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A Royal Life
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.
A Royal Life is an unprecedented, insightful and remarkable slice of Royal history.
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.
A Royal Life is an unprecedented, insightful and remarkable slice of Royal history.
304 pages, Hardcover
Published October 11, 2022
87 people are currently reading
193 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
May 15, 2022
My Interest
Unless you just found my blog today, you’ll know I follow the British Royal Family.
The Book
H.R.H. Prince Edward (the “other” Prince Edward) was born to Prince George, Duke of Kent (son of George V and Queen Mary) and his wife, Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark (first cousin of Prince Philip) in another Jubilee year–1935. It was George V’s Silver Jubilee that year, and few suspected the King would be dead in a matter of months. Born seventh in the line of succession, young Eddie with his dual royal lineage was related to just about everyone royal. Sadly, his father, Prince George, died in a flying accident during World War II. There are conspiracies theories about the death as you might imagine, fueled by the fact that no author has ever been allowed access to his papers in the Royal Archive at Windsor.
Eddie progressed through the predictable posh schools, landing last at the poshest–Le Rothesy in Switzerland, before attending Sandhurst and joining the Army. He married a beautiful, talented lady, and had three children. He likes cars, music, and history. He hunts, shoots, fishes. He used to ride in Trooping the Colour on gray horse behind the Queen. His Army career, like that of Princess Anne’s first husband Mark Phillips, ended due to having to serve in Northern Ireland. He is interested in mechanical things and, like Princess Anne admitted recently, would possibly have enjoyed studying engineering.
My Thoughts
Eddie Kent has spent his life loyally serving the Queen. He is discreet, dutiful, and polite. Therefore, this book reads like a compilation of Court Circulars from 1952, when as a school boy he walked in King George VI’s funeral (and months later in that of Queen Mary) until today. It is not quite as dull as the official biography of his late paternal uncle, Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, but close. Even the comments from his children were not terribly illuminating. His wife seemed vacant in her comments.
As this book is part of the counter-offensive to the preaching and moaning of the Queen’s third grandson and his wife, it is no surprise that the Duke supports working within the royal system and supports the Queen truly with his “life and limb and earthly worship against all manner of folk” exactly as he swore, on his knees, to do at her Coronation. He feels supporting the Queen is “by far the most important thing in life.” He has never felt “locked into” a system nor that any system was “working against [him].” According to co-author Vickers, the Duke “represents important values, not always appreciated by the present generation.” No question at whom that is aimed.
The only things I learned about Eddie that I did not know were that he hates getting rid of books, keeps meticulous records of the amount of time it takes for the performance of each opera he attends, and hated sports at school. He did not come to like riding and [fox]hunting until he joined the Army and had to learn to ride properly due to being in a mechanized cavalry regiment in which officers had to ride well. I learned at the Coronation one elderly peer stood and the his robes, antiques inherited from a previous holder of his title, disintegrated to the floor (hilarious) and that the late king of Thailand loved jazz.
I did like seeing some family connections of another sort. Eddie, Prince Philip, Princess Anne, and H.R.H. Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester who is an architect by education/training, all were/are fascinated by engineering or engineering-related fields. The Duke (and his lovely wife) loves music–especially opera, like Prince Charles and like the late Lord Harewood (the Duke’s paternal cousin–the eldest grandchild of George V). He also loves jazz (hence the mention of the King of Thailand) like the late Lord Harewood’s younger brother, Gerald. With Gerald, too, he shared his love of fast cars and auto racing. With Prince Charles he shared a difficulty with math at school and loathing of most team sports at school. He and his wife share with William and Catherine a love of Amner Hall as a wonderful family country home. The Kents had the house before Royal friends, the Van Cutsems, who had it before the Cambridges.
There is nothing revealing in this book what-so-ever. The Duke barely mentions being married. His children get a nod. His dogs are mentioned. No thoughts on anything except music, engineering, skiing, how lucky he was to go on all those royal trips, etc. “Don’t complain, don’t explain” to a “t”. Sing God Save the Queen, salute, and sit down. “And, quite right, too” one can hear him say in his basset hound-like club man voice (I heard him speak in a recent documentary about the Queen).
The book has one fantastic photo of Queen Mary with many of her grandchildren from the Duke’s personal collection. Sadly, two of the photos have misidentifications. In one the Duke himself is left out–it is supposedly his christening, but it was clearly his sister, Princess Alexandra’s christening because a nanny is very clearly wrangling him as a toddler in her arms! The other identifies the current Queen as the Duchess of Gloucester! Surely the handbag was a tip-off? Apparently not.
