The Duke of Kent's Life in Photos
Prince Edward has held the title the Duke of Kent since he was 6 years old.
Prince Edward, the Duke of Kent, comes from a long lineage of royalty. His father was Prince George, the fourth son of King George V and Queen Mary, and his mother, Princess Marina, was a princess of Greece and Denmark. He also has two younger siblings, Princess Alexandra and Prince Michael of Kent. In 1946, when Edward was just 6 years old, his father died in a plane crash and the young prince became the Duke of Kent.
Prince Edward is a first cousin to Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, and he has dedicated his life to service. From 1955 until 1976, he served in the armed forces, and since, has carried out hundreds of royal engagements on behalf of the royal family. Following Prince Philip's death, he often stood by the Queen's side during key royal engagements. Upon the death of 96-year-old Queen Elizabeth, he becomes one of few royals still alive that grew up with the late monarch. Here, scroll through all the best photos of the Duke of Kent, who turned 88 in October, over the years.
1935
Prince Edward was born in October 1935 at No. 3 Belgrave Square in London. Here, his mother, Princess Marina, the Duchess of Kent, takes him for a walk in a pram.
1937
A one-year-old Prince Edward in his stroller.
1937
His mother, Princess Marina, was the daughter of Prince Nicholas of Greece and Denmark and Grand Duchess Elena Vladimirovna of Russia. His father was the youngest son of King George V and Queen Mary.
1938
Here, the Kents posed in the garden of the Buckinghamshire home, with Edward, his younger sister Princess Alexandra, and their dog Muff.
1940
Tragically, Prince George, the Duke of Kent, died in a plane crash in 1942. Upon his death, six-year-old Prince Edward took the title of Duke of Kent.
1943
Edward pulls a cart during a horse show in Windsor.
1952
At the funeral of his uncle, King George VI, a 16-year-old Duke of Kent walked behind the coffin in the funeral procession, alongside Prince Philip (the Duke of Edinburgh), Prince Henry (the Duke of Gloucester), and former King Edward VIII (the Duke of Windsor).
1952
The young duke on a skiing holiday.
1953
The Duke of Kent also played a role in Queen Elizabeth's coronation: After Prince Philip and his uncle Prince Henry, he was the third to play homage at her throne.
1953
He attended Le Rosey, an all-boys boarding school in Geneva.
1953
The duke pictured here reading from a book on English Social History as he studied for his end of term exams.
1956
A few days before his 21st birthday, Prince Edward takes a photograph with his sister Princess Alexandra (left) and his mother, Princess Marina of Kent at their country home of Coppins in Buckinghamshire.
1961
In 1961, he married Katharine Worsley in York Minster—the first royal marriage to take place there in six centuries. Upon their wedding, Katharine became the new Duchess of Kent.
1962
The Kents welcomed their first son, George, Earl of St Andrews in 1962. George is currently heir apparent to the Dukedom of Kent, and will become the Duke of Kent upon his father's death.
1964
The Duke of Kent had a ski accident in 1964 at St. Moritz. Here is he navigating his injuries.
1966
The Kents brought their children George, 4, and Helen, 2, to a country fair.
1968
Like his cousins, Prince Edward is an avid horse rider. Here, at the Ascot Racecourse, he rides with Queen Elizabeth II (left) and Princess Margaret (right).
1970
In 1970, Prince Edward and the Duchess of Kent welcomed their third child, Lord Nicholas Windsor. All their children use the surname "Windsor."
1972
In 1969, the Duke became the president of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club (AELTC)—the organization that holds Wimbledon. Every year, he participates in the trophy ceremony. Here, he presents the winner's trophy to American tennis player Billie Jean King.
1974
The Duke of Kent with his daughter Lady Helen Windsor at the Royal Windsor Horse Show.
Emily Burack (she/her) is the Senior News Editor for Town & Country, where she covers entertainment, culture, the royals, and a range of other subjects. Before joining T&C, she was the deputy managing editor at Hey Alma, a Jewish culture site. Follow her @emburack on Twitter and Instagram.
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