Prince Edward, Duke of Kent is a senior member of the British royal family and the first cousin of Queen Elizabeth II. Born on 9 October 1935 in London, he became the Duke of Kent at the age of six after his father, Prince George, Duke of Kent, died in a plane crash in 1942. As of late 2025, he is the oldest living member of the royal family following the death of his wife, Katharine, Duchess of Kent, on 4 September 2025.
His full name is Edward George Nicholas Paul Patrick. He is the elder son of Prince George, Duke of Kent, and Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark. He has two siblings: Princess Alexandra and Prince Michael of Kent. He married Katharine Worsley on 8 June 1961, and the couple had three children: George, Earl of St Andrews; Lady Helen Taylor; and Lord Nicholas Windsor. The Duke and Duchess also had ten grandchildren. He resides at Wren House on the grounds of Kensington Palace and also in Oxfordshire.
Public curiosity about the Duke of Kent often centres on his health, his age, and various unverified claims. This article provides a factual overview based on authoritative sources, addressing the most common questions with verified information.
Is the Duke of Kent Still Alive? Health and Status Update
Yes, Prince Edward, Duke of Kent is alive as of the time of writing. At 90 years old (born October 1935), he became the oldest living member of the British royal family after the death of his wife in September 2025. The following table summarises his current status and key biographical details.
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Status | Alive |
| Age | 90 (born 9 October 1935) |
| Title | Duke of Kent (since 1942) |
| Recent Event | Became oldest living royal after wife’s death (4 Sep 2025) |
Key insights about the Duke of Kent:
- He is a first cousin of Queen Elizabeth II.
- He inherited the dukedom at age six after his father’s fatal plane crash.
- He has three children and ten grandchildren.
- He carried out official royal duties for decades and is known for his public service.
- His wife, Katharine, Duchess of Kent, died on 4 September 2025.
- No serious illness or disability has been reported by authoritative sources.
- Unverified claims about a missing ear are not supported by any reliable documentation.
Biographical fact table:
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Edward George Nicholas Paul Patrick |
| Title | Duke of Kent (since 1942) |
| Born | 9 October 1935, 3 Belgrave Square, London |
| Parents | Prince George, Duke of Kent, and Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark |
| Siblings | Princess Alexandra, Prince Michael of Kent |
| Marriage | Katharine Worsley, 8 June 1961 |
| Children | George, Earl of St Andrews; Lady Helen Taylor; Lord Nicholas Windsor |
| Grandchildren | Ten |
| Residence | Wren House, Kensington Palace; also Oxfordshire |
| Relation to Monarch | First cousin of Queen Elizabeth II |
Who Are the Duke of Kent’s Children? Family Tree Explained
His three children
The Duke of Kent and the late Duchess had three children. The eldest, George, Earl of St Andrews, is the heir to the dukedom. Lady Helen Taylor is a daughter, and Lord Nicholas Windsor is the youngest son. All three have families of their own, giving the Duke ten grandchildren. The children were born between 1962 and 1970, though specific dates are not part of the public record from the available sources.
Family tree overview
The Duke of Kent belongs to the House of Windsor through his father, Prince George, Duke of Kent, who was a son of King George V and Queen Mary. His mother, Princess Marina, was of Greek and Danish royal lineage. The compact family tree from authoritative sources is as follows:
- King George V + Queen Mary
- Their son: Prince George, Duke of Kent
- Married to Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark
- Children:
- Prince Edward, Duke of Kent
- Princess Alexandra
- Prince Michael of Kent
Through his mother, the Duke also has connections to the Greek and Russian imperial families. He is a first cousin of Queen Elizabeth II and a close relative of King Edward VIII and King George VI.
Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, is not a direct descendant of the reigning monarch but a senior member of the extended royal family. His father, Prince George, was the fourth son of King George V. This places the Duke of Kent as a first cousin to Queen Elizabeth II and second cousin to King Charles III. For more on the royal family structure, see the official biography at Royal.uk.
Who was Prince George, Duke of Kent?
Prince George, the father of the current Duke, was the fourth son of King George V and Queen Mary. He held the title Duke of Kent until his death in a plane crash on 25 August 1942. His death at age 39 made his six-year-old son Edward the new Duke of Kent. Prince George was also known for his patronage of the arts and his marriage to Princess Marina, a Greek princess. The Wikipedia entry on Prince Edward, Duke of Kent provides further historical context.
What Is the Duke of Kent Known For? Role, Net Worth, and Legacy
Role and public duties
The Duke of Kent has been a working member of the royal family for decades, undertaking official engagements and supporting charitable organisations. He has been a patron of various cultural and military institutions. He is perhaps best known in recent years for becoming the oldest living royal family member after the death of his wife. His long service has made him a respected figure within the House of Windsor.
