Duchess of Gloucester at 80

Buckingham Palace has released new photographs of the Duchess of Gloucester on her 80th Birthday.

The Duchess of Gloucester is celebrating her 80th birthday today. The Danish-born Duchess has become one of the most integral members of the British Royal Family, who has celebrated and mourned together over the past 53 years since her marriage to the late Queen’s cousin in 1973.

The unassuming wife of a secondborn son ingratiated her role as a senior member of the institution with a track record of endless daily engagements, many overseas visits and attendance at global royal events.

Late Friday night, just hours ahead of her big day, newly taken photographs by the ever-skilled royal photographer Chris Jackson in both the Palace’s Yellow Drawing Room and the Gardens were released.

The photographs were taken earlier this month, per Buckingham Palace.