Duke of Kent facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dukedom of Kent
Arms of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent
Creation date	12 October 1934
Creation	Second
Monarch	King George V
Peerage	Peerage of the United Kingdom
First holder	Henry Grey
Present holder	Prince Edward
Heir apparent	George Windsor, Earl of St Andrews
Remainder to	the 1st Duke's heirs male of the body lawfully begotten
Subsidiary titles	Earl of St Andrews Baron Downpatrick
Status	Extant
Former seat(s)	Coppins

The Duke of Kent is a special title given to members of the British Royal Family. It's a "dukedom," which is one of the highest ranks in the British system of nobility called the peerage. This title has been created several times in the history of Great Britain and the United Kingdom.

Most recently, it was created as a royal dukedom for the fourth son of King George V. Since 1942, the title has been held by Prince Edward (born 1935). He is a cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth II.

Prince Edward, the current Duke of Kent

What is a Duke of Kent?

A Duke is a very high-ranking noble title, often held by close relatives of the King or Queen. The "of Kent" part means the title is connected to the historic county of Kent in England.

Early History of Kent Titles

The area of Kent has a long history with special titles. It was once the Kingdom of Kent, one of the first Anglo-Saxon kingdoms in England. The rulers were called "Kings of Kent" as far back as 449 AD.

Later, after 825 AD, Kent became part of the larger Kingdom of Wessex. It was then ruled by "sub-kings," who were often related to the main Wessex rulers. By 860 AD, Kent was fully absorbed into Wessex and was no longer a separate kingdom.

Earls of Kent

The first title connected to Kent was the Earl of Kent. This title was part of the Peerage of England.

• One of the first Earls was Leofwine Godwinson, around 1056.
• After the Battle of Hastings in 1066, William the Conqueror gave the title to his half-brother, Odo of Bayeux. Odo lost the title twice!
• The title was given to different people over the centuries.
• In 1710, Henry Grey, who was already the 12th Earl of Kent, was given an even higher title: Duke of Kent.

The First Duke of Kent

Henry Grey (1671–1740) became the 12th Earl of Kent in 1702. In 1706, he was made a Marquess of Kent. Then, in 1710, he was given the top title of Duke of Kent.

Sadly, both of Henry's sons died before him. This meant that when Henry died in 1740, he had no male heir to pass on the Dukedom of Kent. So, this first creation of the Dukedom ended with him.

Royal Dukedom: 1799 Creation

The title of Duke of Kent was created again in 1799. This time, it was a "royal dukedom." This means it was given to a direct member of the Royal Family.

• Prince Edward Augustus received the title. He was the fourth son of King George III.
• Prince Edward had only one child, a daughter named Princess Alexandrina Victoria. She later became the famous Queen Victoria.
• When Prince Edward died in 1820, he had no sons. So, this royal dukedom also ended.

Royal Earldom: 1866 Creation

Later, in 1866, a different title connected to Kent was created. This was the Earldom of Kent.

• Prince Alfred received this title. He was the second son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.
• Prince Alfred also had only one son, who sadly died before him.
• When Prince Alfred died in 1900, the Earldom of Kent ended.

Royal Dukedom: 1934 Creation (Current)

The current Dukedom of Kent was created in 1934.

• Prince George (1902–1942) received the title. He was the fourth son of King George V and Queen Mary.
• Prince George had three children: Prince Edward, Princess Alexandra, and Prince Michael.
• When Prince George died in 1942, his eldest son, Prince Edward, became the new Duke of Kent.

The Current Duke of Kent

Prince Edward (born 1935) is the current Duke of Kent. He is the grandson of King George V.

He has two sons. The rules for royal titles mean that his eldest son, George, Earl of St. Andrews (born 1962), is next in line to inherit the title. After him, his son Lord Downpatrick (born 1988) is second in line.

When the Earl of St. Andrews becomes Duke, the title will no longer be a "royal dukedom" because he is a great-grandson of a King (George V). He will still be called "His Grace The Duke of Kent."

Duties of the Duke of Kent

The current Duke of Kent performs many important duties for the Royal Family and the United Kingdom.

• He represents the King at various events.
• He is the Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England, which is a large organization for Freemasons.
• He has been the President of The Scout Association in the UK since 1975.
• He is also the President of the Royal Institution, which promotes science.
• He has made official visits to Commonwealth countries on behalf of the Queen.
• He sometimes acts as a Counsellor of State, which means he can carry out royal duties if the King is unwell or abroad.
• He is the Grand Prior (or Grand Master) of the Order of St Michael and St George, an order of chivalry.
• He supports many charities and organizations, like Endeavour, a youth organization.

Coat of Arms

The Duke of Kent has a special coat of arms. This is like a unique symbol or emblem for his family.

• The main part of his arms is based on the Royal Arms.
• It has a special "label" with five points. These points have blue anchors and red crosses on them. This "label" shows that he is a member of the Royal Family, but not the monarch.
• His crest includes a golden lion wearing a special coronet.
• His "supporters" are the royal lion and unicorn, also with the special coronet and label.
• The Duke of Kent also has a personal flag, which is a version of his arms.
• His personal badge is the letter 'E' (for Edward) surrounded by the garter of the Order of the Garter, with a prince's coronet on top.

Residence

The Duke and Duchess of Kent live at Wren House, which is located on the grounds of Kensington Palace in London. Their official office is at York House at St. James's Palace.

Dukes of Kent (List)

First Creation, 1710

Duke	Portrait	Birth	Marriages	Death
Henry Grey 1710–1740 also: Marquess Grey (1740), Marquess of Kent (1706), Earl of Kent (1465), Earl of Harold and Viscount Goderich (1706) and Baron Lucas of Crudwell (1663)	Henry Grey	1671	(1) Hon. Jemima Crew 1695 10 children (2) Lady Sophia Bentinck 24 March 1729 2 children	1740

Second Creation, 1934

Duke	Portrait	Birth	Marriages	Death
Prince George House of Windsor 1934–1942 also: Earl of St Andrews and Baron Downpatrick (1934)	Prince George	20 December 1902 York Cottage, Sandringham son of King George V and Queen Mary	Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark 29 November 1934 3 children	25 August 1942 Dunbeath aged 39
Prince Edward House of Windsor 1942–present also: Earl of St Andrews and Baron Downpatrick (1934)	Prince Edward	9 October 1935 Belgrave Square, London son of Prince George and Princess Marina	Katharine Worsley 8 June 1961 3 children	– now 89 years, 253 days old

Line of Succession to the Dukedom

This list shows who would inherit the title of Duke of Kent next:

Family Tree

See Also

• Duchess of Kent
• British monarchy
• Kent