Prince Edward
Duke of Kent (more)
Photograph of the Duke in his 79th year
Edward in 2014
BornPrince Edward of Kent
(1935-10-09) 9 October 1935
3 Belgrave Square, London, England
Spouse
​
(m. 1961)​
Issue
Names
Edward George Nicholas Paul Patrick[notes 1]
HouseWindsor
FatherPrince George, Duke of Kent
MotherPrincess Marina of Greece and Denmark
Education
Military career
Service/branchBritish Army
Years of active service1955–1976
RankField Marshal
Service number443787
Unit

Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, KG, GCMG, GCVO, CD, ADC (Edward George Nicholas Paul Patrick; born 9 October 1935) is a member of the British royal family. The son of Prince George, Duke of Kent, and Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark, he is a grandson of King George V, nephew of King George VI and Edward VIII, and first cousin of Queen Elizabeth II. Edward's mother was also a first cousin of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, consort of Elizabeth II, making him both a second cousin and first cousin once removed to King Charles III. He is 41st in the line of succession to the British throne.

Prince Edward has held the title of Duke of Kent for over 81 years. He inherited the title at the age of six, after the death of his father in a plane crash in 1942. Edward carried out engagements on behalf of Elizabeth II and is involved with over 140 charitable organisations. He was president of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, presenting the trophies to the Wimbledon champion and runner-up, and served as the United Kingdom's Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, retiring in 2001. He is president of The Scout Association, the Royal United Services Institute, and the Royal Institution of Great Britain, and since 1967 Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England. The Duke of Kent has been Chancellor of the University of Surrey since June 1976. Much of his charity work revolves around war remembrance, technology, and the growth of British industry.

Early life and education

Prince Edward was born on 9 October 1935, at No. 3 Belgrave Square, London, to Prince George and Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark, the Duke and Duchess of Kent.[1] Home Secretary Sir John Simon was present to verify the birth. His father was the fourth son of King George V and Queen Mary. His mother was the daughter of Prince Nicholas of Greece and Denmark and Grand Duchess Elena Vladimirovna of Russia. He was baptised in the Private Chapel of Buckingham Palace on 20 November 1935 by Archbishop of Canterbury Cosmo Lang. His godparents were his grandparents, King George V, Queen Mary and Prince Nicholas of Greece and Denmark; as well as the Prince of Wales; the Princess Royal, the Duke of Connaught and Strathearn (whose son, Prince Arthur of Connaught, stood proxy); and the Duchess of Argyll.[2]

Prince Edward began his education at Ludgrove, a preparatory school in Berkshire, before going on to Eton College[3] and then Le Rosey in Switzerland.[4] After school he entered the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst,[5] where he won the Sir James Moncrieff Grierson prize for foreign languages. Edward speaks fluent French, having been raised in a house where, according to the words of his younger brother, Prince Michael of Kent, his mother and aunts spoke French as a matter of preference.[6]

On 25 August 1942, Prince Edward's father, the Duke of Kent, was killed when his plane crashed in bad weather in Caithness. Prince Edward, at six years old, succeeded his father as Duke of Kent,[7] Earl of St Andrews and Baron Downpatrick. As a member of the royal family, Prince Edward began performing engagements at an early age. In 1952, at the age of 16, he walked behind the coffin of his uncle, George VI, at his state funeral.[8] In 1953, he attended the coronation of his cousin, Elizabeth II, and was the third to pay homage at her throne, following the dukes of Edinburgh and Gloucester.[9]

Military service

On 29 July 1955, the Duke of Kent graduated from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst as a second lieutenant in the Royal Scots Greys,[10] the beginning of a military career which lasted over 20 years. He was promoted to captain on 29 July 1961.[11]

From 1962 to 1963, the Duke of Kent served in Hong Kong, later serving on the staff in Eastern Command. He was promoted to major on 31 December 1967.[12] In 1970, the Duke commanded a squadron of his regiment serving in the British Sovereign Base Area in Cyprus, part of the UN force enforcing peace between the Greek and Turkish parts of the divided island.[13] During the early 1970s, the Duke also served briefly in Northern Ireland with his regiment. It was revealed in a 2022 book, that the Queen intervened in 1971 to prevent the kidnapping of her cousin, the Duke of Kent. The then 35-year-old Duke, an Army officer with the Royal Scots Greys, was sent to Northern Ireland with his unit but the Queen alerted Edward Heath, the prime minister, during her private audience, and he relayed a warning to his ministers. Commanding officers were told the Duke was not to be sent to Belfast without special orders. A few weeks later, he was posted back to the mainland.[14] He was promoted to lieutenant-colonel on 30 June 1973.[15]

