Prince Edward, Duke of Kent

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This article is about the present Duke of Kent. For Queen Victoria's father, see Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn. For other Dukes, see Duke of Kent. For other people named Prince Edward, see Prince Edward.
Prince Edward
Duke of Kent (more)
HRH Duke of Kent.jpg
Born (1935-10-09) 9 October 1935 (age 88)
3 Belgrave Square, London
Spouse Katharine Worsley (m. 1961)
Issue George Windsor, Earl of St Andrews
Lady Helen Taylor
Lord Nicholas Windsor
Full name
Edward George Nicholas Paul Patrick[notes 1]
House Windsor
Father Prince George, Duke of Kent
Mother Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent
Religion Church of England

Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, KG, GCMG, GCVO, ADC, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , (Edward George Nicholas Paul Patrick; born 9 October 1935) is a grandchild of King George V and Queen Mary. He has held the title of Duke of Kent since 1942.

The Duke of Kent carries out royal duties on behalf of his first cousin, Elizabeth II. He is perhaps best known as President of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, presenting the trophies to the Wimbledon champion and runner-up. He also served as the United Kingdom's Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, retiring in 2001. He is also the 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 is also Patron of the IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists) an independent road safety charity which specialises in training and advice for post-licence drivers and riders.

At the time of his birth, Prince Edward was seventh in the line of succession to the throne of his grandfather King George V, behind the Prince of Wales, the Duke of York, his cousins Elizabeth and Margaret, his uncle, the Duke of Gloucester, and his father. As of the birth of the Duke of Cambridge's second child, the Queen's fifth great-grandchild, on 2 May 2015, the Duke of Kent was 34th in line. As of the death of the 7th Earl of Harewood in 2011, he became the Queen's oldest living paternal cousin, although he is nine years younger than the Queen herself.

Early life and education

Prince Edward was born on 9 October 1935, at No. 3 Belgrave Square, London.[1] Home Secretary Sir John Simon was present to verify the birth. The prince's father was Prince George, Duke of Kent, the fourth son of George V and Mary of Teck. His mother was Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent (née Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark), the daughter of Prince Nicholas of Greece and Denmark, and Grand Duchess Yelena Vladimirovna of Russia. As a grandson of a British sovereign in the male line, he was styled as a Prince of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, His Royal Highness Prince Edward of Kent.

The Prince was baptised in the Private Chapel of Buckingham Palace on 20 November 1935 by the Archbishop of Canterbury Cosmo Lang. His godparents were King George V and Queen Mary (his paternal grandparents); the Prince of Wales (his paternal uncle); the Princess Royal, Countess of Harewood (his paternal aunt); the Duke of Connaught and Strathearn (his great-great-uncle, whose son, Prince Arthur of Connaught, stood proxy); the Duchess of Argyll (his great-great-aunt); and Prince Nicholas of Greece and Denmark (his maternal grandfather).[2]

Prince Edward began his schooling at Ludgrove, a preparatory school in Berkshire, before going on to Eton College and then Le Rosey in Switzerland. After school he entered the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst where he won the Sir James Moncrieff Grierson prize for foreign languages.

Prince Edward speaks fluent French.[citation needed]

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, who was almost 7, succeeded his father as Duke of Kent,[3] Earl of St Andrews and Baron Downpatrick. He later took his seat in the House of Lords in 1959.

As a member of the royal family, he began performing royal duties at an early age. At the age of 16, he walked behind the coffin of his uncle, George VI, at his state funeral in 1952. In 1953, he attended the coronation of his cousin, Elizabeth II, paying homage at her throne after her crowning (following the Dukes of Edinburgh and Gloucester).

Military service

HRH The Duke of Kent Allan Warren.jpg
A 1989 photograph of the Duke of Kent,
by Allan Warren
Allegiance  United Kingdom
Years of service 1955–1976
Rank Field Marshal
Service number 443787
Unit Royal Scots Greys

The Duke of Kent graduated from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst on 29 July 1955 as a Second Lieutenant in the Royal Scots Greys,[4] the beginning of a military career that would last over 20 years. He was promoted to captain on 29 July 1961.[5] The Duke of Kent saw service in Hong Kong from 1962–63 and later served on the staff in Eastern Command. He was promoted to Major on 31 December 1967.[6] Later 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 halves of the island. He was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel on 30 June 1973.[7] The Duke retired from the Army on 15 April 1976.[8] He was subsequently promoted Major-General on 11 June 1983[9] and Field Marshal on 11 June 1993.[10]

Marriage, issue, and personal life

The Duke and Duchess of Kent on the balcony of Buckingham Palace at the 2013 Trooping the Colour.