Unless you just found my blog today, you’ll know I follow the British Royal Family.
The Book
H.R.H. Prince Edward (the “other” Prince Edward) was born to Prince George, Duke of Kent (son of George V and Queen Mary) and his wife, Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark (first cousin of Prince Philip) in another Jubilee year–1935. It was George V’s Silver Jubilee that year, and few suspected the King would be dead in a matter of months. Born seventh in the line of succession, young Eddie with his dual royal lineage was related to just about everyone royal. Sadly, his father, Prince George, died in a flying accident during World War II. There are conspiracies theories about the death as you might imagine, fueled by the fact that no author has ever been allowed access to his papers in the Royal Archive at Windsor.
Eddie progressed through the predictable posh schools, landing last at the poshest–Le Rothesy in Switzerland, before attending Sandhurst and joining the Army. He married a beautiful, talented lady, and had three children. He likes cars, music, and history. He hunts, shoots, fishes. He used to ride in Trooping the Colour on gray horse behind the Queen. His Army career, like that of Princess Anne’s first husband Mark Phillips, ended due to having to serve in Northern Ireland. He is interested in mechanical things and, like Princess Anne admitted recently, would possibly have enjoyed studying engineering.
My Thoughts
Eddie Kent has spent his life loyally serving the Queen. He is discreet, dutiful, and polite. Therefore, this book reads like a compilation of Court Circulars from 1952, when as a school boy he walked in King George VI’s funeral (and months later in that of Queen Mary) until today. It is not quite as dull as the official biography of his late paternal uncle, Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, but close. Even the comments from his children were not terribly illuminating. His wife seemed vacant in her comments.
As this book is part of the counter-offensive to the preaching and moaning of the Queen’s third grandson and his wife, it is no surprise that the Duke supports working within the royal system and supports the Queen truly with his “life and limb and earthly worship against all manner of folk” exactly as he swore, on his knees, to do at her Coronation. He feels supporting the Queen is “by far the most important thing in life.” He has never felt “locked into” a system nor that any system was “working against [him].” According to co-author Vickers, the Duke “represents important values, not always appreciated by the present generation.” No question at whom that is aimed.
The only things I learned about Eddie that I did not know were that he hates getting rid of books, keeps meticulous records of the amount of time it takes for the performance of each opera he attends, and hated sports at school. He did not come to like riding and [fox]hunting until he joined the Army and had to learn to ride properly due to being in a mechanized cavalry regiment in which officers had to ride well. I learned at the Coronation one elderly peer stood and the his robes, antiques inherited from a previous holder of his title, disintegrated to the floor (hilarious) and that the late king of Thailand loved jazz.
I did like seeing some family connections of another sort. Eddie, Prince Philip, Princess Anne, and H.R.H. Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester who is an architect by education/training, all were/are fascinated by engineering or engineering-related fields. The Duke (and his lovely wife) loves music–especially opera, like Prince Charles and like the late Lord Harewood (the Duke’s paternal cousin–the eldest grandchild of George V). He also loves jazz (hence the mention of the King of Thailand) like the late Lord Harewood’s younger brother, Gerald. With Gerald, too, he shared his love of fast cars and auto racing. With Prince Charles he shared a difficulty with math at school and loathing of most team sports at school. He and his wife share with William and Catherine a love of Amner Hall as a wonderful family country home. The Kents had the house before Royal friends, the Van Cutsems, who had it before the Cambridges.
There is nothing revealing in this book what-so-ever. The Duke barely mentions being married. His children get a nod. His dogs are mentioned. No thoughts on anything except music, engineering, skiing, how lucky he was to go on all those royal trips, etc. “Don’t complain, don’t explain” to a “t”. Sing God Save the Queen, salute, and sit down. “And, quite right, too” one can hear him say in his basset hound-like club man voice (I heard him speak in a recent documentary about the Queen).
The book has one fantastic photo of Queen Mary with many of her grandchildren from the Duke’s personal collection. Sadly, two of the photos have misidentifications. In one the Duke himself is left out–it is supposedly his christening, but it was clearly his sister, Princess Alexandra’s christening because a nanny is very clearly wrangling him as a toddler in her arms! The other identifies the current Queen as the Duchess of Gloucester! Surely the handbag was a tip-off? Apparently not.