Net worth considerations
No verified figure for the Duke of Kent’s personal net worth is available from the authoritative sources examined. Wikipedia, the Royal Family’s official website, and biographies from Britroyals do not include a financial disclosure. Any number circulating online should be treated as unverified unless backed by official financial records or credible biographies.
Claims about the Duke of Kent’s net worth often appear on celebrity wealth websites, but none of the five authoritative sources used for this article – Wikipedia, Royal.uk, Town & Country, Britroyals, and the Gettysburgian – provide a specific figure. Readers should rely only on official disclosures from the royal family or trusted financial reports. Town & Country’s profile on Prince Edward, Duke of Kent does not mention net worth either.
Relationship to the Queen
Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, is a first cousin of Queen Elizabeth II. His father, Prince George, was the brother of Kings Edward VIII and George VI. This makes him a cousin of the late Queen and a first cousin once removed to King Charles III. He is also a cousin of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, through his mother’s Greek connections.
Key Events in the Duke of Kent’s Life
- : Born at 3 Belgrave Square, London. (Royal.uk)
- : Father, Prince George, Duke of Kent, dies in a plane crash. Edward becomes the 2nd Duke of Kent. (Gettysburgian)
- : Marries Katharine Worsley. (Royal.uk)
- : Three children born – George (Earl of St Andrews), Lady Helen, Lord Nicholas. (Britroyals)
- : Katharine, Duchess of Kent dies. Prince Edward becomes the oldest living member of the British royal family. (Wikipedia)
What Is Known and What Remains Unclear About the Duke of Kent?
| Established Information | Information That Remains Unclear |
|---|---|
| He is alive and aged 90 (as of October 2025). | Any specific current illness or medical condition he may have. |
| He is the first cousin of Queen Elizabeth II. | Whether the claim “ear missing” has any factual basis – no reliable sources confirm it. |
| His wife died on 4 September 2025. | His personal net worth – no official figure exists in the provided sources. |
| He has three children and ten grandchildren. | Exact birth dates of his children are not publicly listed in standard biographies. |
How Does the Duke of Kent Fit Into the Royal Family?
Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, belongs to the House of Windsor through his father, Prince George, who was a son of King George V. His mother, Princess Marina, was a Greek and Danish princess, connecting him to the royal houses of Greece, Denmark, and Russia. As a first cousin of Queen Elizabeth II, he stands in a close but not direct line of succession. He is also a cousin of Prince Philip and has remained an active member of the extended royal family, representing the Crown at various events and ceremonies. His children and grandchildren are part of the broader Windsor family but hold no official royal duties.
Where to Find Reliable Information About the Duke of Kent?
The most authoritative sources for the Duke of Kent’s biography are the official website of the British Royal Family (Royal.uk) and the Wikipedia entry for Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, which is regularly updated. Additional verified details can be found in historical royal biographies and articles from Town & Country and Britroyals. A less common but credible source is the Gettysburgian, which published a profile in 2018. These sources collectively provide a complete and reliable picture.
A Quick Overview of the Duke of Kent
Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, is a 90-year-old senior royal, first cousin of Queen Elizabeth II, and the oldest living member of the British royal family as of late 2025. He was born in 1935, inherited the dukedom in 1942, married Katharine Worsley in 1961, and has three children and ten grandchildren. He resides at Wren House in Kensington Palace and in Oxfordshire. No serious illness or disfiguring condition has been reported by reliable sources. For a broader perspective on British public figures, you can read the biography of Rishi Sunak – Biography, Net Worth, and Resignation.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Duke of Kent
How old is the Duke of Kent?
He was born on 9 October 1935, making him 90 years old as of October 2025.
What is the Duke of Kent’s full name?
His full name is Edward George Nicholas Paul Patrick.
Where does the Duke of Kent live?
He resides at Wren House on the grounds of Kensington Palace in London and also has a home in Oxfordshire.
How many grandchildren does the Duke of Kent have?
He has ten grandchildren.
When did the Duchess of Kent die?
Katharine, Duchess of Kent, died on 4 September 2025.
Is there any confirmed illness affecting the Duke of Kent?
No specific serious illness or medical condition has been reported by authoritative sources.
Does the Duke of Kent have a missing ear?
There is no evidence from reliable sources to support claims that the Duke of Kent has a missing or disfigured ear.
What is the Duke of Kent known for?
He is known as a senior working royal, a first cousin of Queen Elizabeth II, and the oldest living member of the British royal family after his wife’s death in 2025.
Is the Duke of Kent related to the Queen?
Yes, he is the first cousin of Queen Elizabeth II.
Sophie Kendall is Culture & Communities Editor at RegionalReport.co.uk, covering community stories, arts, culture, festivals, local events and heritage.