The Duke retired from the army on 15 April 1976.[16] He was subsequently accorded the honorary rank of major-general on 11 June 1983,[17] and of field marshal on 11 June 1993.[18]

Marriage and personal life

The Duke and Duchess of Kent, 2013

At York Minster on 8 June 1961 the Duke of Kent married Katharine Worsley, the only daughter of Sir William Worsley, 4th Baronet, by his wife Joyce Morgan Brunner. She converted to Catholicism in 1994,[19] but because the conversion occurred after their marriage, it did not cause the Duke to lose his place in the line of succession, as the Act of Settlement 1701 only applied where the spouse was a Catholic at the time of marriage. The disqualification by marrying a Catholic was removed by the Succession to the Crown Act 2013.

The couple have three living children:

Katharine had an abortion in 1975 owing to rubella and gave birth to a stillborn son, Patrick, in 1977.[21][22]

The Duke and Duchess of Kent reside at Wren House, Kensington Palace, in London.[23]

In 2011, close associates of Jonathan Rees, a private investigator connected to the News International phone hacking scandal, stated that he had penetrated Edward and Katharine's bank accounts.[24]

The Duke had a mild stroke on the morning of 18 March 2013.[19] In April 2015, he suffered from a hip injury and was hospitalised at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary for further treatments.[25]

Activities

The Duke of Kent by Allan Warren, 1989 portrait photo

The Duke of Kent performed engagements on behalf of his cousin, the Queen, for over 50 years. The Duke represented the Queen during independence celebrations in the Commonwealth countries of Sierra Leone,[26] Uganda,[27] Guyana,[28] Gambia,[29] and Ghana, to commemorate its 50th independence anniversary celebration.[30] He also acted as Counsellor of State during periods of the Queen's absence abroad.[13]

One of the Duke's major public roles for many years was vice-chairman of British Trade International, formerly known as the British Overseas Trade Board, and later as the United Kingdom's Special Representative for International Trade and Investment. This position saw the Duke travel abroad to represent the British government in fostering trade relations with foreign countries and organisations. Prince Andrew, Duke of York succeeded him in this position, which is today known as UK Trade & Investment (or UKTI), although Prince Andrew resigned from the post in 2011.[31] He was also the vice-chairman of the British Overseas Trade Board.[32] In that capacity, he became the first member of the royal family to visit China in 1979 with his focus being on the British Energy Exhibition in Beijing.[33]

From 1971 to 2000, the Duke of Kent was president of English football's governing body, The Football Association. The Duke has served as the president of The Scout Association since 1975.[34] Along with Prince William of Wales, the Duke visited the Centenary World Scout Jamboree at Hylands Park, Chelmsford in July 2007.[35] He also served as the president of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club between 1969 and 2021,[36][37] a position in which he succeeded his late mother, Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent.[38] He was also president of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission from 1970 until 2023.[39][40] His other roles include president of the RAF Benevolent Fund,[41][42] the Royal National Lifeboat Institution,[43][44] the Stroke Association,[36][45] the Royal United Services Institute,[46] the Royal Institution,[47] the British Racing Drivers' Club,[48] and patron of the American Air Museum in Britain,[49] Royal West Norfolk Golf Club,[50] Kent County Cricket Club,[51] Opera North,[52] and Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance.[53] He is also on the advisory panel for the Mountbatten Medal and presents the medal once the decision has been made. The Duke of Kent is one of the Royal Fellows of the Royal Academy of Engineering.[54]

For almost 29 years, the Duke has been the patron of Endeavour, a national youth organisation.[55] He has also served as Royal Patron of The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn since 2001, a position previously occupied by his father.[56] In 2015, the Duke received the Dresden Peace Prize for "his contribution to British-German reconciliation."[57]

On 2 June 2022, the Duke appeared alongside the Queen on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the 2022 Trooping the Colour as part of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations.[58]

Upon the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the Duke of Kent became the oldest living grandchild of King George V and Queen Mary.

