Half a century ago today, a relatively obscure member of the British Royal Family tied the knot with his beautiful European bride. Prince Richard, the second son of the then Duke of Gloucester, was a cousin of Her Majesty The late Queen Elizabeth II, while his new wife, Birgitte van Deurs Henriksen, worked for the Danish embassy. As a younger son, Richard was not expected to inherit the dukedom, and his wedding reflected that: low-key, with no pomp or ceremony, it took place in a country parish, St Andrew’s Church, a short walk from the Gloucesters’ family seat, Barnwell Manor. The bride carried the train of her Norman Hartnell gown into the church, sheltering from the drizzle, and wore no tiara atop her head, a right of passage for royal brides.
Yet two years later, Richard was the Duke of Gloucester, following the death of his father at age 74, and the sudden and tragic death of his older brother, Prince William, in a plane crash. In the intervening years, the Gloucesters have become two of Her Majesty's most valued family members, undertaking numerous royal engagements representing the late Queen Elizabeth II. They have also gone on to become parents to three children, Alexander Windsor, Earl of Ulster, Lady Davina Windsor, and Lady Rose Gilman, with six grandchildren between them.
In 2022, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary, marking 50 years of marriage. In recognition of this milestone, Buckingham Palace released a brand new photograph of the couple, showing them in the garden of their Kensington Palace home. In the picture, the duchess wore a brooch designed by the duke, with an entwined ‘R’ and ‘B’.
The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester were particularly active during the late Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations, being among the senior royal contingent on the balcony for Trooping the Colour.
Today, she is celebrating her wedding anniversary with an appearance at Wimbledon, sitting in the Royal Box alongside Debbie Jevans.
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