Prince Edward, Duke of Kent

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Template:British Royal Family Prince Edward, Duke of Kent (Edward George Nicholas Paul Patrick; born 9 October 1935), is a member of the British royal family. The elder son of Prince George, Duke of Kent, and Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark, he is a grandson of George V, nephew of Edward VIII and George VI, and first cousin of Elizabeth II. Edward's mother was also a first cousin of Prince Philip, Elizabeth's husband, making him both a second cousin and first cousin once removed to Charles III. He is 42nd in the line of succession to the British throne. In 2025, following the death of his wife, Katharine, Duchess of Kent, Edward became the oldest living member of the British royal family.

Edward has held the title of Duke of Kent for over Template:Age years. He inherited the title at the age of six in 1942, following his father's death in a plane crash. 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 joint president of The Scout Association, and president of the Royal United Services Institute and the Royal Institution of Great Britain, and since 1967 Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England. Edward 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

Edward was born on 9 October 1935, at No. 3 Belgrave Square, London, to Prince George, Duke of Kent, and Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent.<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref> Home Secretary Sir John Simon was present to verify the birth.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Edward began his education at Ludgrove, a preparatory school in Berkshire, before going on to Eton College<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and then Le Rosey in Switzerland.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> After school he entered the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst,<ref name=PEMC>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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.<ref name="royalchildren">Template:Cite book</ref>

On 25 August 1942, Edward's father, the Duke of Kent, was killed when his plane crashed in bad weather in Caithness. Edward, at six years old, succeeded his father as Duke of Kent,<ref name=hscotland>Template:Cite news</ref> Earl of St Andrews and Baron Downpatrick. As a member of the royal family, 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.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> 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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}Template:Cbignore</ref>

Military service

On 29 July 1955, Edward graduated from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst as a second lieutenant in the Royal Scots Greys,<ref name="LG 41137" /> the beginning of a military career which lasted over 20 years. He was promoted to captain on 29 July 1961.<ref name="LG 42422" />

From 1962 to 1963, Edward served in Hong Kong, later serving on the staff in Eastern Command. He was promoted to major on 31 December 1967.<ref name="LG 44493" /> In 1970, he commanded a squadron of his regiment in Cyprus as part of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus.<ref name=royal/> During the early 1970s, Edward also served briefly in Northern Ireland with his regiment. It was revealed in a 2022 book, that the Queen intervened in 1971 to prevent him getting kidnapped by the IRA. The then 35-year-old Edward, 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 that he was not to be sent to Belfast without special orders. A few weeks later, he was posted back to Britain.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He was promoted to lieutenant-colonel on 30 June 1973.<ref name="LG 46046" />

Edward retired from the army on 15 April 1976.<ref name="LG 46877" /> He was subsequently accorded the honorary rank of major-general on 11 June 1983,<ref name="LG 49392"/> and of field marshal on 11 June 1993.<ref name="LG 53342" />

Marriage and personal life

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File:The Duke and Duchess of Kent, 2013.JPG
The Duke and Duchess of Kent, 2013

Edward met Katharine Worsley while he was based at Catterick Garrison.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}Template:Cbignore</ref> She was the only daughter of Sir William Worsley, 4th Baronet, and his wife Joyce Morgan Brunner. Princess Marina reportedly disapproved of her son's choice for a bride and twice forbade the match before agreeing to the marriage in 1961.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On 8 June 1961, the couple married at York Minster. She converted to Catholicism in 1994,<ref name=ray21mar>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Cbignore</ref> but because the conversion occurred during and not before their marriage, it did not cause him 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 a miscarriage in 1975<ref name=express/> owing to rubella and gave birth to a stillborn son, Patrick, in 1977.<ref name=express>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Patrick">Template:Cite news</ref>

Edward resides at Wren House, Kensington Palace, in London.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> From 1972 to 1990, he and his wife leased Anmer Hall in Norfolk, part of the Sandringham Estate.<ref name="t&c">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 2011, close associates of Jonathan Rees, a private investigator connected to the News International phone hacking scandal, alleged that he had accessed the bank accounts of Edward and his wife.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Edward had a mild stroke on the morning of 18 March 2013.<ref name=ray21mar/> In April 2015, he suffered from a hip injury and was hospitalised at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary for further treatments.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

His wife, Katharine, died on 4 September 2025, at the age of 92.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Following her death, Edward became the oldest living member of the British royal family.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Activities

File:HRH The Duke of Kent 2 Allan Warren.jpg
The Duke of Kent by Allan Warren, 1989 portrait photo

Edward performed engagements on behalf of his cousin, Queen Elizabeth II, for over 50 years. He represented the Queen during independence celebrations in the Commonwealth countries of Sierra Leone,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Uganda,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Guyana,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Gambia,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and Barbados,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the independence of Ghana.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He also acted as Counsellor of State during periods of the Queen's absence abroad.<ref name=royal>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

