Prince Edward, Duke of Kent
- This article also has a page on the English Wikipedia. See: wikipedia:Prince Edward, Duke of Kent.
mwb Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, kg gcmg gcvo cd (Edward George Nicholas Paul Patrick; born 9 October 1935) is a member of the British royal family. He has been the Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England since 1967. Queen Elizabeth II and Edward were first cousins through their fathers, {{wikipedia|King George VI, and Prince George, Duke of Kent. Edward's mother Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark was also a first cousin of the Queen's husband Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, making him both a second cousin and first cousin once removed to King Charles III.
Prince Edward has held the title of Duke of Kent for more than 80 years, since the age of six, after the death of his father in a plane crash in 1942. Edward carried out engagements on behalf of Elizabeth II and is involved with over 140 charitable organisations.
Early life and education
Prince Edward was born on 9 October 1935, at 3 Belgrave Square, London, to Prince George, Duke of Kent and Princess Marina.[2] His father was the fourth son of George V and Queen Mary. [3]
Freemasonry
The Duke was initiated into Royal Alpha Lodge No. 16 on 16 December 1963, and was elected its Worshipful Master for 1965 and 1966.[4]
Having been appointed Senior Grand Warden in 1966, he was elected as Grand Master the following year, and was installed on 14 June 1967 during United Grand Lodge of England's 250th anniversary celebrations at the Royal Albert Hall.[5] He is the 10th, and longest-serving Grand Master of UGLE, the governing body of Freemasonry in England and Wales.
In December 2013, he celebrated 50 years as a freemason.[4] In October 2017 he presided over the tercentenary celebrations of UGLE, marking the 300th anniversary of the founding of the original Grand Lodge, one of two which merged to form UGLE in 1813.[6] The main ceremony was held in the Royal Albert Hall, in the year which also marked the Duke's 50th anniversary of installation as Grand Master.
References
- ↑ As a British prince, a surname is not usually used but when one is, Windsor is used.
- ↑ Template:London Gazette
- ↑ "Prince Edward Christened – Ceremony at the Palace". The Times. 21 November 1935. p. 14.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Grand Master celebrates 50 years in the Craft at Royal Alpha Lodge". Freemasonry Today. Grand Lodge Publications. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
- ↑ "History of Freemasonry". United Grand Lodge of England. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
- ↑ "Royal Albert Hall plays host to UGLE's epic Tercentenary celebrations". Freemasonry Today. 2 November 2017. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
