Who is the Duchess of Gloucester? The Royal Queen Camilla has been relying on during official engagements

As King Charles takes a step back from royal outings for a while, other Royals have had to step up to fill in his shoes. As many know, the number of working Royals has been limited since Charles became King.

Indeed, Prince Andrew was forced to step down and doesn’t undertake official Royal business. Prince Harry and Meghan stepped down back in 2020 and moved to the US. This leaves just a handful of working Royals who are well-known to the public, Princess Anne, Prince Edward, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, Prince William and Princess Kate.

However, Princess Kate is also currently out of action as she recovers from abdominal surgery, with the help of her live-in nanny, Maria Borrallo. This means that the Firm is asking help from lesser-known Royals to help fulfil duties. Queen Camilla attended an event with the Duchess of Gloucester.

Who is the Duchess of Gloucester?

Brigitte, the Duchess of Gloucester is married to Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester. Prince Richard is the late Queen Elizabeth’s first cousin, making him King Charles’ first cousin once removed, as per People.

The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester are lesser-known Royals but they are working Royals. They tend to fulfil their duties away from the media. Queen Elizabeth’s cousins live at Kensington Palace.

As per the Royal Family website, the Duchess of Gloucester travels across the UK as well as overseas every year. Many of her engagements are for more than 60 organisations to which she is connected, from the arts to the military, including sport, health, welfare and education.

Some of the charities the Duchess of Gloucester is connected to are the Lawn Tennis Association, The Children's Society, the Friends of St Paul's Cathedral to Parkinson's UK, Hope for Youth Northern Ireland and Scottish Opera.

The Duchess of Gloucester joins Queen Camilla for an outing

As mentioned before, the Duchess of Gloucester joined Queen Camilla for an engagement at Buckingham Palace on Thursday, February 22. The event was a ceremony for the Queen's Anniversary Prizes for Higher and Further Education for 2022-2024.

This wasn’t the first event that Brigitte, Duchess of Gloucester attended with Queen Camilla. Indeed, as reported by OK!, the Duchess of Gloucester accompanied Queen Camilla to a reception at Clarence House as an Honorary Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Fan Makers.

Even though the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester aren’t always in the limelight, the Royal couple had a prominent place at Queen Elizabeth’s funeral - not surprising as they were cousins.

Moreover, they were present at King Charles’ coronation in May 2023 and the first Trooping the Colour in honour of King Charles. Prince Richard and Brigitte also accompanied King Charles and Queen Camilla to church at St. Mary Magdalene at Sandringham on New Year’s Eve.

As the Firm adapts to having two main Royals out of action, we will likely see more of the Duchess of Gloucester and other lesser-known Royals.

Read more:

⋙ Royal Family: There are 11 working Royals and this is how they get their salary

⋙ Queen Camilla’s niece Ayesha Shand opens up about her endometriosis struggle: Here’s what we know

⋙ UK Government has changed their logo to mark King Charles' reign

Sources used:

People: ‘Queen Camilla Steps Out with Lesser-Known Working Royal amid King Charles' Cancer Diagnosis’

OK!: ‘Queen Camilla supported by rarely-seen royal standing in for King Charles amid cancer battle’

Royal.uk: ‘The Duchess of Gloucester’