July 4, 2022
I enjoyed listening to the audiobook of A Royal Life. The reminiscences of the Queen's cousin, the Duke of Kent, and his family, are fascinating. The Duke of Kent is closely related to Europe's royal houses through both his parents (Prince George Duke of Kent and Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark) and the book includes the recollections of his relatives including his mother's sisters "the Faberge aunts" and Queen Ena of Spain, a granddaughter of Queen Victoria. The Duke of Kent discusses his participation in independence ceremonies and Commonwealth tours in Africa and Asia, providing insights into political change in various regions of the world over the course of the Queen's reign. I was surprised there was not more time devoted to the Duke of Kent's involvement with the Wimbledon Championships though he does mention the most exciting tennis matches he has watched over the years. An engaging book for anyone interested in Queen Elizabeth II's extended family and the modern monarchy.
October 25, 2024
I usually listen to podcasts when I do chores, but decided to add in the odd audio book. This is one I have been wanting to read for a while, but it is not in my library system, so I was happy to find the audiobook on Spotify. In it, the Duke of Kent tells of his life in the presence of the royal family, with the help of Hugo Vickers. The duke and his siblings have had private careers while also helping Queen Elizabeth and now King Charles with various royal engagements and patronages. While he was quite well known in his younger life, most people now do not know who the Duke of Kent is as he has been eclipsed by the younger member of the royal family. As a first cousin of the Queen on his father's side, and Prince Philip on his mother's, he and his siblings are in a rather unique position. His reminiscences are interesting, as he recalls long dead royals, including his mother's sisters whom he called the Faberge aunts with their Russian/Greek/Danish heritage, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, and Queen Ena of Spain. Interviews with his siblings, wife and children are scattered throughout and add further insight. His duties for the Queen included presiding over the independence ceremonies for various former colonies, which he obviously enjoyed very much. He also describes with pride his work with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, and his long time involvement in Wimbledon tennis. If you are looking for a spilling of royal secrets, you will not find it here, but you will find an interesting look at the life of a man who tried to live a fulfilling private life, as well as a life of public service that was forced upon him due to the accident of his birth into one of the most well known families in to world.
May 23, 2024
1,5
Contrary to what the cover suggests this one was not actually written by HRH The Duke of Kent but by Hugo Vickers, and it was the result of some investigation on his side (huge accent on some), and conversations with The Duke recorded over Zooms, phone, and in person. The result of all this effort is first, and foremost odd, and to be honest, boring.
Vickers is, as expected, someone very differential to his royal and noble subjects, and it makes sense, even when he has written official, and the non-official ones, biographies he tried never to lure too much into the unsavoury sides of the his subject but even so, with this book he went perhaps too far. And let's recap why:
-It cannot be a proper bio when the subject is part of the job and, let's be honest... it is a bit dull. It also confirms none of the interesting parts of his history, his father drug past, and bisexuality would not be dealt, approached, or even suggested even when they are well known facts by now, old history on top of that. Same goes for his mother's true character and her travails with the BRF, and subjects. His siblings, or his wife's issues with becoming a minor royal, depression, and all the ensues being married to someone in a high position that thanks to his father's demise, and the WW2 rules in Britain, was never properly given the funds to support that life, always depending on the largesse of the current monarch to make ends meet, and the on and off sale of whatever objects d'art and jewels they had left. To sum it up:
-The recollections are basically simply non-interesting.
-The book format, for luck of a better word, sucks. Completely.
By mid-book I found myself drifting away so I started skimming the material to the point that by the end of it I did further skimming than reading. I wouldn't advise anyone to read this one, not even to royals fans for it is a complete bore. Not the duke's fault of course but who is going to dish on everyone they knew, or know still, in that position unless they want to create havoc in their last years? And the answer is... no one.
Contrary to what the cover suggests this one was not actually written by HRH The Duke of Kent but by Hugo Vickers, and it was the result of some investigation on his side (huge accent on some), and conversations with The Duke recorded over Zooms, phone, and in person. The result of all this effort is first, and foremost odd, and to be honest, boring.
Vickers is, as expected, someone very differential to his royal and noble subjects, and it makes sense, even when he has written official, and the non-official ones, biographies he tried never to lure too much into the unsavoury sides of the his subject but even so, with this book he went perhaps too far. And let's recap why:
-It cannot be a proper bio when the subject is part of the job and, let's be honest... it is a bit dull. It also confirms none of the interesting parts of his history, his father drug past, and bisexuality would not be dealt, approached, or even suggested even when they are well known facts by now, old history on top of that. Same goes for his mother's true character and her travails with the BRF, and subjects. His siblings, or his wife's issues with becoming a minor royal, depression, and all the ensues being married to someone in a high position that thanks to his father's demise, and the WW2 rules in Britain, was never properly given the funds to support that life, always depending on the largesse of the current monarch to make ends meet, and the on and off sale of whatever objects d'art and jewels they had left. To sum it up:
-The recollections are basically simply non-interesting.
