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The Gloucesters

The Duchess of Gloucester at Royal Ascot as she celebrates her birthday

The Duchess of Gloucester has presented one of the first trophies at Royal Ascot on a special day – her 77th birthday.

The Duchess was on hand to award the prizes in the Coventry Stakes, which was won by River Tiber.

She is with her husband, the Duke of Gloucester.

The couple arrived in the royal procession as day one of Ascot got under way. Their Royal Highnesses were in the third carriage along with Lord and Lady Bamford.

Photo by Charlie Proctor

The Royal Family was led by King Charles III who arrived in the first carriage with Queen Camilla. They were accompanied by the Duke and Duchess of Wellington.

The Princess Royal also took part in the royal procession, travelling in the second carriage. With Her Royal Highness was Annabel Elliot, sister of Queen Camilla. Her Majesty’s nephew, Ben Elliot, and his wife, Mary-Clare accompanied them.

Waiting for them in the royal enclosure were Princess Beatrice and her husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, and Zara Tindall with her husband, Mike.

The Duchess of Gloucester was born Birgitte Van Deurs in Odense, Denmark on June 20th 1946. She married Prince Richard of Gloucester in July 1972. They became Duke and Duchess of Gloucester in 1974 and remain working members of the Royal Family.

About author

Lydia Starbuck is Jubilee and Associate Editor at Royal Central and the main producer and presenter of the Royal Central Podcast and Royal Central Extra. Lydia is also a pen name of June Woolerton who is a journalist and writer with over twenty years experience in TV, radio, print and online. Her latest book, A History of British Royal Jubilees, is out now. Her new book, The Mysterious Death of Katherine Parr, will be published in March 2024. June is an award winning reporter, producer and editor. She's appeared on outlets including BBC 5 Live, BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Local Radio and has also helped set up a commercial radio station. June is also an accomplished writer with a wide range of material published online and in print. She is the author of two novels, published as e-books. She is also a marriage registrar and ceremony celebrant.