canada
New Zealand
United Kingdom

Non-national titles and honours

Arms

the Duchess of Gloucester
Bannerimage:Garter Banner of Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester.svg
Notes:The coat of arms of the Duchess of Gloucester, depicting her husband's armorial bearings surmounted by an escutcheon of pretence granted to her by Royal Warrant.[36]
Year Adopted:18 July 1973
Coronet:Coronet of a grandchild of the sovereign.
Escutcheon:The Duke of Gloucester's arms and in the centre an escutcheon of pretence Azure a lapwing proper, on a chief Or two pairs of ostrich feathers in saltire Sable
Supporters:The Royal Supporters differenced with the like coronet and label.
Orders:The Garter circlet;
motto: Honi soit qui mal y pense (Shame be to him who thinks evil of it).
Banner:Banner of her arms as Royal Lady Companion of the Garter depicted at St George's Chapel
Previous Versions: The Duchess of Gloucester's previous arms featuring the circlet of the Royal Victorian Order (1989−2024)

Issue

NameBirthMarriageIssue
24 October 1974 22 June 2002 Claire Booth Xan Windsor, Lord Culloden
Lady Cosima Windsor
19 November 1977 31 July 2004
Divorced 2018
Gary Lewis Senna Lewis
Tāne Lewis
1 March 1980 19 July 2008 George Gilman Lyla Gilman
Rufus Gilman

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Duchess of Gloucester. The Royal Family . 24 October 2017. 13 November 2015 .
  2. Name change is mentioned in parish register of Th. Kingo, Odense (Regional Archive, Odense)
  3. Web site: Hughes . Janet . 2023-01-28 . The accidental Duchess of Gloucester who married royal 'spare' . 2024-08-18 . Gloucestershire Live . en.
  4. Web site: The 22 Most Gorgeous Royal Wedding Tiara Moments of All Time (slide 18). Harper's Bazaar Singapore. 28 March 2018. 15 May 2018.
  5. News: Hampson. Laura. Meet Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's new neighbours - the royals who live in Kensington Palace. 12 December 2017. London Evening Standard. 8 December 2017.
  6. Web site: The Duchess of Gloucester – Public role . Official website of the Royal Family . 11 September 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120920215216/http://www.royal.gov.uk/ThecurrentRoyalFamily/TheDuchessofGloucester/Publicrole.aspx . 20 September 2012 .
  7. Web site: Tonga Mourns King's Death. CBS News. 25 May 2018.
  8. News: His Majesty King George Tupou V of Tonga. The Daily Telegraph. 18 March 2012. 25 May 2018.
  9. Web site: Meet MiHC Office Staff and Patrons across the UK. 27 July 2017. Music in Hospitals & Care. 5 May 2018.
  10. Web site: A Royal Celebration of St Paul's Friends and Benefactors. St Paul's Cathedral. 13 July 2016. 25 May 2018.
  11. Web site: HRH The Duchess of Gloucester becomes Royal Patron for Cathedral Music Trust. Cathedral Music Trust. 24 January 2022. 24 January 2022.
  12. Web site: Royal Visit. St John's School, Leatherhead. 5 March 2014. 25 May 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180526112819/https://www.stjohnsleatherhead.co.uk/View-News-Plustweets.aspx?id=195. 26 May 2018. dead.
  13. Web site: Our Royal Heritage. Royal Alexandra and Albert School. 25 May 2018.
  14. Web site: HRH The Duchess of Gloucester visits The Children's Society in Manchester. The Children's Society. 1 October 2015. 25 May 2018. 27 July 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200727000430/https://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/news-and-blogs/press-releases/hrh-the-duchess-of-gloucester-gcvo-visits-the-children%E2%80%99s-society-in. dead.
  15. Web site: The Duchess of Gloucester, Patron. Parkinson's UK. 25 May 2018.
  16. Web site: HRH The Duchess of Gloucester attends 'Hope for Youth Northern Ireland' gala dinner at Belfast City Hall. GOV.UK. 21 March 2012. 25 May 2018.
  17. Web site: The Board of Scottish Opera. 25 May 2018.
  18. Web site: Lawn Tennis Association pays tribute to Her Majesty The Queen. Lawn Tennis Association. 20 December 2016. 25 May 2018.
  19. Web site: Royal School of Needlework. 11 June 2019.
  20. Web site: Thank you. Turn2us. 22 July 2022.
  21. Web site: Our Patrons and Ambassadors. Missing People. 7 December 2022.
  22. Web site: About us - Governing Body. Royal Academy of Music. 2019-12-15. 10 April 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190410204049/https://www.ram.ac.uk/about-us/about-the-academy/management/governing-body. dead.
  23. News: Prostate Research receives royal attention . PR Newswire. 4 March 2003. 26 May 2015.
  24. News: About The Prostate Centre . The Prostate Centre. 26 May 2015.
  25. Web site: The Duchess of Gloucester: Honours . Royal Household . 1 January 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131011021918/http://www.royal.gov.uk/ThecurrentRoyalFamily/TheDuchessofGloucester/Honours.aspx . 11 October 2013 .
  26. https://i.pinimg.com/originals/63/4a/c9/634ac916de4f7767735f8b59b1e58e0b.jpg Image
  27. Web site: What medals are the royal family wearing?. Homes & Antiques. Emma. Longstaff. 27 April 2023. 19 January 2024.
  28. Web site: Honours, Decorations and Medals. gov.uk. 19 January 2024.
  29. News: Milss. Rhiannon. King recognises Queen and Prince William in honours list and creates new role for Kate, Princess of Wales. https://web.archive.org/web/20240423152048/https://news.sky.com/story/king-recognises-queen-and-prince-william-in-honours-list-and-creates-new-role-for-kate-princess-of-wales-13121607. 23 April 2024. Sky News. 23 April 2024. 23 April 2024. live.
  30. Web site: Royal orders presented at Palace. Matangi Tonga Online. 1 August 2008. 26 May 2018.
  31. Web site: TRH THE PRINCE OF WALES AND THE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL AWARDED WITH THE MEXICAN ORDER OF THE AZTEC EAGLE. Official website of the Mexican Embassy in the United Kingdom. 11 April 2019.
  32. Web site: Colonel-In-Chief of the CFDS. National Defence and the Canadian Forces. 25 May 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20120923053519/http://www.forces.gc.ca/health-sante/au-sn/bio/cic-ds-sd-eng.asp. 23 September 2012.
  33. Web site: Further Military Appointments for Members of the Royal Family. The Royal Family. 11 August 2023. 11 August 2023.
  34. Web site: What is a royal ship sponsor?. Royal Central. Jess. Ilse. 30 June 2021. 30 June 2021.
  35. News: Fans fan Camilla made Honorary Liveryman in special ceremony. Evening Standard. Tony. Jones. 13 February 2024. 13 February 2024.
  36. Book: Boutell's Heraldry. 1978. Charles . Boutell. John Philip . Brooke-Little. Frederick Warne. 226. 8th (revised). 9780723220961.