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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Jennifer Newton

Meet the little-known royals in Coronation photo - 'invisible' husband and oldest duke

Standing resplendent in their finery, a whole host of royals joined King Charles and Queen Camilla for their official Coronation photos.

And in the group shot, many will have been familiar with those supporting the King and Queen such as the Prince and Princess of Wales William and Kate, Edward and Sophie, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh and Princess Anne.

But some of the other faces in the image people may not be as familiar with - despite most of them working tirelessly for the monarchy for many decades.

So here we detail the little-known royals in the official Coronation picture - and how the support the King...

Duke of Kent

The oldest member of the Royal Family, the 87-year-old Duke of Kent is a cousin of the late Queen - and still carries out duties on behalf of the monarch.

His father died in an RAF plane crash in Caithness, Scotland, during World War Two on August 25, 1942.

The Duke of Kent with the late Queen at Trooping the Colour 2022 (PA)

He subsequently inherited his father's titles of Duke of Kent, Earl of St Andrews and Baron Downpatrick and after leaving school had a distinguished military career.

He married Katharine Worsley, the now Duchess of Kent, in 1961 and they have three children and 10 grandchildren - among them Lady Amelia Windsor.

The Duke, whose first name is Edward, has dedicated his life to royal duties and started attending official engagements when he was just 16.

The Duke with Kate at Wimbledon in 2021 (Corinne Dubreuil/AbacaPress / SplashNews.com)

Some of the most important causes he represents are the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, the Stroke Association and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

One of his most famous associations is with the Freemasons. He was initiated into the secretive organisation in 1963 and has risen through the ranks ever since. In 1967, he was made the Grand Master and marked his 50th anniversary as a Freemason in 2013.

Duke of Gloucester

Another cousin of the late Queen, the Duke of Gloucester is one of the little-known full-time working royals.

However, the 78-year-old, whose first name is Richard, did not plan to take on royal duties and actually studied at Cambridge before embarking on a successful career as an architect.

The Duke of Gloucester, centre, alongside his wife the Duchess of Gloucester and Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh (PA)

He had an older brother, Prince William, who was set to inherit the Duke of Gloucester title, but he sadly died in 1972 following a flying accident.

Richard became the Duke of Gloucester two years later and gave up his career to dedicate himself to royal duties.

Last year, he even conducted more engagements than the Princess of Wales with a total of 100 throughout 2022.

Duchess of Gloucester

The wife of the Duke of Gloucester, Birgitte gained her title when she married in 1972.

Originally from Denmark, the 76-year-old met her husband while studying and they have three children, a son Alexander and two daughters, Davina and Rose.

The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester at the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations last year (PA)

She accompanies her husband on many royal engagements and also carries out some of her own. In total, she carried out 94 engagements last year.

She has an association with more than 60 organisations that include the Children's Society, Parkinson's UK, the Lawn Tennis Association and the Royal Academy of Music.

Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence

The husband of Princess Anne, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence is the only non-working royal in the portrait.

He does not carry out any engagements on behalf of the monarchy but is often "invisible" support for his wife with her busy schedule.

Anne alongside her husband Sir Timothy Laurence (PA)

He has been married to Anne for more than 30 years and is often at her side on engagements, quietly supporting her.

But despite his low-profile nature, it seems Sir Tim holds a special place in the royal family, with the late Queen seemingly fond of him.

Although he didn't receive a royal title upon marriage, he has since been made a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order and was also a personal aide-de-camp to Elizabeth II.

Princess Alexandra

Being supported by the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh in the Coronation portrait is another of the late Queen's cousins - Princess Alexandra.

A sister of the Duke of Kent, she became the first British princess to be educated at a boarding school, and later studied in Paris before doing nursing training at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London.

She was a close friend and confidant of the late Queen and a bridesmaid at her wedding to Prince Philip in 1947.

Princess Alexandra alongside the Queen at Royal Ascot in 2018 (Getty Images for Ascot Racecourse)

In 1963, she married British businessman, Angus Ogilvy, at Westminster Abbey. The ceremony was broadcast worldwide and was witnessed by 200 million people. Among Alexandra's bridesmaids was the Queen's only daughter, Princess Anne.

The couple had two children, James, born in 1964, and Marina, born in 1966, though neither carry royal titles. In 2004 her husband died after a battle with throat cancer.

The Royal Family's website still lists Alexandra as a working member of the Royal Family.

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