Freemasonry

The Duke was initiated into Royal Alpha Lodge No. 16 on 16 December 1963, and was elected its Worshipful Master for 1965 and 1966.[59]

Having been appointed Senior Grand Warden in 1966, he was elected as Grand Master the following year, and was installed on 14 June 1967 during United Grand Lodge of England's 250th anniversary celebrations at the Royal Albert Hall.[60] He is the 10th, and longest-serving Grand Master of UGLE, the governing body of Freemasonry in England and Wales.

In December 2013, he celebrated 50 years as a freemason.[59] In October 2017 he presided over the tercentenary celebrations of UGLE, marking the 300th anniversary of the founding of the original Grand Lodge, one of two which merged to form UGLE in 1813.[61] The main ceremony was held in the Royal Albert Hall, in the year which also marked the Duke's 50th anniversary of installation as Grand Master.

Titles, styles, honours and arms

Titles and styles

  • 9 October 1935 – 25 August 1942: His Royal Highness Prince Edward of Kent
  • 25 August 1942 – present: His Royal Highness The Duke of Kent

Military ranks

Honours

Foreign

Civilian appointments

Military appointments

Canada Canada
United Kingdom United Kingdom

Arms

Coat of arms of the Duke of Kent
Notes
As a descendant of George V, the Duke of Kent's arms are based on the Royal Arms.
Coronet
Coronet of a Grandchild of the Sovereign
Crest
On the coronet of children of other sons of the Sovereign, composed of four crosses-patées alternated with four strawberry leaves a lion statant guardant or, crowned with the like coronet and differenced with a label as in the Arms.
Escutcheon
The Royal Arms differenced by a label of five points argent the points charged alternately with three anchors azure and two crosses gules.[85]
Supporters
The Royal Supporters differenced with the like coronet and label.
Orders
The Order of the Garter ribbon.
HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE
(Shame be to him who thinks evil of it)
Banner
The Royal Standard of the United Kingdom labelled for difference as in his arms.
(in Scotland)
Symbolism
As with the Royal Arms of the United Kingdom. The first and fourth quarters are the arms of England, the second of Scotland, the third of Ireland.

Issue

NameBirthDeathMarriageChildren
George Windsor, Earl of St Andrews26 June 19629 January 1988Sylvana TomaselliEdward Windsor, Lord Downpatrick
Lady Marina Windsor
Lady Amelia Windsor
Lady Helen Taylor28 April 196418 July 1992Timothy TaylorColumbus Taylor
Cassius Taylor
Eloise Taylor
Estella Taylor
Lord Nicholas Windsor25 July 19704 November 2006Paola Doimi de Lupis de FrankopanAlbert Windsor
Leopold Windsor
Louis Windsor
Lord Patrick Windsor
(stillborn)		5 October 1977

Ancestry

Bibliography

Books

  • HRH The Duke of Kent; Vickers, Hugo (2022). A Royal Life. Hodder & Stoughton. ISBN 978-1529389708.

Authored articles and letters

Notes

  1. ↑ As a British prince, a surname is not usually used but when one is, Windsor is used.

