![Philippe Douste Blasy, Duchess of Gloucester, and Valery Giscard D'estaing attend the Child Abuse Foundation Gala at the Castle of Versailles on December 6, 2004 in Versailles, France](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/2021-0621-birgitte01.jpg?resize=1200%2C739&ssl=1)
This weekend, the Duchess of Gloucester celebrated a major milestone: her 75th birthday. To help continue the celebrations, we’ve got a week of Sparkling Spotlight moments featuring some of her most sparkling jewels. Let’s kick things off with a diamond-studded appearance in France in 2004.
![The Duchess of Gloucester, her husband Duke of Gloucester, and Anne-Aymone Giscard d'Estaing attend the Child Abuse Foundation Gala at the Castle of Versailles on December 6, 2004 in Versailles, France](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/2021-0621-birgitte02.jpg?resize=1200%2C1838&ssl=1)
On December 6, 2004, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester traveled to the Palace of Versailles, where they attended a fundraising gala dedicated to causes working to stop child abuse. Birgitte wore diamonds with a ruby-red velvet gown for the occasion. (The Gloucesters are pictured here with Anne-Aymone Giscard d’Estaing, who was France’s first lady from 1974 until 1981.)
![The Duchess of Gloucester attends the Child Abuse Foundation Gala at the Castle of Versailles on December 6, 2004 in Versailles, France](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/2021-0621-birgitte03-scaled.jpg?resize=1176%2C2560&ssl=1)
Here’s a look at the back of the Duchess’s dramatic gown. I love that she chose a red velvet gown that flashes slightly green in bright light (like photographers’ flashes)—it feels very appropriate for December and the season of holiday celebrations.
![Anne-Aymone Giscard D'estaing (R), Duchess of Gloucester (L) and her husband Duc of Gloucester (C) attend the Child Abuse Foundation Gala at the Castle of Versailles on December 6, 2004 in Versailles, France](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/2021-0621-birgitte06.jpg?resize=1200%2C914&ssl=1)
She continued the red-and-green theme by carrying a lovely green embroidered clutch bag. She also brought a velvet wrap that matched her gown.
![The Duchess of Gloucester attends the Child Abuse Foundation Gala at the Castle of Versailles on December 6, 2004 in Versailles, France](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/2021-0621-birgitte04.jpg?resize=1200%2C1878&ssl=1)
Red velvet pretty much requires diamonds and rubies, and the Duchess wore both for the gala. Her necklace, which features a large diamond ornament with diamond drop pendants, belonged to her mother-in-law, Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester. The pendant can also be worn as a brooch. It was a wedding gift to Alice from her parents-in-law, King George V and Queen Mary.
![The Duchess of Gloucester attends the Child Abuse Foundation Gala at the Castle of Versailles on December 6, 2004 in Versailles, France](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/2021-0621-birgitte05.jpg?resize=1200%2C1886&ssl=1)
She also wore diamond and ruby earrings for the occasion.
![The Duchess of Gloucester and Anne-Aymone Giscard d'Estaing attend the Child Abuse Foundation Gala at the Castle of Versailles on December 6, 2004 in Versailles, France](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/2021-0621-birgitte07.jpg?resize=1200%2C1754&ssl=1)
She finished off the look with diamonds at both of her wrists. Overall, a really lovely look that still looks chic and occasion-appropriate more than 15 years later!
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