The Queen's rarely seen cousin celebrates 50 years of marriage with a heartwarming new portrait

The Queen's rarely seen cousin and his wife - the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester - are celebrating their golden wedding anniversary today and have shared a touching new portrait to honor 50 years of marriage.

• The Queen’s cousin Richard, the Duke of Gloucester, and his wife, Birgitte, the Duchess of Gloucester are celebrating their golden wedding anniversary.
• The couple were pictured looking relaxed and happy in a new portrait to mark the special occassion.
• This royal news comes as Kate Middleton was spotted at a local trampoline park playing with her kids 'just like any other mum’. 

The Queen's cousin, the Duke of Gloucester, often flies under the radar when it comes to royal reporting. But today he and wife Birgitte hit the headlines due to a touching new photograph released to mark 50 years of marriage.

Richard and Birgitte wed on 8 July 1972 and marked their golden wedding anniversary today with a portrait taken in the grounds of Buckingham Palace, where the couple live.

The Duke, who was born Prince Richard of Gloucester, met future wife Birgitte van Deurs while studying at the Bell School of Languages, at  Cambridge University in 1965.

The couple look happy and relaxed; he in a smart patterned blue shirt, and she in a golden yellow shirtdress. 

Birgitte is wearing a brooch that was actually designed by her husband, with the letters R and B intertwined, according to reporting by The Evening Standard. 

Despite not being in the public eye, the couple are actually very active members of The Firm, and have supported the Queen for decades by carrying out official royal duties. The Queen's cousin-in-law has been praised before for her 'quiet dignity'.

A description of the Duke on the Royal Family's official website reads, “The Duke of Gloucester is The Queen’s cousin and a full-time working member of the Royal Family.

“He attends national and international events in support of The Queen and her duties as Head of State, as well as undertaking extensive public duties and engagements every year reflecting his own interests and charities.

“The Duke of Gloucester carries out a significant number of public duties and undertakes hundreds of official engagements in the UK and overseas each year. The Duke is associated with over 150 charities and organisations."

“His patronages reflect his professional and personal interests, which include international humanitarian issues, heritage, and the built environment and military veterans.”