The Duchess of Gloucester was in high spirits today as she attended the Freedom of Winchester Parade – despite the pouring rain.
Birgitte van Deurs, 76, who is married to the late Queen’s cousin Prince Richard of Gloucester, was beaming with joy as she watched the parade take place in the city today.
During the event, the Duchess wore a smart white coat, and could be seen carrying her own umbrella.
She opted for minimal makeup, with a sweep of light eyeshadow and pale pink lipstick to complete her look.
Local people and visitors were invited to enjoy the spectacle of a ‘freedom parade’ by the Adjutant General’s Corps in Winchester.
The right of ‘Freedom of Entry’ to the city is an ancient privilege and allows a Regiment to parade through Winchester with ‘bayonets fixed, drums beating and colours flying’.
The Duchess of Gloucester was in high spirits today as she attended the Freedom of Winchester Parade – despite the pouring rain
Birgitte van Deurs, 76, who is married to the late Queen’s cousin Prince Richard of Gloucester, was beaming with joy as she watched the parade take place in the city today
Military took part in the Freedom of Winchester Parade earlier today, while members of the public watched on
It comes from a period in history when only trusted units would be allowed to carry arms within city boundaries.
The City Council awarded Freedom of Entry to the former Royal Army Pay Corps on 27 October 1970.
The Pay Corps was amalgamated when the Adjutant General’s Corps was formed and the City Council formally transferred the honour to the new Corps on 11 April 1996.
The event is in the morning with the troops and band ‘stepping off’ from Peninsula Barracks, marching down the High Street, forming up in the Broadway, moving off around the King Alfred statue, marching to the Cathedral for a service and finally returning to the Guildhall for a civic reception.
Crowds gathered to watch the Freedom of Winchester parade earlier this afternoon, despite the rain
Her husband was born Prince Richard of Gloucester and met his Danish future wife, Birgitte van Deurs, who was studying at the Bell School of Languages, at Cambridge University in 1965.
He was working as an architect but cut his career short when his older brother Prince William of Gloucester tragically died in a plane crash seven weeks after their marriage.
Richard then became the heir to his father, Henry, Duke of Gloucester- one of George VI’s brothers.
Lord Lieutenants inspected the troops in the rain at the Freedom of Winchester Parade (pictured)
The event is in the morning with the troops and band ‘stepping off’ from Peninsula Barracks, marching down the High Street, forming up in the Broadway, moving off around the King Alfred statue, marching to the Cathedral for a service and finally returning to the Guildhall for a civic reception.
Prince Richard and Birgitte had not expected to embark on a life of duty but did so after their marriage when he became the heir.
They have spent 50 years as working royals and visited charities and organisations carrying out hundreds of engagements together for sectors such as humanitarian issues, the environment and veterans.
These are listed in the daily Court Circular but rarely reported on in the media.
Second to Princess Anne, the Duke of Gloucester was named as one of the hardest-working royals, with 13 engagements booked in for July.
The Duchess appeared in good spirits despite the poor weather, and was pictured chatting with fellow attendees
Alongside his wife, they were named the hardest-working royal couple, with a total of 22 events combined for July.
The duke reportedly had a close relationship with his first cousin the Queen and saw his role as supporting her and helping to share the responsibility of regional visits.
He also represented her at events over the last decade and appeared at several occasions for her Platinum Jubilee celebrations including Trooping the Colour and Party at the Palace.
The Duke and Duchess were photographed on the balcony at the Trooping the Colour RAF flypast this year.
They appeared as part of a slimmed-down Royal Family line-up for the event, alongside other royals.
Other royals who appeared were: The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their children, The Earl and Countess of Wessex and their children, The Princess Royal and Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, the Duke of Kent and Princess Alexandra.
The Gloucesters have three children – the Earl of Ulster, Lady Davina Windsor and Lady Rose Gilman.
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