Royal Musings: Birth of a Prince

October 9, 1935

"This morning, at 5 minutes after two o'clock, Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Kent was safely delivered of a Prince at 3, Belgrave Square. His Royal Highness The Duke of Kent and Her Royal and Imperial Highness Princess Nicholas of Greece were present. Secretary Sir John Simon was also present.

The condition of Her Royal Highness and of the Infant Prince is satisfactory.

The happy event was made known by the firing of the Park and Tower guns."

King George V and Queen Mary were at Sandringham when they were informed of the birth of their fifth grandchild. The official statement from Sandringham: "The King and Queen have received with great pleasure the news that the Duchess of Kent gave birth to a son this morning."

The Duke of Gloucester and his fiancee, Lady Alice Montagu-Douglas-Scott are also staying at Sandringham.

The infant prince weight 6.5lbs at birth. The Duchess's sister, the Countess of Toerring-Jettenbach was at 3 Belgrave Square at the time of the birth.

The new royal baby is 7th in line to the throne. The Prince of Wales is the heir apparent, followed by his brother, the Duke of York, his two daughters, Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret of York, the Duke of Gloucester, the Duke of Kent, and the new prince whose birth pushes the Princess Royal down a notch.

The Duke of Kent, the fourth son of King George V, married Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark on November 29, 1934, at Westminster Abbey.

The Duchess of Kent returned to her London home nine days ago after spending time at Asdean, the home of Lord and Lady Louis Mountbatten. Doctors were summoned to Belgrave Square last night after the Duchess went into labor.

The Countess of Toerring-Jettenbach, who had been staying with her sister, telephoned their parents, Prince and Princess Nicholas, who had arrived in London last week, were driven to Belgrave Square.

The Infant Prince was baptized on November 20 at the Private Chapel at Buckingham Palace. He was given the names Edward George Nicholas Paul Patrick. His sponsors were King George V and Queen Mary, the Prince of Wales, Field Marshal the Duke of Connaught (represented by his son, Prince Arthur of Connaught, Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll, and Prince Nicholas of Greece and Denmark.

Prince Edward was nearly seven years old when he succeeded his father Prince George, Duke of Kent, who was killed in an aviation accident while on active duty on August 24, 1942.

The Duke of Kent has two younger siblings, Princess Alexandra, the Hon. Lady Ogilvy and Prince Michael of Kent. He married Katharine Worsley on June 8, 1961, at York Minster. They have three surviving children, George, Earl of St. Andrews (1961), Lady Helen Taylor (1964) and Lord Nicholas Windsor (1970), and ten grandchildren, Edward, Baron Downpatrick, Lady Marina-Charlotte Windsor, Lady Amelia Windsor, Columbus Taylor, Cassius Taylor, Eloise Taylor, Estella Taylor, Albert Windsor, Leopold Windsor, and Louis Windsor.

The Duke of Kent began carrying out official engagements in his late teens. He continues to represent more than 100 charities, organizations, and military groups.

The Duke and Duchess of Kent live at Wren House, on the Kensington Palace estate.

All photos come from my collection. Some were taken by me.