The Duchess of Gloucester is known for her quiet devotion to public service and hard work, having attended an astounding 5,000 engagements during her 40 years of service.
Birgitte, the Duchess of Gloucester, has become an unsung hero in recent years having attended a handful of events alongside Queen Camilla while King Charles and Princess Kate underwent cancer treatment.
Danish-born Birgitte has become the perfect example of quiet dignity by gracefully increasing her number of Royal engagements in recent years to help hold down the fort.
Despite marrying into the Royal Family in 1972 Birgitte has maintained a largely unseen profile with many even failing to recognise her.
The full-time working member of the Royal Family carries out hundreds of engagements every year and often supports charities related to young people, Parkinson’s disease, arts and sports, among others.
Last year the 78-year-old carried out 110 Royal engagements, according to reports.
Birgitte has been married to Richard, Duke of Gloucester and grandson of King George V and Queen Mary, since 1972, having met him at Cambridge when she came over to the UK to work after growing up in Denmark.
The Duke of Gloucester is the first cousin of Queen Elizabeth II.
However, six weeks after their wedding, his older brother and heir apparent to the dukedom, Prince William of Gloucester was killed in a flying accident near Wolverhampton.
Thus the couple became the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester upon Richard’s father, Prince Henry’s death in 1974.
The couple have three children together – Alexander, Davina and Rose – and they currently reside at Kensington Palace alongside other royals.
