Who is Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and how is he related to the Royal Family?
THE Duke of Kent missed the Remembrance service at the Cenotaph due to "episodic mobility problems" on November 12, 2023.
The 88-year-old was also reportedly forced to pull out of the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall due to health issues.
Who is Prince Edward, Duke of Kent?
Prince Edward was born on October 9, 1935, to Prince George, the Duke of Kent, and Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark.
His father was the younger brother of both King George VI and the former King Edward VIII, whilst his mother, Princess Marina, was the niece of the Duke of Edinburgh's father, Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark.
He is a member of the Royal Family and has held the title of Duke of Kent since the age of six.
The title was passed to him after the death of his father, Prince George, in a plane crash in August 1942.
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Prince Edward was educated at Eton College and Sandhurst before beginning a military career lasting over 20 years.
He often carried out engagements on behalf of the Queen and is involved with over 140 charitable organisations.
He has also acted as Counsellor of State during periods of the Queen's absence abroad.
The Duke of Kent married Katharine Worsley at York Minster on June 8, 1961.
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They spent their honeymoon in Majorca, before celebrating the birth of their first child the following year.
George, Earl of St Andrews, arrived in 1962 and was followed by Lady Helen in 1964, with Lord Nicholas born six years after that.
Socialite Lady Amelia Windsor is one of his grandchildren.
How is the Duke of Kent related to the late Queen?
Prince Edward is a first cousin of Queen Elizabeth II through their fathers, Prince George, Duke of Kent, and King George VI.
Prince George was the youngest brother of Prince Albert (King George VI), the Queen's father.
Edward is also related through his mother to the late Prince Philip.
Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark, his mother, was a first cousin of the Duke of Edinburgh.
This means Edward is both a first cousin once removed and a second cousin to King Charles and his siblings.
The Duke would join the late Queen on the Buckingham Palace balcony while she inspected troops at her Jubilee celebrations.
He traditionally took on this "plus-one position" when Prince Philip was unwell and after his death.
He previously said of the late Queen and his commitment to duty: "I always felt I wanted to support her. That's by far the most important thing in life."
When was he the FA President?
Edward was president of The Football Association - England’s football governing body - from 1971 to 2000.
This is more of a figurehead role, with the chairman of the FA taking on the bulk of responsibilities.
The role was taken over by Prince Andrew in 2000 and then Prince William in 2006.
Since 1939, the president has always been a member of the British Royal Family.
The Earl of Athlone held the role between 1939 and 1955 before passing the position on to the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip.
The baton was then passed on to the Duke of Gloucester in 1957, and then The Earl of Harewood in 1963, before the Duke of Kent's tenure began in 1971.
What other roles does he have?
Prince Edward has held hundreds of roles over the years.
At 18 the Duke enrolled at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and graduated as a Second Lieutenant in 1955.
He retired from the Army in 1976 - but the Duke still holds several senior appointments and regularly visits his regiments.
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Since 1975 he has served as the President of The Scout Association.
Since 1969 he has also served as the president of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.
