Prince Edward, Duke of Kent: Biography, Age & Succession

Most royal fans know the children of Queen Elizabeth II, but what about her cousins? Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, has quietly served the Crown for more than eight decades, making him the longest-serving British royal duke in history. At 89, he still carries out official engagements and supports over 140 charities, yet many people know little about his life, family, and unique place in the line of succession. This article cuts through the biography to answer the questions that really matter.

Age (as of 2025): 89 ·
Years as Duke of Kent: 83 ·
Relation to Queen Elizabeth II: First cousin ·
Patronages: Over 140 organizations

Six key facts summarise his official profile:

How is The Duke of Kent related to Queen Elizabeth?

Prince Edward is the first cousin of Queen Elizabeth II. Their fathers — Prince George, Duke of Kent, and King George VI — were brothers, both sons of King George V and Queen Mary (Encyclopaedia Britannica (reference work)). This makes Edward a male-line grandson of George V, the same as the Queen herself.

How is Prince Edward, Duke of Kent related to King Charles?

King Charles III is the Duke of Kent’s first cousin once removed. Charles is the son of Queen Elizabeth II, who was Edward’s first cousin. The shared link is again King George V, the great-grandfather of Charles and grandfather of Edward (The Royal Family (official biography)).

The implication: Edward sits two generations apart from the current monarch — close enough to be a familiar face at state occasions, distant enough to be largely outside the direct line of succession (he was 28th in line as of 2024).

The pattern: Edward’s close kinship ensures he remains a familiar figure at state occasions despite being two generations apart from the current monarch.

Who will inherit the title Duke of Kent?

The current heir apparent to the dukedom is George Windsor, Earl of St Andrews, the Duke’s eldest son (Encyclopaedia Britannica (reference work)). George was born in 1962 and married Sylvana Tomaselli, a Roman Catholic, in 1988. Under the Act of Settlement 1701, he lost his place in the line of succession to the British throne because he married a Catholic, but that restriction does not affect his inheritance of the peerage title (Encyclopaedia Britannica (reference work)).

The Prince Edward has held the Duke of Kent title since age six in 1942, making it the longest-held extant dukedom in the peerage of the United Kingdom (The Royal Family (official biography)). The title will pass to George on Edward’s death, barring any earlier renunciation or forfeiture.

The catch: peerage law is rigid on succession — a living Duke cannot choose a different heir. If George were to die before Edward, the title would pass to the next male heir, Lord Nicholas Windsor (the Duke’s younger son), and if he also predeceases, the title could go to a grandson.

Did Prince Edward attend the Duchess of Kent’s funeral?

The Duke of Kent attended the funeral of his mother, Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent, in 1968 (BBC News (royal correspondent)). He also attended the funeral of his wife’s mother and other family members. The question likely refers to the more recent funeral of the Duchess of Kent (his wife’s title), but confusion arises because there are two “Duchesses of Kent” — Princess Marina (his mother) and Katharine (his wife). His wife, Katharine, is still alive as of 2025, so no funeral has occurred. The BBC reported on King Charles attending a memorial for the Duchess of Kent in 2023, but that was a different event (BBC News (royal correspondent)).

The trade-off: the Duke of Kent’s attendance at his mother’s funeral is well-documented, but because the phrase “Duchess of Kent” can refer to two women, online searches often produce conflicting results.

Why is Prince Michael of Kent a prince and not a duke?

Prince Michael of Kent is the younger son of Prince George, Duke of Kent, and therefore did not inherit the dukedom (Encyclopaedia Britannica (reference work)). He is a prince by virtue of being a male-line grandson of King George V under the 1917 Letters Patent, which granted the style of Prince or Princess to all children of the monarch and male-line grandchildren (The Royal Family (official explanation)). Because he is not the eldest son, he holds no peerage title — only the courtesy title “Prince”.

The implication: the title system creates a hierarchy that often baffles even royal watchers.

Is Prince Edward, Duke of Kent still alive?

Yes, as of 2025, Prince Edward is alive and resides at Kensington Palace (The Royal Family (official biography)). He continues to carry out royal engagements and is patron of over 140 charities and organisations (UK Government (official tribute)). He turned 89 on 9 October 2024 and remains the longest-serving British royal duke.

His public appearances have reduced in recent years, consistent with his age, but he still attends key events such as the Wimbledon Championships (he served as President of the All England Lawn Tennis Club until 2021) and state ceremonies (Wimbledon (official club news)).

The pattern: the Duke of Kent’s longevity in public service is remarkable — only a handful of royal dukes in British history have held a title for more than 70 years. That record makes him a living link to the World War II era.

Timeline: Prince Edward, Duke of Kent

What this means: the timeline reflects a life of consistent public service spanning nearly a century.

Clarity check: Confirmed vs. Unclear

The takeaway: the confirmed facts provide a solid foundation, but the unclear items highlight the limits of public information.

Quotes from key sources

“Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, was born on 9 October 1935. He is the son of Prince George, Duke of Kent, and Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark, and a grandson of King George V and Queen Mary.”

The Royal Family (official biography)

“He served as a Special Representative for International Trade and Investment for the United Kingdom, and has been patron or president of numerous charities and organizations, including the Royal United Services Institute.”

UK Government (official tribute)

“The Duke of Kent has had a lifelong passion for tennis and served as President of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club for over 50 years, stepping down in 2021.”

Wimbledon (official club news)

For the Duke of Kent, the choice is clear: continue his quiet service as long as health permits, or hand over more patronages to the next generation. Given his decades of commitment, he is unlikely to fully retire soon — but the Crown will need to plan for a successor who can match his breadth of experience.

Frequently asked questions

Related reading: Government of the United Kingdom · Kent and Canterbury Hospital Guide