One of Edward'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 him travel abroad to represent the British government in fostering trade relations with foreign countries and organisations. The then Prince Andrew succeeded him in this position, which is today known as UK Trade & Investment (or UKTI), although Andrew resigned from the post in 2011.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}Template:Cbignore</ref> He was also the vice-chairman of the British Overseas Trade Board.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> 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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

From 1971 to 2000, Edward was president of English football's governing body, The Football Association. He has served as the president of The Scout Association since 1975.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Along with Prince William of Wales, Edward visited the Centenary World Scout Jamboree at Hylands Park, Chelmsford in July 2007.<ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Cbignore</ref> He also served as the president of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club between 1969 and 2021,<ref name="Tel-2013">Template:Cite newsTemplate:Cbignore</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> a position in which he succeeded his late mother, Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}Template:Cbignore</ref> He was also president of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission from 1970 until 2023.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> His other roles include president of the RAF Benevolent Fund,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> the Royal National Lifeboat Institution,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> the Stroke Association,<ref name="Tel-2013"/><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> the Royal United Services Institute,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> the Royal Institution,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> the British Racing Drivers' Club,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and patron of the American Air Museum in Britain,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Royal West Norfolk Golf Club,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Kent County Cricket Club,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Opera North,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He is also on the advisory panel for the Mountbatten Medal and presents the medal once the decision has been made. Edward is one of the Royal Fellows of the Royal Academy of Engineering.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

For almost 29 years, Edward has been the patron of Endeavour, a national youth organisation.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He has also served as Royal Patron of The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn since 2001, a position previously occupied by his father.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2015, Edward received the Dresden Peace Prize for "his contribution to British-German reconciliation."<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

On 2 June 2022, Edward appeared alongside the Queen on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the 2022 Trooping the Colour as part of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Edward was colonel of the Scots Guards for fifty years from 9 September 1974 to 14 April 2024, being succeeded by the Duke of Edinburgh.<ref name="Furness">Template:Cite news</ref> At the time of his retirement, he was the regiment's longest serving colonel.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Freemasonry

Edward was initiated into Royal Alpha Lodge No. 16 on 16 December 1963, and was elected its Worshipful Master for 1965 and 1966.<ref name="Grand Master celebrates 50 years in the Craft at Royal Alpha Lodge">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He is the 10th, and longest-serving Grand Master of UGLE, the governing body of Freemasonry in England and Wales.

In December 2013, Edward celebrated 50 years as a freemason.<ref name="Grand Master celebrates 50 years in the Craft at Royal Alpha Lodge" /> 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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The main ceremony was held in the Royal Albert Hall, in the year which also marked Edward'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

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Foreign

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Civilian appointments

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Wear of orders, decorations, and medals

The ribbons worn regularly by Edward in undress uniform are as follows:

Ribbons of the Duke of Kent
File:UK Order St-Michael St-George ribbon.svg File:UK Royal Victorian Order ribbon.svg
File:UNFICYP Medal bar.svg File:UK King George VI Coronation Medal ribbon.svg File:UK Queen EII Coronation Medal ribbon.svg File:UK Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal ribbon.svg
File:UK Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal ribbon.svg File:QEII Diamond Jubilee Medal ribbon.svg File:UK Queen EII Platinum Jubilee Medal ribbon.svg File:UK King Charles III Coronation Medal BAR.svg
Template:Ribbon devicesFile:Rosette Silver 200px.pngFile:Rosette Silver 200px.pngFile:Rosette Silver 200px.png File:CAN Canadian Forces Decoration ribbon with three bars.svg File:Sierra leone independence medal.png File:GUY Independence Medal ribbon.png
Grand Master and First and Principal Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
United Nations Medal for the UNFICYP mission King George VI Coronation Medal Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal
Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal King Charles III Coronation Medal
Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal with three bars Canadian Forces' Decoration with three clasps Sierra Leone Independence Medal Guyana Independence Medal

With medals, Edward normally wears the breast stars of the Garter, St Michael and St George, and Royal Victorian Order. When only one should be worn, he wears the Order of the Garter star. Foreign honours are worn in accordance with British customs and traditions when applicable.

Military appointments

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Arms

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Issue

Name Birth Death Marriage Children
George Windsor, Earl of St Andrews 26 June 1962 9 January 1988 Sylvana Tomaselli Edward Windsor, Lord Downpatrick
Lady Marina 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
Lord Patrick Windsor
(stillborn)
5 October 1977 colspan="3" Template:NA

Ancestry

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Bibliography

Books

Authored articles and letters

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Notes

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References

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