Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England - Prince William's uncle

Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England - Prince William's uncle

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Prince Edward, Duke of Kent (Edward George Nicholas Paul Patrick was born on born October 9th, 1935), is a member of the British Royal Family and grandchild of George V. He has held the title of Duke of Kent since 1942.The Duke of Kent carries out royal duties on behalf of his first cousin, Queen Elizabeth II. He is perhaps best known as President of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, presenting the trophies to the Wimbledon winner and runner-up. He also served as the United Kingdom's Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, retiring in 2001. He is also the President of the Scout Association, the President of the Royal United Services Institute, the President of the Royal Institution of Great Britain and the Grand Master of the Freemasons in England & Wales.At the time of his birth, Prince Edward was 7th in the line of succession to his grandfather King George V, behind his 3 uncles, his cousins Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret, and his father. As of the birth of Savannah Phillips in 2010, he is in 28th position.

Prince Edward was born on October 9th, 1935, at No. 3 Belgrave Square, London. His father was Prince George, Duke of Kent, the fourth son of George V and Mary of Teck. His mother was Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent (née Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark), the daughter of Prince Nicholas of Greece and Denmark, and Grand Duchess Helen Vladimirovna of Russia. As a grandson of a British sovereign in the male line, he was styled as a Prince of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland with the prefix, His Royal Highness, styled HRH Prince Edward of Kent.

The Prince was baptised in the Private Chapel of Buckingham Palace on 20 November 1935 by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Cosmo Lang and his godparents were: King George V and Queen Mary (his paternal grandparents); the Prince of Wales (his paternal uncle); the Princess Royal, Countess of Harewood (his paternal aunt); the Duke of Connaught (his great-granduncle, whose son, Prince Arthur of Connaught, stood proxy); the Duchess of Argyll (his great-grandaunt); and the Prince Nicholas of Greece and Denmark (his maternal grandfather).

On 25 August 1942 Prince Edward's father, the Duke of Kent, was killed when his plane crashed in bad weather in Caithness. Prince Edward, then aged 6, succeeded his father as Duke of Kent, Earl of St Andrews and Baron Downpatrick. He later took his seat in the House of Lords in 1959.

As a royal duke, he was destined for royal duties at an early age. At the age of 16 he walked behind the coffin of his uncle, George VI, at his state funeral in 1952. In 1953, he attended the coronation of his cousin, Elizabeth II, paying homage at her throne after her crowning (following the Dukes of Edinburgh and Gloucester).

The Duke is the Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England, the governing body of Freemasonry in England and Wales. Prince Edward has served in that office since 1967.