The Duchess of Gloucester delivered a graceful and impeccably timed curtsy to King Charles during the VE Day thanksgiving service at Westminster Abbey on Thursday.
Birgitte, 78, who hails from Denmark and is married to Prince Richard—cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth II—was seen offering the traditional royal gesture as the King and Queen departed the service.
The moment reflected the time-honored custom where royal women curtsy and bow their heads when greeting the monarch for the first time that day. Male royals typically offer a neck bow.
Watch the moment vis this clip: https://cdn.jwplayer.com/previews/7rbnhMa7
At the service, royal protocol was carefully observed, with family members arriving in reverse order of precedence.
The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, along with the Duke of Kent, were seated first, followed by the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, the Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, then the Prince and Princess of Wales. The King and Queen entered last.
Just a day earlier, the Gloucesters also appeared alongside Their Majesties at the first Buckingham Palace Garden party of the year.
The Duchess wore a pillbox-style hat designed by Jessica Turley, a student from the King’s Foundation and CHANEL Millinery collaboration—further highlighting her support for emerging British design talent.