-The book format, for luck of a better word, sucks. Completely.
By mid-book I found myself drifting away so I started skimming the material to the point that by the end of it I did further skimming than reading. I wouldn't advise anyone to read this one, not even to royals fans for it is a complete bore. Not the duke's fault of course but who is going to dish on everyone they knew, or know still, in that position unless they want to create havoc in their last years? And the answer is... no one.
January 26, 2023
As an American follower of the British Royal Family, I was intrigued when I heard that the Duke of Kent was publishing a book about his life. He's been a quiet but steady presence in the Royal Family for most of his life. A cousin to both Queen Elizabeth II & Prince Philip, & descended from not only the British royals but also the royals of Greece & Russia, the Duke of Kent certainly has an interesting heritage. I enjoyed particularly reading about the war (WWII) years. The Duke has traveled all over the world & met with all sorts of world leaders, sports stars, & other prominent people. He seems to have remained very down to earth & sincerely devoted to serving the now late Queen & the Commonwealth.
Written in a, sort of, interview style the Duke discusses various events that have occurred throughout his life. Also featured are commentary from his wife, siblings, children, & European Royal cousins. He offers a very refreshing take on life in Royal Family.
Written in a, sort of, interview style the Duke discusses various events that have occurred throughout his life. Also featured are commentary from his wife, siblings, children, & European Royal cousins. He offers a very refreshing take on life in Royal Family.
June 15, 2022
Hugo Vickers has a well-earned reputation as a talented biographer, particularly of members of the British Royal Family. As such, I was enthusiastic about reading this collaboration between Vickers and Prince Edward, Duke of Kent. The book provides a nice overview of the Duke's life, including his military service and support for the Queen as a working royal over many decades. That said, the book is almost all short anecdotes or memories. The connective narrative that makes a biography or autobiography compelling is missing. The book could have benefitted from better editing and synthesis in pulling the stories together, answering the "So what" question. Disappointing overall.
March 3, 2023
The Duke of Kent has undoubtedly lived a full and fascinating life, to date. It is also unusual for a living member of the Royal Family to speak about their life.
Edward, older son of the Duke of Kent inherited the title on the unexpected death of his father in a plane crash in 1942. The new duke was only 7 years old. His mother and the wider royal family did a great job in raising him and despite some youthful misadventures, often involving cars, he has lived a long, satisfying and valuable life, the highlight for him being able for all these years to support the Queen, his cousin, in her royal duties.
On his mother's side he is distantly related to half of the European royal families and was first cousin, not just to the Queen but also to Prince Philip. In his youth, he was well known as the royal family before the War and even for some years after the War, was much smaller than it presently is. Crowds turned out to see him when he was christened but today, many people would be unaware of who he is, despite his many years of public service.
He served in the military for many years as well travelling extensively in support of Queen and country. He has stood on behalf of the Queen at many independence ceremonies of former colonies and visited and strengthened ties with Commonwealth countries as well as with far flung places such as Mongolia.
His interests are wider ranging and for over 50 years he was President of the All England Tennis Club (Wimbledon to you and me).
Many of the names banded about are difficult to place despite the useful family tree at the end of the book and I found the style of the book, quoting the duke and his relatives verbatim quite hard to engage with.
Nevertheless a fascinating insight into the life of royalty and of man who has committed his long life in service to the Queen. The book concludes just before the Queen's death in 2022.
Edward, older son of the Duke of Kent inherited the title on the unexpected death of his father in a plane crash in 1942. The new duke was only 7 years old. His mother and the wider royal family did a great job in raising him and despite some youthful misadventures, often involving cars, he has lived a long, satisfying and valuable life, the highlight for him being able for all these years to support the Queen, his cousin, in her royal duties.
On his mother's side he is distantly related to half of the European royal families and was first cousin, not just to the Queen but also to Prince Philip. In his youth, he was well known as the royal family before the War and even for some years after the War, was much smaller than it presently is. Crowds turned out to see him when he was christened but today, many people would be unaware of who he is, despite his many years of public service.
