Edward and Katharine, Duke & Duchess of Kent, their family

[Lucien]

Katherine,Duchess of Kent celebrates her 75th birthday today.
 

[grandduchessella]

From the Telegraph:

It's Hello! again

The Duke of Gloucester's daughter Lady Rose Windsor may have turned down a lucrative offer from Hello! to cover her wedding, as I reported last week, but the magazine has lost none of its appeal to other members of the Royal family.

Mandrake can disclose that the usually reclusive Duchess of Kent will appear on seven pages of Hello! this week with her daughter, Lady Helen Taylor. "The article will focus on their charity work," says my man at the Windsors' house journal.

(cross-posted)

[grandduchessella]

the couple at the recent Coburg wedding from BRMB courtesy of Boris:



and courtesy of Stig



The couple is expecting their 2nd child.

[Lucien]

Lady Paola Windsor gave birth to a son last tuesday at Chelsea and Westminster hospital.

[Margot]

Very inactive thread I note.....but I have a little query!?

Does anyone know where the remains of Duke and Duchess' stillborn son (purportedly known as Patrick) are interred? I did wander perhaps if his body is interred at Frogmore....but am unsure! Anyone know for sure? By the way, where did the detail that he was to be named Patrick actually originate from?

[Kalafrana]

Going back a bit, Norfolk is THE Catholic dukedom. The 17th Duke, who died in 2002, had quite a high profile in church-related matters  (he famously declared of 'natural birth control', 'My wife and I tried it, and it didn't bloody well work'), but little is heard of his son, the 18th Duke.

The dukedom of Portland died with the 9th Duke in 1990. The earldom of Portland survives and the current holder is best known for his role in the long-running Radio 4 serial 'The Archers'.

Ann

[Margot]

The wonderful Katharine Kent! Beautiful inside and out! I can not say how much I admire her! Goodness she could have taught Diana and thing or too!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xectsQLdiL8&feature=related

[Kalafrana]

Interview with the Duchess of Kent about her voluntary work as a music teacher.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/theroyalfamily/8798441/Duchess-of-Kent-my-love-for-teaching-music-at-Hull-state-primary-school.html

[CHRISinUSA]

A remarkable lady.  Despite her many difficulties in life, and perhaps a few eyebrow raising choices, she has managed to remain productive and forge her own path, while still remaining discrete and maintaining her dignity.  Not an easy feat for anyone.

[Kalafrana]

I have a lot of time for the Duchess of Kent, and for the Duke and their children, who all seem to be sensible and hard-working people.

Ann

[LadyCathy]

The dukedom of Portland died with the 9th Duke in 1990. The earldom of Portland survives and the current holder is best known for his role in the long-running Radio 4 serial 'The Archers'.

The dukes of Portland, the Cavendish-Bentinck family were the Queen Mother's maternal family.  Her mother was Lady Nina Cecilia Cavendish-Bentinck.  She was the daughter of the second son of the Duke, a clergyman, and if she had been a boy she would have been the Duke of Portland. 

[ashdean]

The dukedom of Portland died with the 9th Duke in 1990. The earldom of Portland survives and the current holder is best known for his role in the long-running Radio 4 serial 'The Archers'.

The dukes of Portland, the Cavendish-Bentinck family were the Queen Mother's maternal family.  Her mother was Lady Nina Cecilia Cavendish-Bentinck.  She was the daughter of the second son of the Duke, a clergyman, and if she had been a boy she would have been the Duke of Portland. 

The Queen Mothers mother was MISS Nina Cavendish-Bentnick she would have indeed been a lady if her father had outlived his cousin the Duke or if she had had a brother.

[Grace]

The wonderful Katharine Kent! Beautiful inside and out! I can not say how much I admire her! Goodness she could have taught Diana and thing or too!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xectsQLdiL8&feature=related

Actually, Diana spoke about Katharine Kent's work and admired her greatly...perhaps you didn't realise this?  

[Kalafrana]

'Actually, Diana spoke about Katharine Kent's work and admired her greatly...perhaps you didn't realise this?'

I didn't know that, but Diana could still have learned a good deal from the Duchess about working away quietly and doing nothing which might cause scandal. Indeed, the Duke and Duchess separated quietly some years ago, and both have behaved so discreetly that it's hardly been noticed. They went to William and Kate's wedding together, however.

Ann

[Margot]

'Actually, Diana spoke about Katharine Kent's work and admired her greatly...perhaps you didn't realise this?'

I didn't know that, but Diana could still have learned a good deal from the Duchess about working away quietly and doing nothing which might cause scandal. Indeed, the Duke and Duchess separated quietly some years ago, and both have behaved so discreetly that it's hardly been noticed. They went to William and Kate's wedding together, however.

Ann

Grace, I was just pointing out that even though the Duchess of Kent went through a some incredibly difficult times in the latter half of the seventies, going through an abortion at the age of forty two due to the risks entailed after she contracted rubella and then two years later to her delight finding herself pregnant again at forty four and then enduring the agony of giving birth to a stillborn son, which had a profound effect of the Duchess, she dealt with these tragedies in an amazingly dignified and private fashion. There have been rumours for decades about the Kent marriage being strained, but the Duchess appeared to manage to continue fulfilling her role as a member of the family and carry out he duties until her decision to convert to the Catholic faith which was more or less when she began to reduce her work schedule as a member of the family and went off to teach music at a primary school and continue her support of Charities without the constant attention of the press. I just think it a shame that with such compassion and humility, where she continues to ask others not to address her by her royal style, the Duchess had already demonstrated to Diana as far back as 1994 that one could lead a uniquely fulfilling and useful life without resorting to some of tactics that Diana resorted to in her bid to share her marital problems and personal tribulations with the media and readers. It is a pity that though Diana may have admired Katharine Kent, she never took a leaf out of the Duchess' book in how to deal with personal matters privately and how to achieve her goals away from the so called "Firm" in a measured and discreet way.