the queen’s cousin, the duke of Gloucester and his wife de Duchess of Gloucester are celebrating their golden wedding anniversary.
The couple – who have supported the monarch for decades by performing official royal duties – celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Friday and their milestone was marked with a new portrait.
Richard and Birgitte, who married on July 8, 1972, were photographed earlier this week in the garden of their Kensington Palace home.
The Duke, 77, stood with his arm proudly around his wife’s shoulder, while the smiling Duchess, in an appropriate golden shirt dress and gold chain necklaces, held her glasses in her hand.
Birgitte, 76, also wore a precious brooch designed by her husband and made of an entwined R and B.
Born Prince Richard of Gloucester, the Duke met his Danish future wife Birgitte van Deurs in 1965, who was studying at the Bell School of Languages at Cambridge University.
He ended a promising career as an architect when his older brother Prince William of Gloucester was tragically killed in a plane crash seven weeks after their wedding.
Richard bore the royal responsibility as his father’s heir, HenryDuke of Gloucester – one of George VI’s brothers.
The newlywed Gloucesters embarked on a dutiful life they hadn’t expected.
They have spent 50 years working as royals, visiting charities and organizations and performing hundreds of royal assignments, which are mentioned in the daily Court Circular but rarely reported in the media.
The Duke sees his role as supporting his cousin de Queen and helping share the responsibility of regional visits.
The Gloucesters have three children: the Earl of Ulster, Lady Davina Windsor and Lady Rose Gilman.