The Duchess has said that she feels greatly privileged to have become involved in many charities and organisations.

The opportunity to learn from these and to offer support is a consequence of The Duchess’s work which she values and greatly appreciates.

In her own words The Duchess has 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. Some high-powered and greatly skilled, others willing to do the most mundane but essential tasks - all of them enjoying being part of a team supporting a noble cause. It is inspiring and immensely rewarding meeting these volunteers on my varying engagements in London and throughout the country. I meet volunteers in schools, often for children with special needs, medical research projects, hospices, homes for older and frail people, and also in community initiatives for sport, music and the conservation of the Arts. I see so many wonderful places, and it is the people involved who make them so.

Charity work in Great Britain is a tradition. I don’t think I have a friend who has not involved him or herself somehow or other. How far back this tradition goes, I am not sure- it is one of the major aspects which makes me very proud to be British.

There is another facet to voluntary work which I think is very important, and that is the sense of fulfilment and reward in the knowledge of the value of your contribution as a volunteer. In this country there is a firmly grounded tradition, and a freedom, to help one’s fellow men in many different forms, and I think we should be proud of that and grateful for it also."

The format of Her Royal Highness’s working day depends entirely on the type of engagement undertaken that day. Each visit is different from the next, and is arranged to meet the requests from the organisation and its representatives. Details of these visits together with correspondence and future programmes are all given consideration in The Duchess’s Office at Kensington Palace.

On her official engagements The Duchess is attended by a Lady-in-Waiting. Time spent on the journey will provide an ideal opportunity for working through papers, correspondence, and future programmes.

It is usual for a Member of the Royal Family to be greeted on arrival by Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of the County being visited. The Lord Lieutenant will then present civic dignitaries and The Duchess’s host at the first engagement.

Her Royal Highness will be taken on a tour of the venue in order to meet members of staff, children, patients, families, or key donors who have supported the organisation. The Duchess of Gloucester very much enjoys the opportunity of joining small groups of people in informal conversation to learn about every aspect of the work in question, to receive reports of what has been achieved , and to hear about plans and hopes for the future.

An engagement may involve the official opening of a new building or extension; or it could be an occasion for presenting awards. These visits and events are very important to those present, and some of them may have been years in the planning. The Duchess is very conscious of the amount of time and care which goes into the preparations of a visit, and she is delighted to have the opportunity to congratulate the organisers in person for all they have achieved.

Her Royal Highness attends meetings, such as the Governing Body of the Royal Academy of Music and the Council of the Lawn Tennis Association.

In the evening The Duchess may attend a reception, a concert or a dinner given for her own or other organisations.

Her Royal Highness will periodically support The Queen at official engagements such as State Banquets, religious services, garden parties and receptions.

At times The Duchess of Gloucester accompanies The Duke of Gloucester on his official visits including those overseas. One of the first such visits was to Mexico in 1973.

Other joint visits have included Australia, Belgium, China, Denmark,Gibraltar, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Luxembourg, Nepal, New Zealand, Norway, the Philippines, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, the Soloman Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Tonga, Tunisia, and the United States of America.

The Duchess has also travelled overseas in support of her own Patronages and military units, including a visit to Iraq in December 2008.