Prince Edward, Duke of Kent

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)
Born (1935-10-09) 9 October 1935
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 of Greece and Denmark
Religion Church of England

Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, KG, GCMG, GCVO, ADC(P) (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 engagements 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. Prince Edward'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. He was baptised in the Private Chapel of Buckingham Palace on 20 November 1935 by the Archbishop of Canterbury Cosmo Lang.[notes 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.

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 engagements 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

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. During the early 70s, the Duke also served in Northern Ireland with his Regiment. 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. They have have three living children:

His wife converted to Catholicism in 1994.[12] 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. After the Succession to the Crown Act 2013 came into effect on 26 March 2015, the issue of the Duchess's conversion became moot.

The couple's son, Nicholas, also converted to Catholicism following his mother's example and he remains excluded from the line of succession in accordance with the Succession to the Crown Act 2013.

The Duke and Duchess of Kent reside at Wren House, Kensington Palace, in London.[13]

The Duke had a mild stroke on the morning of 18 March 2013.[12]

Activities

The Duke of Kent has performed engagements 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.[14] 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.[15] In December 2013, he celebrated 50 years as a freemason.[14]

Scouting

The Duke has served as the President of The Scout Association since 1975.[16] Along with Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, the Duke visited the Centenary World Scout Jamboree at Hylands Park, Chelmsford in July 2007.[17]

Titles, styles, honours and arms

Titles and styles

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

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

Notes

  1. ↑ As a British prince, a surname is not usually used but when one is, Windsor is used.
  2. ↑ 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]

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. ↑ "Duke of Kent, 77, suffers mini-stroke". Herald Scotland. 21 March 2013. Retrieved 21 March 2013.
  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. 1 2 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. ↑ The Peerage
  12. 1 2 Rayner, Gordon (21 March 2013). "Duke of Kent being treated in hospital after 'mild' stroke". The Telegraph. Retrieved 21 March 2013.
  13. ↑ "Royal residences: Kensington Palace". Archived from the original on 26 July 2013.
  14. 1 2 "Grand Master celebrates 50 years in the Craft at Royal Alpha Lodge". Freemasonry Today. Grand Lodge Publications. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
  15. ↑ "HRH The Duke of Kent KG, GCMG, GCVO, ADC// Grand Master". UGLE. January 2014.
  16. ↑ "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.
  17. ↑ Adams, Stephen (28 July 2007). "A century on, Scouts' campfires burn strong". The Telegraph. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
  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. ↑ reinanzaka-sc.o.oo7.jp/kiroku/documents/20140523-3-kiji-list.pdf
  26. ↑ "Svenska Frimurare Orden". Archive. 25 June 2001. Archived from the original on 25 June 2001. Retrieved 21 March 2013.
  27. ↑ Duke of Kent awarded Saxonian Order of Merit
  28. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 47235. p. 7119. 11 June 1977. Retrieved 8 December 2010.
  29. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 53555. p. 1087. 25 January 1994. Retrieved 8 December 2010.
  30. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 53267. p. 6179. 6 April 1993. Retrieved 1 July 2009.
  31. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 50204. p. 10113. 23 July 1985. Retrieved 1 July 2009.
  32. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 54453. p. 8917. 1 July 1996. Retrieved 1 July 2009.

Further reading

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
The Prince George		 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
The Duke of Gloucester		 Gentlemen
HRH The Duke of Kent 		Succeeded by
Prince Michael of Kent
Masonic offices
Preceded by
The Earl of Scarbrough		 Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England
1967–present 		Incumbent
Honorary titles
Preceded by
The Earl Alexander of Tunis		 Grand Master of the Order of St Michael and St George
1967–present 		Incumbent
Sporting positions
Preceded by
Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent		 President of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club
1969–present 		Incumbent
Preceded by
The Earl of Harewood		 President of The Football Association
1971–2000 		Succeeded by
The Duke of York
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