The Duchess of Gloucester, who's been quietly supporting the monarchy by carrying out her royal duties, is celebrating her 79th birthday today. The royal will most likely mark her special day privately with her nearest and dearest.

Danish-born Birgitte has become an unsung hero in recent years, having attended a handful of events alongside Queen Camilla while King Charles and Princess Kate underwent cancer treatment last year. The Duchess, who is married to Prince Richard, has attended more than 5,000 engagements during her 40 years of service.

Last year, she reportedly carried out 98 engagements, while her husband carried out 216.

But despite her quiet devotion to the crown, Birgitte has kept a largely unseen profile over the years.

The Duchess, who is a full-time working royal and was born Birgitte Eva van Deurs Henriksen, married the Duke of Gloucester in July 1972.

The pair had met a few years earlier in Cambridge, where Birgitte attended a finishing school and the then Prince Richard of Gloucester was an undergraduate reading architecture at Cambridge University.

Before Cambridge, the Duchess was educated in Odense, where she was born, and at a finishing school in Lausanne, as well as the Scandinavian Academy of International Fashion and Design in Copenhagen.

However, six weeks after their wedding, his older brother and heir apparent to the dukedom, Prince William of Gloucester was killed in a flying accident near Wolverhampton.

Thus the couple became the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester upon Richard's father, Prince Henry's death in 1974.

Birgitte has always approached her sense of duty and work graciously, having previously said: "As members of the Royal Family and in our public life, the Duke and I have the huge privilege of continuously meeting people greatly committed to their work with charitable causes - many individuals being volunteers, doing all kinds of good works, giving of their time, talents and expertise.

"It is inspiring and immensely rewarding meeting these volunteers on my varying engagements in London and throughout the country."

The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester have three children - The Earl of Ulster (Alexander Windsor), born in 1974, The Lady Davina Lewis, born in 1977 and The Lady Rose Gilman, born in 1980, all of whom are married and have children of their own.