Duke of Kent Turns 91 After Year of Loss
His Royal Highness The Duke of Kent reaches his 91st birthday on 9 October 2026, after a year shaped by two close losses.
The Duke, a cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth II, is now the oldest living member of the British royal family, according to Hello! Magazine.
He was born Prince Edward. He was born on 9 October 1935 at 3 Belgrave Square, the family's London home, as recorded by the Royal Family.
His wife, Katharine, Duchess of Kent, died peacefully at home, surrounded by her family, aged 92. Buckingham Palace announced her death on 5 September 2025 with, in its words, "deep sorrow", as reported by the BBC.
Born Katharine Worsley, she had married Prince Edward in 1961. The marriage lasted 64 years. Her funeral was held at Westminster Cathedral, with the service scheduled for Tuesday 16 September at 1400hrs BST, according to the Royal Family.
The Duke marked his 90th birthday last year without her. More recently, he attended a memorial concert in her honour alongside close family members.
A second loss followed this September. Nicholas Turnbull, the Duke's private secretary since 2019, died on 16 September 2026. He was 63.
Turnbull ran the Duke's official office and diary, the role that organises engagements and correspondence. Days before his death, King Charles III appointed him a Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order, the honour given for personal service to the monarch. He is survived by two teenage sons, Alexander and Crispin.
For those who know the Duke mainly from public events, this birthday is a quieter milestone. Family has been close by. The paperwork tells part of the story, but the attendance at that concert says the rest.
