Born in 1935, the duke was the eldest child and first son of Prince George, Duke of Kent, and the former Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark. The first Duke of Kent was the fourth son and fifth child of King George V and Queen Mary, while Princess Marina was the third child and daughter of Prince Nicholas of Greece and Denmark and Grand Duchess Helen Vladimirovna of Russia, who was a granddaughter of Czar Alexander II of Russia. As such, the Duke of Kent claims relations to many of Europe's royal houses.
The death of Edward’s father in 1942 after a plane crash unexpectedly made him at the age of 6, Duke of Kent, Earl of St Andrews and Baron Downpatrick. However, he did not take his seat in the House of Lords until 1959. As a royal duke early in life, Edward was not spared from royal duties. He was 16 when he joined his uncles the Duke of Gloucester and the Duke of Windsor in walking behind King George VI’s coffin at the state funeral in 1952. He also paid homage to his cousin Queen Elizabeth II during the latter’s coronation (following the Dukes of Edinburgh and Gloucester).
After graduating from Sandhurst in 1955, the duke joined the Royal Scots Grey as Second Lieutenant. That was the start of a military career that spanned over 20 years, one which took him to various places around the world.
On June 29, 1961, the duke married Miss Katharine Lucy Mary Worsley (born 1933 at Hovingham Hall, Yorkshire), the only daughter of Sir William Arthington Worsley, 4th Baronet, and Joyce Morgan Brunner, daughter of Sir John Brunner, 2nd Baronet. Three children were born of this marriage: George, who took the courtesy title Earl of St Andrews (born 1962); Lady Helen (born 1964); and Lord Nicholas ( July 1970).
For over 50 years, the Duke of Kent has been performing royal duties in his own capacity and on behalf of The Queen. He has represented Her Majesty in the independence celebrations in the former British colonies of Sierra Leone, Uganda, Guyana, and Gambia. He has also acted as Counselor of State during periods of the Queen's absence abroad.
Amidst old age and bout with illnesses, the duke has continued to steadfastly support his cousin. It is, therefore, a great joy to learn that he has finally decided to release his memoirs.
It is believed that in the book, the 85-year-old royal will share never-before-seen photographs from his collection.
Here is the full blurb of the book, from publisher Hodder and Stoughton:
"The Duke of Kent has been at the center of Royal life since he was born. On his father's side, he is a first cousin of The Queen, the grandson of King George V and Queen Mary, the nephew of King George VI - and on his mother's side, he is a cousin of Prince Philip and descends from Greek, Danish and Russian Kings, Queens and Emperors.
The Duke has been involved in all key royal events through his life - after the early death of his father he walked in the procession behind the King's coffin in 1952 and he paid homage to his cousin, the new Queen, at the Coronation in 1953. He was riding with her when the blanks were fired at the Trooping of the Colour in 1981 - and he was the only member of the Royal Family to stand alongside the Queen to celebrate her official birthday in June 2021. He is now 85 years old.
A Royal Life, which includes never before seen photographs from the Duke's own collection, is based on a set of conversations between Prince Edward and Royal historian Hugo Vickers. The conversations focus on the most important moments and themes of The Queen's life and seventy-year reign. They offer a unique and unprecedented set of insights into life as a working royal and behind the scenes of the world's most celebrated family."
A Royal Life will be released beginning May 22, 2022, but you can pre-order your copy now!
(Photo of the Duke of Kent from Wikimedia Commons)
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1 Comments
The Duke of Kent was certainly in an ideal position to witness the royals' activities over the decades and to record his memoirs intelligently, but will his work be examined by royal censors and changed as necessary?
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