References

  1. ↑ "No. 34206". The London Gazette. 9 October 1935. p. 6371.
  2. ↑ "Prince Edward Christened – Ceremony at the Palace". The Times. 21 November 1935. p. 14.
  3. ↑ "Royals". Eton College. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  4. ↑ "Grand Master – HRH The Duke of Week". United Grand Lodge of England. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  5. ↑ "Prince Edward: Military Career". Official website of the British Monarchy. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
  6. ↑ Seward, Ingrid (1994). Royal Children. London: St. Martin's Press. p. 171. ISBN 978-0312105334.
  7. ↑ "Duke of Kent, 77, suffers mini-stroke". The Herald. Glasgow. 21 March 2013. Retrieved 21 March 2013.
  8. ↑ Cavendish, Richard (2 February 2002). "The Funeral of King George VI". History Today. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  9. ↑ "Queen Elizabeth II Coronation – Part 2 – the Lords Pay Homage". AntPDC. 21 September 2011. Archived from the original on 12 December 2021. Retrieved 25 March 2018 – via YouTube.
  10. ↑ "No. 41137". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 July 1957. p. 4492.
  11. ↑ "No. 42422". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 July 1961. p. 5561.
  12. ↑ "No. 44493". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 January 1968. p. 75.
  13. 1 2 "The Duke of Kent – Supporting the Queen". Official website of the Royal Family. 10 November 2015. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  14. ↑ Olivia Rudgard (2 May 2022). "Revealed: How the Queen intervened to prevent Duke of Kent being kidnapped by IRA". The Telegraph. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  15. ↑ "No. 46046". The London Gazette (Supplement). 7 August 1973. p. 9389.
  16. ↑ "No. 46877". The London Gazette (Supplement). 20 April 1976. p. 5659.
  17. 1 2 "No. 49392". The London Gazette (Supplement). 21 June 1983. p. 8191.
  18. ↑ "No. 53342". The London Gazette (Supplement). 21 June 1993. p. 10183.
  19. 1 2 Rayner, Gordon (21 March 2013). "Duke of Kent being treated in hospital after 'mild' stroke". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 21 March 2013.
  20. ↑ "'The most iconic royal wedding gowns of all time". Harper's Bazaar. 13 April 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  21. ↑ Carpenter, Julie (22 February 2013). "Duchess of Kent: The reluctant royal at 80". Express.co.uk. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  22. ↑ "I lost my baby at nine months .. it devastated me; The Duchess of Kent reveals the stillbirth that led to a breakdown". The Mirror. 23 December 1997. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
  23. ↑ "Royal residences: Kensington Palace". Official website of the British Monarchy. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013.
  24. ↑ Davies, Nick (8 June 2011). "Phone-hacking scandal widens to include Kate Middleton and Tony Blair". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  25. ↑ "Duke of Kent leaves hospital after hip injury treatment". BBC. 7 April 2015. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  26. ↑ "Sierra Leone Independence Build-Up". British Pathe. 1 May 1961. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  27. ↑ Mwesigye, Shifa (9 October 2012). "50 years on, Duke of Kent returns to familiar Uganda". The Observer. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  28. ↑ "Prince Harry impressed with Guyana's commitment to conservation, sustainable development". Georgetown, Guyana: Ministry of the Presidency. 2 December 2016. Retrieved 25 March 2018. President David Granger showing Prince Henry of Wales an image of his cousin Prince Edward, Duke of Kent who presented the instrument of Guyana's Independence to former Head of State, President Forbes Burnham.
  29. ↑ "Gambia Independent". British Pathe. 25 February 1965. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  30. ↑ "Duke of Kent unveils plaque for military project". Ghana Armed Forces. Ghana Web. 7 March 2007. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  31. ↑ Raynor, Gordon (22 July 2011). "Duke of York drops trade role after years of criticism". The Telegraph (UK). Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  32. ↑ Lefkovits, Etgar (4 September 2007). "Prince Edward to arrive today; 1st royal visit in decade". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  33. ↑ Brewer, James (26 October 2015). "A Royal pioneer in promoting trade with modern China…". All About Shipping. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  34. ↑ "Royal Support for the Scouting and Guiding Movements". Official Website of the British Monarchy. Archived from the original on 24 January 2009. Retrieved 25 July 2008.
  35. ↑ Adams, Stephen (28 July 2007). "A century on, Scouts' campfires burn strong". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
  36. 1 2 Rayner, Gordon (22 March 2013). "Duke of Kent spends another day in hospital after 'mild' stroke". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 25 March 2018. The Duke is perhaps best known for his role as president of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, presenting trophies to the winners at Wimbledon.
  37. ↑ "Wimbledon: Duke of Kent stepping down as All England Club president". BBC News. 10 July 2021. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  38. ↑ "Princess Marina Dies (1968)". British Pathé. 13 April 2014. Archived from the original on 12 December 2021. Retrieved 25 March 2018 – via YouTube.
