From 1962 to 1963, the Duke of Kent served in Hong Kong, later serving on the staff in Eastern Command. He was promoted to major on 31 December 1967.[12] In 1970, the Duke commanded a squadron of his regiment in Cyprus as part of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus.[13] During the early 1970s, the Duke also served briefly in Northern Ireland with his regiment. It was revealed in a 2022 book, that the Queen intervened in 1971 to prevent the kidnapping of her cousin, the Duke of Kent. The then 35-year-old Duke, 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 the Duke was not to be sent to Belfast without special orders. A few weeks later, he was posted back to Britain.[14] He was promoted to lieutenant-colonel on 30 June 1973.[15]
The Duke retired from the army on 15 April 1976.[16] He was subsequently accorded the honorary rank of major-general on 11 June 1983,[17] and of field marshal on 11 June 1993.[18]
The Duke had a mild stroke on the morning of 18 March 2013.[19] In April 2015, he suffered from a hip injury and was hospitalised at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary for further treatments.[25]
Activities
The Duke of Kent performed engagements on behalf of his cousin, the Queen, for over 50 years. The Duke represented the Queen during independence celebrations in the Commonwealth countries of Sierra Leone,[26] Uganda,[27] Guyana,[28] Gambia,[29] and Ghana, to commemorate its 50th independence anniversary celebration.[30] He also acted as Counsellor of State during periods of the Queen's absence abroad.[13]
One of the Duke'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 the Duke travel abroad to represent the British government in fostering trade relations with foreign countries and organisations. Prince Andrew, Duke of York succeeded him in this position, which is today known as UK Trade & Investment (or UKTI), although Prince Andrew resigned from the post in 2011.[31] He was also the vice-chairman of the British Overseas Trade Board.[32] 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.[33]
For almost 29 years, the Duke has been the patron of Endeavour, a national youth organisation.[54] He has also served as Royal Patron of The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn since 2001, a position previously occupied by his father.[55] In 2015, the Duke received the Dresden Peace Prize for "his contribution to British-German reconciliation."[56]
Upon the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the Duke of Kent became the oldest living descendant of King George V, and the last surviving descendant born in George V's lifetime.
The Duke was colonel of the Scots Guards for fifty years from 9 September 1974 to 14 April 2024, being succeeded by the Duke of Edinburgh.[58] At the time of his retirement, he was the regiment's longest serving colonel.[59]
Freemasonry
The Duke was initiated into Royal Alpha Lodge No. 16 on 16 December 1963, and was elected its Worshipful Master for 1965 and 1966.[60]
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.[61] He is the 10th, and longest-serving Grand Master of UGLE, the governing body of Freemasonry in England and Wales.
In December 2013, the Duke celebrated 50 years as a freemason.[60] 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.[62] The main ceremony was held in the Royal Albert Hall, in the year which also marked the Duke'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
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.
As a descendant of George V, the Duke of Kent's arms are based on the Royal Arms.
Coronet
Coronet of a Grandchild of the Sovereign
Crest
On the coronet of children of other sons of the Sovereign, composed of four crosses-patées alternated with four strawberry leaves a lion statant guardant or, crowned with the like coronet and differenced with a label as in the Arms.
Escutcheon
The Royal Arms differenced by a label of five points argent the points charged alternately with three anchors azure and two crosses gules.[87]
Supporters
The Royal Supporters differenced with the like coronet and label.
Orders
The Order of the Garter ribbon. HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE (Shame be to him who thinks evil of it)
^"Prince Harry impressed with Guyana's commitment to conservation, sustainable development". Georgetown, Guyana: Ministry of the Presidency. 2 December 2016. Archived from the original on 26 March 2018. Retrieved 25 March 2018. President David Granger showing Prince Henry of Wales an image of his cousin Prince Edward, Duke of Kent who presented the instrument of Guyana's Independence to former Head of State, President Forbes Burnham.
^ abRayner, Gordon (22 March 2013). "Duke of Kent spends another day in hospital after 'mild' stroke". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 25 March 2018. The Duke is perhaps best known for his role as president of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, presenting trophies to the winners at Wimbledon.
^"The Fellowship". Royal Academy of Engineering. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
^"Court Circular". Official website of the Royal Family. 16 September 2015. Retrieved 25 March 2018. The Duke of Kent, Patron, Endeavour Training, this morning received Mr. Steven Turner upon assuming his appointment as Chief Executive Officer.
^"Our Membership". The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
^䝪䞊䜲䝇䜹䜴䝖日本連盟 きじ章受章者 [Recipient of the Golden Pheasant Award of the Scout Association of Japan] (PDF). Reinanzaka Scout Club (in Japanese). 23 May 2014. Archived from the original(PDF) on 11 August 2020.
^"No. 53555". The London Gazette (Supplement). 25 January 1994. p. 1087.
^"No. 53267". The London Gazette (Supplement). 6 April 1993. p. 6179.
^"No. 50204". The London Gazette (Supplement). 23 July 1985. p. 10113.
^"No. 54453". The London Gazette. 1 July 1996. p. 8917.
^Chessyre, Hubert (1994–1995). "The Heraldry of the Garter Banners"(PDF). Report of the Society of the Friends of St George's and the Descendants of the Knights of the Garter. VII (6): 248. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
1 Not a British prince by birth, but created Prince Consort. 2 Not a British prince by birth, but created a Prince of the United Kingdom. Princes whose titles were removed and eligible people who do not use the title are shown in italics.