There are many books being published this year on the British Royal Family. Being the Platinum Jubilee year, I’m not surprised. And, if we are being honest, the Windsors sell. However, one of the books that I was most excited for was not a salacious expose, but rather a memoir. The Queen’s cousin, The Duke of Kent, has released his memoir, allowing us to glimpse into the monarchy during Her Majesty’s reign, as well as the Kent family. He was born to Prince George, the younger brother of King George VI, and Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark, and has carried out royal duties on behalf of his cousin, The Queen, for several decades. A Royal Life by The Duke of Kent is one of the most engaging books I’ve read in years, and should be at the top of your to-read list.
A Royal Life, HRH The Duke of Kent
HRH The Duke of Kent has been at the heart of the British Royal Family throughout his life. As a working member of the Royal Family, he has supported his cousin, The Queen, representing her at home and abroad. His royal duties began when, in 1952, at the age of sixteen, he walked in the procession behind King George VI’s coffin, later paying homage to The Queen at her Coronation in 1953. Since then he has witnessed and participated in key Royal occasions. He represented The Queen at independence ceremonies from the age of twenty-five, he was riding with her when blanks were fired at Trooping the Colour in 1981, he was the oldest soldier on parade at Remembrance Sunday at the Cenotaph in November 2020 and he was alongside The Queen at her official birthday celebrations in June 2021 as Colonel of the Scots Guards.
No member of the Royal Family has spoken extensively of the modern reign and their part in it before. A Royal Life is a unique account based on a series of conversations between the Duke and acclaimed Royal historian Hugo Vickers. It covers some of the most important moments and experiences of the Duke’s life, from his upbringing at his family home Coppins in Buckinghamshire, his twenty-one years of army life, his royal tours and events, through to his work for over 140 different organisations, including presenting the trophies at Wimbledon for more than 50 years. Here too are recollections of family members including his mother, Princess Marina, his grandmother, Queen Mary, his cousin, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, and his uncle, King George VI.
The Duke is a keen photographer and the book contains never before seen photographs from his private collection.
Other members of the Royal Family contribute their memories, including his wife, the Duchess of Kent, the Duke’s siblings, Princess Alexandra and Prince Michael of Kent, his son, the Earl of St Andrews, his daughter, Lady Helen Taylor as well as his cousins, Princess Elizabeth of Yugoslavia, Archduchess Helen of Austria and her brother, Hans Veit Toerring.
Why You Should Read This…
A Royal Life was one of my most anticipated books of 2022, and it did not disappoint. The Duke of Kent is one of the most dedicated senior members of the British Royal Family, but as his wife notes in the book, few people know who he is today. A cousin of both Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, the Duke has a fascinating family tree and has led a fascinating life.
This is not an explosive tell-all like many of the other royal biographies/memoirs out this year, but I think it makes it that much stronger. A Royal Life is based on conversations that His Roont hem- yal Highness (and close family members) had with historian Hugo Vickers, so it is more episodic recounting. It offers a wonderful insight into what royal life was like for senior royals before the media became so closely intertwined with their “jobs”. I particularly enjoyed the memories of the Duke with his mother, Princess Marina, and his memories of living at Amner Hall with his family. (Yes, the Amner Hall that the Cambridges now own.)
If you aren’t overly familiar with both surviving and abolished European monarchies, you might want to brush up on them, or google as you go- it won’t make or break the book but does help.
Is A Royal Life by The Duke of Kent on your to-read list?
Cheers,
The Historian
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