The Duke of Kent married Katharine Worsley at York Minster on 8 June 1961. Katharine is the only daughter of Sir William Arthrington Worsley, 4th Bt., and his wife, Joyce Morgan Brunner. After their wedding, she was styled Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Kent, though in 2002, she ceased to use the style of Royal Highness and has expressed a preference to be known as Katharine, Duchess of Kent, the latter the typical style of a divorced or widowed peeress, which she is not[citation needed]. However she remains legally HRH The Duchess of Kent.

The Duke and Duchess of Kent have three living children, none of whom carries out royal duties:

The Duchess of Kent converted to Catholicism in 1994.[11] Because this conversion did not occur until many years 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 applies where the spouse is a Catholic at the time of marriage.[citation needed] The couple's son Lord Nicholas also converted to Catholicism following his mother's example.

The Duke and Duchess of Kent reside at Wren House, Kensington Palace, in London.[12]

The Duke had a mild stroke on the morning of 18 March 2013.[11]

Royal duties

Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. The Duke of Kent has performed royal duties on behalf of his cousin, the Queen, for over 50 years. The Duke has represented the Queen during independence celebrations in the former British colonies of Sierra Leone, Uganda, Guyana, Gambia and most recently Ghana, for its 50th independence anniversary celebration. He has also acted as Counsellor of State during periods of the Queen's absence abroad.

One of the Duke's major public roles for many years was Vice-Chairman of British Trade International, 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.

He also serves as the president of the Wimbledon All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, a position he succeeded from his late mother, Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent. His other roles include President of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, the RAF Benevolent Fund, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, the Stroke Association, RUSI, the Royal Institution, and patron of St Mungo's Broadway, benefiting the homeless. He also makes the final decision in the award of the Mountbatten Medal.

For almost 29 years, the Duke has been the patron of Endeavour, a national youth organisation. He has also served as Royal Bencher of The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn since 2001, a position previously occupied by his father.

Freemasonry

On 16 December 1963, the Duke was initiated into Royal Alpha Lodge No. 16 and into Freemasonry.[13] He is the 10th Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England, the governing body of Freemasonry in England and Wales. He has served in that office since 1967, thus being the longest serving Grand Master.[14] In December 2013, he celebrated 50 years as a freemason.[13]

Scouting

The Duke has served as the President of The Scout Association since 1975.[15] Along with Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, visited the Centenary World Scout Jamboree at Hylands Park, Chelmsford in July 2007.[16]

Patronages

The Duke of Kent is patron of a number of organisations active in the fields of charity, health and the arts. These include:

Titles, styles, honours and arms

Titles and styles

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

The Duke's current full style is Field Marshal His Royal Highness Prince Edward George Nicholas Paul Patrick, Duke of Kent, Earl of Saint Andrews and Baron Downpatrick, Royal Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, Grand Master and Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order, Personal Aide-de-Camp to Her Majesty.

Military ranks

Honours

See also List of honours of the British Royal Family by country

Orders
Decorations
Medals

Foreign Honours

Appointments

Personal
Academic

Military appointments

Appointments
Canada Canada
United Kingdom United Kingdom

Arms

Arms of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent
Coat of Arms of Edward, Duke of Kent.svg
Notes
As a descendant of George V, the Duke of Kent's arms are based on the Royal Arms. The following explains the way in which his arms are differenced from those of the Queen.
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.
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)
Other elements
The Royal Arms differenced by a label of five points argent, the first, third and fifth points charged with a blue anchor, and the second and fourth points with a red cross.
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

Name Birth Marriage Issue
George Windsor, Earl of St Andrews 26 June 1962 9 January 1988 Sylvana Tomaselli Edward Windsor, Lord Downpatrick
Lady Marina Charlotte Windsor
Lady Amelia Windsor
Lady Helen Taylor 28 April 1964 18 July 1992 Timothy Taylor Columbus Taylor
Cassius Taylor
Eloise Taylor
Estella Taylor
Lord Nicholas Windsor 25 July 1970 4 November 2006 Paola Doimi de Lupis de Frankopan Albert Windsor
Leopold Windsor
Louis Windsor

