Birgitte, born in Denmark, married Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester (a nephew of King George V and Queen Mary) in 1972. She met her husband while working in England after graduating from Cambridge. Six weeks after the wedding, Richard’s older brother and heir to the dukedom, Prince William of Gloucester, died in a plane crash near Wolverhampton. In 1974, following the death of Richard’s father, Prince Henry, the couple officially became the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester. They have three children, Alexander, Davina and Rose, and currently live at Kensington Palace.
Although she has been a member of the royal family since 1972, Princess Birgitte has maintained a low-key, low-key lifestyle to the point where many people don’t even recognise her. However, in recent years, she has quietly increased the number of royal events she attends. She has become a strong pillar of support for the royal family, especially during the time when King Charles and Princess Kate were treated for cancer.
Princess Birgitte’s dedication and hard work are reflected in the impressive number of events she has attended: 5,000 in 40 years of service. Last year, at the age of 78, she attended 110 events. The Princess regularly supports charities related to youth, Parkinson’s disease, arts and sports.
In March, she joined Queen Camilla and Queen Mathilde of Belgium at a reception at Buckingham Palace to mark International Women’s Day. In February, she and Queen Camilla presented the Queen’s medals to universities and colleges.
Her appearance at these events has delighted Royal fans. Princess Birgitte is the perfect example of noble dignity through quiet devotion. She has become a true “unsung hero” of the British Royal Family.