Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester

Early life and education

Birgitte Eva van Deurs Henriksen was born on 20 June 1946 in Odense, Denmark, the younger daughter of lawyer Asger Preben Wissing Henriksen 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

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, while she was attending finishing school, and he was taking undergraduate courses in architecture. 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, Richard's elder brother, Prince William of Gloucester, was killed in a flying accident. 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.

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. 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 Tāufaāhau 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.

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. 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

Honours

Honorary military appointments

; Australia

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

; Bermuda

• BER Colonel-in-Chief, of the Royal Bermuda Regiment (2006–present)

; Canada

• CAN Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Canadian Dental Corps (January 2006 – present)

; New Zealand

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

; United Kingdom

• UK Colonel-in-Chief, of the Royal Army Dental Corps
• UK Colonel-in-Chief, of the Adjutant General's Corps (2023–present; Deputy Colonel-in-Chief 1992–2023)
• UK Colonel-in-Chief, of the Royal Irish Rangers
• UK Deputy Colonel-in-Chief, of the Royal Army Medical Service (2024–present)
• UK Royal Colonel, of the 7th (V) Battalion The Rifles
• UK Lady Sponsor, of
• UK Lady Sponsor, of

Non-national titles and honours

• 1991: Honorary Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Basketmakers
• Honorary Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Drapers
• 2005: Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Fan Makers
• Honorary Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Gold and Silver Wyre Drawers
• Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Vintners

Arms

motto: Honi soit qui mal y pense (Shame be to him who thinks evil of it).

Issue

References

References

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