  39. ↑ "Duke of Kent makes history as first royal to lay wreath at 1916 memorial". TheJournal.ie. 1 May 2013. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  40. ↑ Blythe Haynes, William (11 November 2023). "King Charles, Princess Anne team up after aging royal passes over role". Geo News. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  41. ↑ "Principals". RAF Benevolent Fund. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  42. ↑ "Royal visit". RAF Benevolent Fund. 18 January 2013. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  43. ↑ "Our Patron and President". Royal National Lifeboat Institution. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  44. ↑ McCallen, Laura (31 May 2017). "Duke of Kent visits Royal National Lifeboat Institution stations". Royal Central. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  45. ↑ "HRH The Duke of Kent: A Life Of Service". Stroke Association. 6 October 2015. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  46. ↑ "RUSI celebrates the Diamond Jubilee". Royal United Services Institute. 30 May 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  47. ↑ "His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent (1935–)". Royal Institution. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  48. ↑ "Who We Are". The British Racing Drivers' Club. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  49. ↑ "About Us". American Air Museum in Britain. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  50. ↑ "About the course". Royal West Norfolk Golf Club. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  51. ↑ "Jamie Clifford appointed Honorary Life Member". Kent County Cricket Club. 2 February 2018. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  52. ↑ "Who's who at Opera North". Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  53. ↑ "HRH The Duke of Kent KG". Trinity Laban. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  54. ↑ "The Fellowship". Royal Academy of Engineering. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  55. ↑ "Court Circular". Official website of the Royal Family. 16 September 2015. Retrieved 25 March 2018. The Duke of Kent, Patron, Endeavour Training, this morning received Mr. Steven Turner upon assuming his appointment as Chief Executive Officer.
  56. ↑ "Our Membership". The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  57. ↑ "HRH The Duke of Kent receives Dresden Peace Prize". Gov.uk. 14 February 2015. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  58. ↑ "Queen pictured for first time during Jubilee celebrations on Buckingham Palace balcony". Sky News. 2 June 2022. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  59. 1 2 "Grand Master celebrates 50 years in the Craft at Royal Alpha Lodge". Freemasonry Today. Grand Lodge Publications. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
  60. ↑ "History of Freemasonry". United Grand Lodge of England. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  61. ↑ "Royal Albert Hall plays host to UGLE's epic Tercentenary celebrations". Freemasonry Today. 2 November 2017. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  62. ↑ "No. 40593". The London Gazette (Supplement). 27 September 1955. p. 5427.
  63. ↑ "No. 41137". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 July 1957. p. 4492.
  64. ↑ "No. 42422". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 July 1961. p. 5561.
  65. ↑ "No. 44493". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 January 1968. p. 75.
  66. ↑ "No. 46046". The London Gazette (Supplement). 7 August 1973. p. 9389.
  67. ↑ "No. 46877". The London Gazette (Supplement). 20 April 1976. p. 5659.
  68. ↑ "No. 53342". The London Gazette (Supplement). 15 June 1993. p. 10183.
  69. ↑ Medal Yearbook 2021. Honiton, Devon: Token Publishing. 2021. p. 295. ISBN 978-1-908828-53-8.
  70. ↑ Medal Yearbook 2021. Honiton, Devon: Token Publishing. 2021. p. 295. ISBN 978-1-908828-53-8.
  71. ↑ Medal Yearbook 2021. Honiton, Devon: Token Publishing. 2021. p. 295. ISBN 978-1-908828-53-8.
  72. ↑ "Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee 2022 - The Lord Mayor's Reception For The National Service Of Thanksgiving". Getty Images. 3 June 2022. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  73. ↑ 䝪䞊䜲䝇䜹䜴䝖日本連盟 きじ章受章者 [Recipient of the Golden Pheasant Award of the Scout Association of Japan] (PDF). Reinanzaka Scout Club (in Japanese). 23 May 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 August 2020.
  74. ↑ "Svenska Frimurare Orden". Archive. 25 June 2001. Archived from the original on 25 June 2001. Retrieved 21 March 2013.
  75. ↑ Duke of Kent awarded Saxonian Order of Merit
  76. ↑ "The London Gazette 12 August 1966". The London Gazette. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
  77. ↑ "Chancellor". University of Surrey. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  78. ↑ "His Royal Highness Prince Edward, Duke of Kent KG GCMG GCVO ADC(P) FRS Royal Fellow". London: Royal Society. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015.
  79. ↑ "No. 47235". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 June 1977. p. 7119.
  80. ↑ "No. 46455". The London Gazette (Supplement). 7 January 1975. p. 206.
  81. ↑ "No. 53555". The London Gazette (Supplement). 25 January 1994. p. 1087.
  82. ↑ "No. 53267". The London Gazette (Supplement). 6 April 1993. p. 6179.
  83. ↑ "No. 50204". The London Gazette (Supplement). 23 July 1985. p. 10113.
  84. ↑ "No. 54453". The London Gazette. 1 July 1996. p. 8917.
  85. ↑ Chessyre, Hubert (1994–1995). "The Heraldry of the Garter Banners" (PDF). Report of the Society of the Friends of St George's and the Descendants of the Knights of the Garter. VII (6): 248. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
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