Prince Edward, Duke of Kent

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 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 at 2:05 am on 9 October 1935, at No. 3 Belgrave Square, London, to Prince George, Duke of Kent, and Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent. 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 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.

Edward began his education 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. 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.

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, 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. 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.

Military service

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

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. In 1970, he commanded a squadron of his regiment in Cyprus as part of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus. 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. He was promoted to lieutenant-colonel on 30 June 1973.

Edward retired from the army on 15 April 1976. He was subsequently accorded the honorary rank of major-general on 11 June 1983, and of field marshal on 11 June 1993.

Marriage and personal life

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. 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. On 8 June 1961, the couple married at York Minster. She converted to Catholicism in 1994, 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:

• George, Earl of St Andrews, born 26 June 1962 at Coppins; married Sylvana Tomaselli
• Lady Helen Taylor, born 28 April 1964 at Coppins; married Timothy Taylor
• Lord Nicholas Windsor, born 25 July 1970 at King's College Hospital in London; married, 2006, Paola Doimi de Lupis de Frankopan

Katharine had a miscarriage in 1975 owing to rubella and gave birth to a stillborn son, Patrick, in 1977.

Edward resides at Wren House, Kensington Palace, in London. From 1972 to 1990, he and his wife leased Anmer Hall in Norfolk, part of the Sandringham Estate.

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.

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

His wife, Katharine, died on 4 September 2025, at the age of 92. Following her death, Edward became the oldest living member of the British royal family.

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, Uganda, Guyana, Gambia, and Barbados, and the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the independence of Ghana. He also acted as Counsellor of State during periods of the Queen's absence abroad.

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. He was also the vice-chairman of the British Overseas Trade Board. 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.

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. Along with Prince William of Wales, Edward visited the Centenary World Scout Jamboree at Hylands Park, Chelmsford in July 2007. He also served as the president of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club between 1969 and 2021, a position in which he succeeded his late mother, Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent. He was also president of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission from 1970 until 2023. His other roles include president of the RAF Benevolent Fund, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, the Stroke Association, the Royal United Services Institute, the Royal Institution, the British Racing Drivers' Club, and patron of the American Air Museum in Britain, Royal West Norfolk Golf Club, Kent County Cricket Club, Opera North, and Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. 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.

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

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.

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. At the time of his retirement, he was the regiment's longest serving colonel.

Freemasonry

Edward was initiated into Royal Alpha Lodge No. 16 on 16 December 1963, and was elected its Worshipful Master for 1965 and 1966.

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. 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. 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. 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

• 29 July 1955: Second Lieutenant, Royal Scots Greys
• 29 July 1957: Lieutenant, Royal Scots Greys
• 29 July 1961: Captain, Royal Scots Greys
• 31 December 1967: Major, Royal Scots Greys
• 30 June 1973: Lieutenant Colonel, Royal Scots Dragoon Guards. Retired on 15 April 1976
• 11 June 1983: Major General
• 11 June 1993: Field Marshal

Honours

• File:UK King George VI Coronation Medal ribbon.svg 12 May 1937: Recipient of the King George VI Coronation Medal
• File:UK Queen EII Coronation Medal ribbon.svg 2 June 1953: Recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal
• File:UK Royal Victorian Order ribbon.svg 1960: Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO)
• File:Sierra leone independence medal.png 1961: Recipient of the Sierra Leone Independence Medal
• File:GUY Independence Medal ribbon.png 1966: Recipient of the Guyana Independence Medal
• File:UK Order St-Michael St-George ribbon.svg Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG)
  • 1967: Grand Master and First and Principal Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George
• File:UK Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal ribbon.svg 6 February 1977: Recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal
• File:Order of the Garter UK ribbon.svg 1985: Royal Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter (KG)
• File:UK Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal ribbon.svg 6 February 2002: Recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal
• File:QEII Diamond Jubilee Medal ribbon.svg 6 February 2012: Recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal
• File:Ribbon - Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct (Military).png Recipient of the Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal with 3 Bars
• File:CAN Canadian Forces Decoration ribbon with three bars.svg Recipient of the Canadian Forces' Decoration with 3 Clasps (CD)
• File:UK Queen EII Platinum Jubilee Medal ribbon.svg 6 February 2022: Recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal
• File:UK King Charles III Coronation Medal BAR.svg 6 May 2023: Recipient of the King Charles III Coronation Medal

Foreign

• Template:Flagicon File:UNFICYP Medal bar.svg 1970: Recipient of the United Nations Medal for the UNFICYP mission
• Template:Flagicon File:Golden Pheasant Award ribbon.svg 1992: Recipient of the Golden Pheasant Award of the Scout Association of Japan
• Template:Flagicon File:Order of Charles XIII Ribbon bar.svg 6 November 2000: Knight of the Royal Order of Charles XIII
• Template:Flagicon File:GRE Order of Saints George and Constantine ribbon.svg: Royal Family Order of Saints George and Constantine First class (civil division)
• Template:Flagicon File:JOR Order of the Renaissance GC.SVG: Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Renaissance (special class)
• Template:Flagicon File:Order of the Star of Jordan - Grand Cordon.png: Grand Cordon of the Order of the Star of Jordan
• Template:Flagicon File:Order of the Star of Africa (Liberia) - ribbon bar.png: Knight Grand Band of the Order of the Star of Africa
• Template:Flagicon File:Order of Tri Shakti Patta.svg: Order of the Three Divine Powers First Class (Jyotirmaya-Subikhyat-Tri-Shakti-Patta)
• Template:Flagicon File:St Olavs Orden storkors stripe.svg 1988: Grand Cross of the Royal Norwegian Order of Saint Olav
• Template:Flagicon File:POL Order Zaslugi RP kl1 BAR.svg: Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland
• Saxony File:DE-SAX Der Verdienstorden des Freistaates Sachsen BAR.png 21 May 2015: Order of Merit of the Free State of Saxony

Civilian appointments

• 1 August 1966: Personal Aide-de-Camp to the Sovereign (ADC)
• Template:Flagicon June 1976: Chancellor of the University of Surrey
• 1990: Royal Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS)
• Honorary Freeman of the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries
• Honorary Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Clothworkers
• Honorary Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Engineers
• Liveryman of the Mercers' Company
• Honorary Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Musicians
• Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Salters
• 2025: Wigmore Hall Medal

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 devices/altFile: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

Template:Flagicon Canada

• Template:Flagicon 11 June 1977: Colonel-in-Chief, of The Lorne Scots (Peel, Dufferin and Halton Regiment)

Template:Flagicon United Kingdom

• Template:Flagicon 22 October 1974 – 14 April 2024: Colonel, of the Scots Guards
• Template:Flagicon Colonel-in-Chief, of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers
• Template:Flagicon Royal Colonel, 1st Battalion, of The Rifles
• Template:Flagicon 25 January 1994: Deputy Colonel-in-Chief, of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards
• Template:Flagicon 1993 – 31 March 2015: Honorary Air Commodore, of RAF Leuchars
• Template:Flagicon 15 June 1985 – 30 June 1996: Honorary Air Vice Marshal RAF
• Template:Flagicon 1 July 1996: Honorary Air Chief Marshal RAF

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

External links

• Template:Sister-inline
• The Duke of Kent at the Royal Family website
• Template:Hansard-contribs
• The United Grand Lodge of England – HRH The Duke of Kent, KG, GCMG, GCVO, ADC (Grand Master)
• Time Article on Birth of Prince Edward
• Template:Trim Portraits of Template:Trim at the National Portrait Gallery, LondonTemplate:EditAtWikidata