The Kents

[Belindabelle]

Just looking at the official coronation photograph of the modern slimmed down monarchy.

I see the Duke of Kent. I know his wife the Duchess (my favorite) retired from public life some years ago.

What happened to prince and princess Michael of Kent. I know they were at the coronation but how come the Duke outranks them and they are not part of the new firm.

Can anybody explain.

Wld eggs? What?

I meant "wide"

It feels like there's definitely an age divide on this thread. I was growing up when Princess Pushy was all over the papers for her Nazi relatives, and was loathed by everyone. But family means they're stuck with her.

If the Duchess of Kent has separated from the Duke of Kent, rather than just given up royal duties, that would explain her absence as much as illness. But given that she is 90, chances are that she isn't well enough for this stuff.

Of flipping heck, I remember that. Now I'm 'a certain age'

She was called that in the 70s when they first met, yes. It was always mentioned at the time.

The Duchess of Kent had a termination (iirc before Nicholas was born) as she contracted measles during her pregnancy. She then had a stillborn child. She was very open about both of these things and the effect on her mental health which persisted over the years. When she converted to Catholicism it was (in her own words) partly because she found a safe haven within the church that helped her through those times. I think her MH issues have continued and when she retired from public life twenty or so years ago, she said that had she not been in such a public relationship she'd have liked to live full time in a convent.

I remember when Katharine Worsley married the Duke of Kent in York Minster in 1961 and still think she was the most beautiful royal bride ever.
Princess Alexandra was around the same time and that was a lovely dress too.
I think in later years the Duchess of Kent taught music in a state Primary School in Hull for a long time without people knowing who she was.

She was a beautiful bride in a beautiful dress.

Well I've just been off down a Wikipedia hole for a bit. The Duchess of Kent is apparently now the oldest living royal.

The late Queen Elizabeth had her cousins (the Kents and Gloucesters), as working Royals because when she became Queen, she was only 25, and apart from her, there was only P. Margaret.
I suspect that Louise and James (children of Edward and Sophie) may be asked to do more, but it will be some years before James is old enough, and anyway, they may not want to.
It is possible that Beatrice and Eugenie may be asked to take on more; they are already titles Princess and HRH.
Obviously when Charles talked about a slimmed down monarchy, was at a time when the balcony was full of Royals, and I suspect he did not envisage Harry stepping back.

@MaggieFS I was down that same hole! Also remembering the D of K warmly hugging a devastated Jana Novotna. It struck me then what a gentle and compassionate woman she was, especially in the light, or possibly because of, her own MH struggles.

I suspect that Louise and James (children of Edward and Sophie) may be asked to do more, but it will be some years before James is old enough, and anyway, they may not want to.

I saw an interview with now Duchess of Edinburgh where she was saying they weren't being brought up with this expectation at all as she didn't sound keen on it or any extra work though that may have changed with circumstances.

I've also read - though no idea if it's true - that Willian wanted Zara and her husband to do more and they weren't keen - they have a young family and a living to make.

Obviously when Charles talked about a slimmed down monarchy, was at a time when the balcony was full of Royals, and I suspect he did not envisage Harry stepping back.

I've seen Princess Ann criticized for countering this slimming down idea in her recent interview - but I suspect you are right they have slimmed down and now may in future be short on people for all the engagements.

Yes. There were members of his family there.

The Duchess of Kent used to sing with the Bach Choir in London (you have to be pretty good to get into it) before she started teaching in Hull. She also set up a chairy called future talent to support children from low income families to learn musical instruments. Apparently she is also a fan of Eminem.

The Duchess has walked a hard road in life.

That’s my abiding memory of Katherine Kent too! And how absolutely delighted she was for Jana several years later when she did eventually win Wimbledon and the Duchess presented her with the trophy.

Obviously when Charles talked about a slimmed down monarchy, was at a time when the balcony was full of Royals, and I suspect he did not envisage Harry stepping back.

I don't know when he said this but yes, he probably envisaged Harry and his future wife. So he's 2 working royals down already.
Possibly was also counting on Andrew continuing too

Charles has spoken about slimmed monarchy for years. He didn't really want the Yorks to have titles. There can't be that much of an age gap between Harry and Bea.

If Charles has any sense, he will let the Kents etc. wind down when they need to, and put his boot up William's arse to make him and Kate earn their keep. In 2022, William did 126 engagements and Kate did only 90. Princess Anne did 214. Between W&K that's a shortfall of 212.

The Duke of Kent, Duke & Duchess of Gloucester and Princess Alexandra carried out 316 between them. If W&K each matched Anne then in theory it would only need one other working Royal to make up the numbers - possibly not even that as 2022's totals would have been reduced by the death of Queen Elizabeth and the Edinburghs have some leeway with Edward completing 143.

Just to add that, comparing to the average full-time working commoner, assuming they work 5 day weeks and 30 days' annual leave, they would be working about 230 days a year. Bearing in mind a Royal engagement is unlikely to last a full day (it counts even if it's just an hour) and the Royals have no life admin or housework or childcare pressures, I would say 230 engagements a year would be a more than reasonable ask for any healthy, working age Royal.

Yes, it's been a couple of years that Kate has done fewer engagements than almost everyone. Including the 80 year olds.
I expect she'll be doing more from now on.

Kate may have only done 90 but she is also bringing up three small children and is entitled to want to be involved and hands on with them rather than leave it all to the nannies.

perhaps a slimmed down royal family will be less available, but otoh, they are less required
they may just be extra picky about what they accept

and they may well have less invitations.

I hear what your saying about the numbers, but Kate does the school run... even an hour somewhere will take getting ready time and travel. So probably a day. I'd give them leeway while their kids are still so young.

It's debatable how much of it can be called work; at most it might be a bit dull in places.

If someone said to me, hey, tomorrow, instead of going to work for 8 hours how do you fancy a chauffeur driven trip in a Rolls to attend a drinks reception at the Boring Society of Boring People, and then in the afternoon you'll be chauffeured on to open the new AnyCentre in Anytown before being chauffeured home again. As a bonus you will be treated as a guest of honour at both events and then when you get home, all your housework will have been done and your meal of choice will be served for you.

Most people would regard that as a treat, not work.