He served in the military for many years as well travelling extensively in support of Queen and country. He has stood on behalf of the Queen at many independence ceremonies of former colonies and visited and strengthened ties with Commonwealth countries as well as with far flung places such as Mongolia.
His interests are wider ranging and for over 50 years he was President of the All England Tennis Club (Wimbledon to you and me).
Many of the names banded about are difficult to place despite the useful family tree at the end of the book and I found the style of the book, quoting the duke and his relatives verbatim quite hard to engage with.
Nevertheless a fascinating insight into the life of royalty and of man who has committed his long life in service to the Queen. The book concludes just before the Queen's death in 2022.
April 14, 2023
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In keeping with my reading or listening to everything regarding the royal family, I tackled the current Duke of Kent’s memoir, which was published late last year. I only knew a little bit about his parents, Prince George and Princess Marina, and I had seen the Duke of Kent with Queen Elizabeth on the balcony during Trooping the Color after the Duke of Edinburgh retired. A cousin to both queen and the prince, he’s been a loyal and dutiful cousin and Duke.
And that’s the overall theme of the book. A sense of duty to the monarchy and his family. The Duke of Kent has literally had a lifetime to learn his role since his father’s death during World War II, making him the duke at the age of 7.
The book is a series of interviews with Hugo Vickers that took place during the pandemic in series of emails and Zoom calls. What results is series of short stories or anecdotes that collectively tell the story of the Duke’s life, with some time spent at the beginning of the book going over his royal pedigree. I have to admit that I’m not a fan of the way the book was laid out, although the content is interesting.
Prince Edward spent about twenty years in the military, and he proudly shares some stories of his time served. He travelled the world in both military and royal capacities for years, in support and promoting the monarchy. He had some misadventures when he was a teen and young adult, mostly with cars, for which he is passionate about.
The Duke of Kent, until recent years, was the patron of Wimbledon on behalf of the Queen, and while he doesn’t talk about it a lot, he does mention one particular year which he thought was the best tennis he had ever seen played.
Overall, a good book that got my royal fix!
In keeping with my reading or listening to everything regarding the royal family, I tackled the current Duke of Kent’s memoir, which was published late last year. I only knew a little bit about his parents, Prince George and Princess Marina, and I had seen the Duke of Kent with Queen Elizabeth on the balcony during Trooping the Color after the Duke of Edinburgh retired. A cousin to both queen and the prince, he’s been a loyal and dutiful cousin and Duke.
And that’s the overall theme of the book. A sense of duty to the monarchy and his family. The Duke of Kent has literally had a lifetime to learn his role since his father’s death during World War II, making him the duke at the age of 7.
The book is a series of interviews with Hugo Vickers that took place during the pandemic in series of emails and Zoom calls. What results is series of short stories or anecdotes that collectively tell the story of the Duke’s life, with some time spent at the beginning of the book going over his royal pedigree. I have to admit that I’m not a fan of the way the book was laid out, although the content is interesting.
Prince Edward spent about twenty years in the military, and he proudly shares some stories of his time served. He travelled the world in both military and royal capacities for years, in support and promoting the monarchy. He had some misadventures when he was a teen and young adult, mostly with cars, for which he is passionate about.
The Duke of Kent, until recent years, was the patron of Wimbledon on behalf of the Queen, and while he doesn’t talk about it a lot, he does mention one particular year which he thought was the best tennis he had ever seen played.
Overall, a good book that got my royal fix!
February 22, 2025
An interesting memoir of a member if the Royal Family, who inherited his title as a boy, following the early death of his Father in WW2. That was the beginning of a life given over to, and still in the service of the country and to the support he gave to his cousin, Queen Elizabeth from the start of her reign and now to King Charles. It shows how times have changed in terms of visibility of Royal personages and the adulation once shown to them, as when he was born, to how they are seen now and frequently not recognised.
The Duke has had a multitude of fascinating experiences, visiting so many countries on behalf of the Queen or the Government, seeing former colonies achieve independence and pursuing his many interests.
HV portrays him as a cultured, rather sensitive man, loving the countryside and enriched by the width of his Royal duties and his army service.
It was less sycophantic than these books usually are. I liked the structure, with the Duke's own words being used, as well as those of his family and intimate circle of friends.
For all that, he is a distant figure. We learn nothing of his feelings for his children and grandchildren, what he is like as a family man. In this, this Grandson of the redoubtable and formidable Queen Mary, remains one of that generation of royals, reserved, discreet, and working as he was indoubtedly taught to serve and support.
