Just when you thought royal jubilees might be taking a rest for a while, the Duke of Gloucester has sprung an anniversary surprise.

The Duke, who at one point was fifth in line to the throne, has had a half century celebration all of his own but it’s nothing to do with a crown.

Prince Richard’s ‘jubilee’ was, in fact, to mark his fifty years in a role that only two other royals have ever held.

He’s been the Ranger of Epping Forest in Essex since 1975 and as he reached his milestone, there was a special party for the moment.

The forest is known as the ”lungs of London’ and it covers almost 8000 acres, stretching from Manor Park in east London all the way out to the leafy part of Essex from which it takes its name.

Epping Forest has a long association with the Crown and it was made a ‘royal forest’ in the 12th century by King Henry II, meaning only he had the right to hunt there. It was later bought by the City of London Corporation and officially opened to the wider public in 1882 by Queen Victoria who said it was to be for the ”use and enjoyment of my people for all time.”

It’s become a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest and Special Area of Conservation.

The Duke of Gloucester became its Ranger in 1975, taking on the role previously held by his father, Henry, who died in 1974. Before that, the Ranger had been Queen Victoria’s son, Arthur, Duke of Connaught, who took on the duties in 1878. They are the only royals to take on the role.

To mark his half century, the Duke had a path named in his honour. The Gloucester Ride will link Connaught Water with the Epping Forest Visitor Centre to make part of the park more accessible for a wide range of users. The Duke also unveiled a new trail featuring sculptures of the characters from the much loved ‘Brambly Hedge’ books by Jill Barklem.

Prince Richard also saw a brand new exhibition about the royal connections of the forest and was presented with the key to Queen Elizabeth I’s Hunting Lodge, built at the end of the 16th century.

The Chairman of the City Corporation’s Epping Forest and Commons Committee, Ben Murphy, said ”for 50 years, His Royal Highness has played a vital role in protecting this internationally significant landscape, ensuring its beauty and biodiversity thrive while providing over 10 million visitors each year with high-quality green spaces for recreation.’‘

The Epping Forest District Youth Councillors told the Duke that they were looking to the future and asked him and others to ”commit today to do whatever we can to preserve this irreplaceable treasure, ensuring that future generations may walk its paths, breathe its air, and find solace in its beauty, just as we have.”

Epping Forest’s royal links also take in another jubilee. In 2022, it was recognised as an ancient woodland by Queen Elizabeth II as part of the Queen’s Canopy which was set up to mark her Platinum celebrations.