Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Princess Marina |
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| Duchess of Kent | |
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Marina in 1937
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| Born | 13 December 1906 Athens, Kingdom of Greece |
| Died | 27 August 1968 (aged 61) Kensington Palace, London, England |
| Burial | 30 August 1968 Royal Burial Ground, Frogmore |
| Spouse | |
| Issue | |
| House | Glücksburg |
| Father | Prince Nicholas of Greece and Denmark |
| Mother | Grand Duchess Elena Vladimirovna of Russia |
| Signature |  |
Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent, was a special member of both the Greek and British royal families. She was born a princess of Greece and Denmark, and later became a British princess when she married.
Born Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark on 13 December 1906, she was the daughter of Prince Nicholas of Greece and Denmark and Grand Duchess Elena Vladimirovna of Russia. She was also the granddaughter of King George I of Greece.
In 1934, Princess Marina married Prince George, Duke of Kent. He was the fourth son of King George V and Queen Mary of the United Kingdom. Marina and George had three children: Prince Edward, Princess Alexandra, and Prince Michael.
Sadly, Marina became a widow in 1942 when her husband died in a plane crash while serving in the Royal Air Force. After this, she continued to carry out many important royal duties. She represented the Queen at independence celebrations for countries like Ghana and Botswana. Princess Marina passed away on 27 August 1968, at the age of 61.
Contents
Early Life of Princess Marina
Princess Marina was born in Athens, Greece, on 13 December 1906. Her grandfather, George I, was the King of Greece at the time. Marina was the youngest of three daughters born to Prince Nicholas of Greece and Denmark and his wife, Grand Duchess Elena Vladimirovna of Russia.
Her father was a grandson of King Christian IX of Denmark. Her mother was a granddaughter of Emperor Alexander II of Russia. This meant Marina had royal connections across Europe!
Marina had two older sisters, Princess Olga and Princess Elizabeth. Princess Olga married Prince Paul of Yugoslavia. Princess Elizabeth married Carl Theodor, Count of Toeering-Jettenbach. A fun fact: Marina and her sisters were first cousins to Prince Philip, who later married Queen Elizabeth II.
Marina spent her early years in Greece, often staying at Tatoi Palace with her family. Her grandmother, Queen Olga, made sure Marina and her sisters were raised to be very religious. The family often traveled outside Greece, especially in the summer. Marina first visited Britain in 1910 when she was three years old. There, she met Queen Mary, who would later become her mother-in-law. Queen Mary treated Marina and her sisters like her own children.
When Marina was 11, the Greek royal family had to leave Greece. They moved to Paris, but Princess Marina also stayed with other relatives across Europe.
Marriage and Family Life
A Royal Wedding Ceremony
Princess Marina met Prince George in London in 1932. They were second cousins through their shared ancestor, King Christian IX of Denmark. In August 1934, they announced they were getting married! Prince George became the Duke of Kent on 9 October 1934.
Their wedding took place on 29 November 1934, at Westminster Abbey in London. It was a very grand event, as it had been over eleven years since the last major royal wedding. This wedding was also special because it was the first royal wedding to be broadcast on the radio! Microphones were set up so people could hear the ceremony. The broadcast reached listeners both in Britain and other countries.
After the main ceremony, a second Greek Orthodox ceremony was held. This took place in a private chapel at Buckingham Palace, which was specially set up for the occasion. Marina's wedding was the last time a princess from another royal family married into the British royal family.
Married Life and Children
The Duke and Duchess of Kent made their first home at 3 Belgrave Square, near Buckingham Palace. Princess Marina quickly became involved in charity work. She supported organizations like the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital and the Central School of Speech and Drama. She continued to help these causes throughout her life.
Marina also became very close to her mother-in-law, Queen Mary. They often spent time together while Prince George was busy with his royal duties.
Princess Marina and Prince George had three children:
- Prince Edward, Duke of Kent (born 9 October 1935). He married Katharine Worsley in 1961 and they have three children.
- Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy (born 25 December 1936). She married Angus Ogilvy in 1963 and they had two children.
- Prince Michael of Kent (born 4 July 1942). He married Baroness Marie Christine von Reibnitz in 1978 and they have two children.
Sadly, Prince George, Duke of Kent, died on 25 August 1942. He was killed in an airplane crash in Scotland while serving in the Royal Air Force during World War II. Princess Marina became a war widow. During the war, she also trained as a nurse for three months, using the name "Sister Kay." She joined the civil nurse reserve to help with the war effort.
Later Life and Royal Duties
After her husband's death, Princess Marina continued to be a very active member of the British royal family. She carried out many official duties and engagements. She was the president of the Wimbledon All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club for 26 years, showing her love for sports. She also led the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) from 1943 until her death, helping to save lives at sea. For her contributions, she received the RNLI's gold medal in 1967.
In 1947, Princess Marina visited Greece and Italy. In June 1952, she laid the foundation stone for the new St Mark's Church in Bromley, London, which had been damaged during the war.
The Duchess also visited Sarawak, a British colony at the time, in 1952. She laid the foundation stone for the Cathedral of St Thomas in Kuching. She also visited a former Japanese internment camp that had become a teacher training college.
Princess Marina played an important role in the independence of former British colonies. In March 1957, she represented Queen Elizabeth II at the celebrations when the Gold Coast became independent as Ghana. Fifty years later, her son, Prince Edward, represented the Queen at Ghana's 50th anniversary. In 1966, she also represented the Queen when Bechuanaland became Botswana and Basutoland became Lesotho. The main hospital in Gaborone, Botswana's capital, is named "Princess Marina Hospital" in her honor.
In 1960, Princess Marina was recognized for her style and was added to the International Best Dressed List Hall of Fame. In 1964, she toured Australia and officially opened the Gladesville Bridge in Sydney. From 1963 until her death, she was the Chancellor of the University of Kent at Canterbury.
Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent, passed away on 27 August 1968, at Kensington Palace. She was 61 years old and died from a brain tumour. Her funeral service was held at St. George's Chapel, Windsor, on 30 August. She was buried at the Royal Burial Ground, Frogmore. Her funeral was the last royal event attended by her brother-in-law, the former King Edward VIII.
Legacy and Recognition
Princess Marina's name lives on through many places and institutions. These include:
- Princess Marina College, Arborfield, Berkshire
- Princess Marina House, a facility of the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund at Rustington.
- Princess Marina Hospital, Upton, Northamptonshire
- Princess Marina Hospital, Gaborone, Botswana
- Princess Marina Sports Complex, Rickmansworth.
- Duchess of Kent Hospital, Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia
- Kent College (a teacher training college) Tuaran, Sabah, Malaysia
Honours and Military Roles
Princess Marina received many honours during her life, recognizing her royal status and public service.
Honours
- Dame Grand Cross of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem (GCStJ), 1935
- Companion of the Order of the Crown of India (CI), 1937
- Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE), 1937
- Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO), 1948
- She also received the Royal Family Orders of King George V, King George VI, and Queen Elizabeth II.
Honorary Military Appointments
Princess Marina also held important honorary roles in the military:
- Colonel-in-Chief of The Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment
- Honorary Colonel of the Buckinghamshire Battalion, The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry
- Honorary Colonel of the Buckinghamshire Regiment, RA (Territorials)
- Commandant of the Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS) from 1940 to 1968, becoming Chief Commandant in 1951.
Images for kids
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Coat of arms of Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent
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Royal monogram of Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent
See also
- List of people with brain tumours