The Duke has had a multitude of fascinating experiences, visiting so many countries on behalf of the Queen or the Government, seeing former colonies achieve independence and pursuing his many interests.
HV portrays him as a cultured, rather sensitive man, loving the countryside and enriched by the width of his Royal duties and his army service.
It was less sycophantic than these books usually are. I liked the structure, with the Duke's own words being used, as well as those of his family and intimate circle of friends.
For all that, he is a distant figure. We learn nothing of his feelings for his children and grandchildren, what he is like as a family man. In this, this Grandson of the redoubtable and formidable Queen Mary, remains one of that generation of royals, reserved, discreet, and working as he was indoubtedly taught to serve and support.
May 16, 2022
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.
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.
May 27, 2023
Interesting format. Not really a memoir but rather an edited and annotated transcription of extensive interviews with the Duke of Kent and his family and friends. These include his sister Princess Alexandra and brother Prince Michael, his three children, but also his maternal cousins who are European royalty.
His maternal grandmother was a Russian Grand Duchess, a first cousin of Nicholas II and due to age differences, the Duke’s mother and her sisters were near contemporaries of the last Tsar’s children (who were murdered by the communists.
His maternal grandmother was a Russian Grand Duchess, a first cousin of Nicholas II and due to age differences, the Duke’s mother and her sisters were near contemporaries of the last Tsar’s children (who were murdered by the communists.
October 3, 2022
This is quite an interesting book and it's good to find out more about the ever-reliable Duke of Kent. However, the structure of the book is pretty poor - it needed to be laid out as a proper biography with a linear drive to it, and not a series of conversational snippets. Such a shame - I hope there'll be a proper biography of the Duke at some point but I suspect this isn't it.
May 20, 2022
Very easy to read and in an interesting format, as more of an interview. A fascinating life and wonderful, dedicated servant to HMQ. Would love to know more about him and what he is like as a person.
June 11, 2022
An interesting book about the Duke who has served the Queen loyally and unassumingly all his life. The account is a bit disjointed in places as several people contribute to the story and it is quite a challenge to work out who they all are!
June 17, 2022
Enjoyable book although the different fonts, sizes and type, got a bit annoying from time to time. I didn't know much about the Duke of Kent because he and his wife generally lead a relatively quiet life but he turns out to be one of the nicest people in the BRF.
February 25, 2023
A terrific account of The Duke's Royal Life. The book reads like a diary. It is told with frankness and zero embellishments.
Very enjoyable. The Duke has been by Her Majesty's side for her whole life.
Very enjoyable. The Duke has been by Her Majesty's side for her whole life.
May 22, 2024
Interesting read on the life of another long serving family member. Loved when he described growing up and family life, but wish there was more. Some portions the Duke thought important enough to include ended up becoming parts to skim through; some didn’t make sense.
June 14, 2022
This was a fascinating book by a very private man and his family. Very interesting material about his mother’s side of the family.
October 27, 2022
An entertaining book about HRH The Duke Of Kent, cousin of HM Queen Elizabeth II. Beautifully written with personal photos included.
December 10, 2022
Nice to hear from him and very interesting stories
October 19, 2024
I love reading about the Royal Family and this book about the Duke of Kent was highly interesting. HRH The Duke of Kent has been at the heart of the British Royal Family throughout his life. He became Duke when his father, son of King George V, died in an airplane crash. He was only 6 years old. His life as a member of the Royal family who has dedicated himself to supporting his cousin, The Queen, representing her at home and abroad, is fascinating. 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. He represented The Queen at independence ceremonies from the age of twenty-five, participated in Trooping of the Colour every year, and represented the Queen at countless engagements and charities throughout Britain and the world. The Duke of Kent’s life is truly a life of service and this book recounts his life and service to the Queen and country through a series of interviews with Hugo Vickers. The Duke was a decorated soldier and his life in the Army is also an important part of the book, on equal footing with the accounts of his life representing over 140 charities on behalf of the Queen. The book also discusses the Duke of Kent’s relationships with his cousins Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip and his grandmother Queen Mary and Uncle King George V with restraint and inclusion of interesting details but without the lascivious revelations contained in a book like Spare. A excellent and thoughtful biography of a British royal without a lot of glitz and celebrification.
February 17, 2025
An interesting piece to read and to get a glimpse of what working royals can achieve if they really are keen to work.
June 14, 2025
Excellent! The Duke of Kent is my favorite of the Royals.
December 18, 2025
Full cast narration really made this come to life
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