Ancestry

Family of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 16. Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 8. Edward VII of the United Kingdom
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 17. Victoria of the United Kingdom
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 4. George V of the United Kingdom
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 18. Christian IX of Denmark
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 9. Princess Alexandra of Denmark
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 19. Princess Louise of Hesse-Kassel
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 2. Prince George, Duke of Kent
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 20. Duke Alexander of Württemberg
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 10. Francis, Duke of Teck
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 21. Countess Claudine Rhédey von Kis-Rhéde
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 5. Princess Mary of Teck
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 22. Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 11. Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 23. Princess Augusta of Hesse-Cassel
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1. Prince Edward, Duke of Kent
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 24. Christian IX of Denmark (= 18)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 12. George I of Greece
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 25. Princess Louise of Hesse-Kassel (= 19)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 6. Prince Nicholas of Greece and Denmark
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 26. Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolayevich of Russia
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 13. Grand Duchess Olga Constantinovna of Russia
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 27. Princess Alexandra of Saxe-Altenburg
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 3. Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 28. Alexander II of Russia
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 14. Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich of Russia
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 29. Princess Marie of Hesse and by Rhine
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 7. Grand Duchess Elena Vladimirovna of Russia
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 30. Frederick Francis II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 15. Duchess Marie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 31. Princess Augusta Reuss of Köstritz
 
 
 
 
 
 

Notes

  1. ↑ As a member of the royal family, Edward needs no surname, but, when one is used, it is Windsor.

References

  1. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 34206. p. 6371. 9 October 1935. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  2. ↑ Yvonne's Royalty Home Page – Royal Christenings
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 41137. p. 4492. 30 July 1957. Retrieved 8 December 2010.
  5. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 42422. p. 5561. 28 July 1961. Retrieved 8 December 2010.
  6. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 44493. p. 75. 2 January 1968. Retrieved 25 May 2011.
  7. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 46046. p. 9389. 7 August 1973. Retrieved 8 December 2010.
  8. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 46877. p. 5659. 20 April 1976. Retrieved 8 December 2010.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 49392. p. 8191. 21 June 1983. Retrieved 8 December 2010.
  10. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 53342. p. 10183. 21 June 1993. Retrieved 8 December 2010.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ http://www.britishgermanassociation.org/british-german-association-bga/who-we-are/
  18. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 40593. p. 5427. 27 September 1955. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  19. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 41137. p. 4492. 30 July 1957. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  20. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 42422. p. 5561. 28 July 1961. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  21. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 44493. p. 75. 2 January 1968. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  22. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 46046. p. 9389. 7 August 1973. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  23. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 46877. p. 5659. 20 April 1976. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  24. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 53342. p. 10183. 15 June 1993. Retrieved 8 December 2010.
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ Duke of Kent awarded Saxonian Order of Merit
  27. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 47235. p. 7119. 11 June 1977. Retrieved 8 December 2010.
  28. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 53555. p. 1087. 25 January 1994. Retrieved 8 December 2010.
  29. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 53267. p. 6179. 6 April 1993. Retrieved 1 July 2009.
  30. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 50204. p. 10113. 23 July 1985. Retrieved 1 July 2009.
  31. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 54453. p. 8917. 1 July 1996. Retrieved 1 July 2009.

External links

Prince Edward, Duke of Kent
Born: 9 October 1935
Lines of succession
Preceded by
Rufus Gilman
 Line of succession to the British Throne
son of George, son of George V		 Succeeded by
Earl of St Andrews
Peerage of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Duke of Kent
2nd creation
25 August 1942 – present		 Incumbent
Heir-apparent:
George Windsor, Earl of St Andrews
Orders of precedence in the United Kingdom
Preceded by Gentlemen
HRH The Duke of Kent		 Succeeded by
Prince Michael of Kent
Masonic offices
Preceded by Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England
1967 – present		 Incumbent
Honorary titles
Preceded by Grand Master of the Order of St Michael and St George
1967 – present		 Incumbent
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