Oldest Member of the Royal Family: Duke of Kent Assumes New Role

After the heartbreaking passing of the Queen at the age of 96, a new figure now stands as the oldest member of the Royal Family.

Prince Edward, the Duke of Kent, takes on this significant role at the age of 87.

Born on October 9, 1935, in Belgrave Square, London, Prince Edward George Nicholas Paul Patrick is the first cousin of the late Queen and has led an extraordinary life filled with royal service, involvement in clandestine organizations, and even a religious scandal within his own family.

Prince Edward is the eldest of three children, with Princess Alexandra born on Christmas Day, 1936, and Prince Michael of Kent joining the family in 1942.

Despite his extensive work with over 140 different organizations, Edward's contributions often go unnoticed.

However, he has always been a dedicated member of the Royal Family.

In fact, the official Royal Family website states that he has visited more than 60 countries to promote British goods and trade.

Edward's journey of service began during a legendary tour of the Far East with his mother.

It was during this trip, around the time he turned 17, that he was first exposed to the idea of a life dedicated to serving others.

This experience, coupled with the tragic loss of his father, the Duke of Kent, in a military air accident in Scotland when Edward was just seven years old, shaped his path.

The circumstances surrounding the incident remain mysterious, and the family has never publicly discussed the crash.

Following his father's death, Edward inherited his titles, becoming the Duke of Kent, Earl of St Andrews, and Baron Downe-Patrick.

His mother, Marina, lived in genteel poverty after her husband's passing.

Despite her financial struggles, Marina continued her work as the commander of the Women's Royal Naval Service, or Wrens, until her death in 1968.

She was a glamorous and well-liked member of the royal family, having been a princess of Greece and Denmark before marrying Prince George in 1934.

However, Marina's financial situation was far from ideal.

The high rates of wartime taxes, previously unknown to the pre-war British elite, left her estate burdened with death duties.

The National Archives reveal that Buckingham Palace preferred to keep Marina in poverty rather than support Prime Minister Winston Churchill's plans to provide public funds for her.

The fear was that such support would expose the minimal amount of tax paid by the royal family on their substantial state subsidies.

In a letter to the Prime Minister, Marina's financial adviser, Lord Herbert, explained her predicament.

With the annual subsidy from the state ending after Prince George's death, Marina was left with a disposable income of less than £1,000 a year.

Lord Herbert emphasized her need for a London residence to fulfill her duties as a member of the royal family.

Despite efforts from Churchill, the Treasury remained unmoved, concerned about potential public controversy and comparisons with the suffering of the poor.

Marina managed to make ends meet by selling works of art that had belonged to her late husband.

Changes were eventually made to the civil list after the war to prevent a similar situation from occurring in the future.

Meanwhile, Prince Edward married Catherine Worsley in 1961, and they have three children together.

Edward's position in the line of succession remained unaffected when his mother converted to Catholicism in 1994.

However, some of his immediate relatives fell out of the line of succession due to restrictions imposed by the Succession to the Crown Act 2013.

Throughout his life, Prince Edward has dedicated himself to official engagements and royal obligations.

He represents significant causes such as the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, the Stroke Association, and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Notably, he is also associated with the Freemasons, having joined the organization in 1963.

Over the years, he has risen through the ranks and celebrated 50 years as a Freemason in 2013.

Recently, Prince Edward was present at the Queen's funeral, along with his three first cousins, the Duke of Gloucester, Princess Alexandra, and Prince Michael.

Looking to the future, George, Earl of St Andrews, Prince Edward's son, is the current heir to the Dukedom of Kent.

Once he assumes the title, it will no longer be a royal dukedom due to the family's religious conversion.

He will then be addressed as His Grace, the Duke of Kent, rather than His Royal Highness.

As the Duke of Kent takes on this new role as the oldest member of the Royal Family, his dedication and commitment to service continue to shine through.

Despite the challenges faced by his family, he remains a steadfast representative of the monarchy, upholding the traditions and responsibilities that come with his position.