Prince Edward, the Duke of Kent, had his milestone 90th birthday today, just weeks after the death of his beloved wife, Katharine, the Duchess of Kent.
The Duke Of Kent Followed The Example Of The Late Queen
The Duke and Duchess of Kent were married for sixty-four cherished years. Katharine passed away peacefully on September 4th at Kensington Palace, where they lived.
Together, the couple shared three children: George Andrews, the Earl of St. Andrews, Lord Nicholas Windsor, and Lady Helen Taylor.
Their wedding in June 1961 was a historic one for the royal family as it was held at York Minster, which had not seen a royal wedding for 633 years.
Despite the tragic loss of his wife, the Duke has remained a key member of the royal family. This week, he undertook his first public engagement since his wife died.
He is every bit as motivated and productive as his late first cousin, Queen Elizabeth II. The two royals shared a very close relationship, with the Duke being endlessly supportive of the Queen.
In 2021, Prince Edward was the Queen’s sole companion on the balcony during the Trooping the Color celebration during the height of the COVID-19 epidemic.
Prince Edward has continued to work even at his age, taking after the example set by the late monarch. The Duke’s devotion to the royal family earned him the nickname “Steady Eddie.”
The Duke of Kent was born on October 9, 1935. His parents were Prince George, Duke of Kent, and Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark.
He is also the grandchild of King George V and Queen Mary. The Duke of Kent had a bit of a clumsy streak, and during his 17th birthday dinner, he accidentally sliced his mother’s face with the knife provided to cut his birthday cake.
He Met His Soulmate, Katharine Worsley, During His Service In The Military
When he reached adulthood, the Duke followed tradition and joined the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst. It proved to be the best experience of his life for one key reason.
Prince Edward served in the military for twenty-one years and retired in 1976. It was there that he met his soulmate, Katharine Worsley, who, of course, later became the Duchess of Kent.
Katharine was dubbed a “royal rebel” after converting to Catholicism. She even made history after her passing, as she was the first member of the British Royal Family to have a Catholic funeral service in modern history.
King Charles III is set to host a birthday reception for Prince Edward for his 90th birthday later this month at Windsor Castle.
The royal family marked the Duke of Kent’s milestone birthday with a sweet message posted on social media earlier today.
“Wishing the Duke of Kent a very happy birthday-90 today!”
The post also featured a portrait of the King and the Duke in May 2023 during his coronation.
The post continued,
“Later this month, the King will host a birthday reception for the Duke, who was Queen Elizabeth II’s first cousin, at Windsor Castle.”
Kate Middleton and Prince William’s Kensington social media account also sent their well-wishes to the Duke in a brief message on his bittersweet but special day.
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