Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, 80, share look of love in spellbinding portrait to mark special milestone

Congratulations are in order for the Duchess of Gloucester, who turned 80 on Saturday.

The first cousin of Queen Elizabeth II marked the special occasion with a beautiful portrait alongside her husband, Prince Richard, 81, in the gardens of Buckingham Palace.

Alongside the image, shared on the official Instagram account for the British Royal family, “Happy 80th Birthday to The Duchess of Gloucester!  Thank you for all the well wishes on Her Royal Highness’s special day. The Duchess is pictured alongside The Duke of Gloucester in the gardens of Buckingham Palace, by @ChrisJacksonGetty.”

The photo showed the couple – who tied the knot in 1972 at St Andrew’s Church in Barnwell, Northamptonshire – sharing a look of love in the sprawling palace gardens. The Duchess sat poised on a bench, glancing up at her husband, who affectionately placed his arm around her shoulders. 

For the photograph, Danish-born Birgitte wore a beautiful Ulrich Engler fitted-collar dress in sage green, featuring a buttoned bodice, a matching belt, and a flared, pleated midi skirt.

The comments section was filled with special messages for the Duchess, including from royal photographer Chris Jackson, who penned: “A very special photoshoot – Thank you for the opportunity and Happy Birthday.”

“What a beautiful photo,” one follower added. Another penned: “Sweet,” alongside a heart-eyes emoji.

The photo, along with two others, was originally shared just a few hours before Birgitte’s big milestone.

The Duke and Duchess 

As working senior royals, the Gloucesters carry out hundreds of engagements a year and usually attend high-profile events such as the Commonwealth Day service, Trooping the Colour and state visits. 

While the royal couple always have a busy royal calendar, their three children, Alexander Windsor, Earl of Ulster, Lady Davina Windsor and Lady Rose Gilman, have carved out their own careers. The Duke and Duchess also have six grandchildren.

Richard – who is the grandson of King George V – pursued a career as an architect until 1972, when his elder brother, Prince William, was killed in a plane crash. The tragedy made Richard the heir to his father, Prince Henry’s Dukedom and led to greater public responsibilities. After Prince Henry’s death in 1974, Richard succeeded him as the Duke of Gloucester.