Duke of Kent Only Person to Walk in Funeral Processions for Both Queen Elizabeth and King George

Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, walks in the procession for his cousin Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral 70 years after doing the same for her father King George VI’s funeral.Photo: Hannah McKay - WPA Pool/Getty

The death ofQueen ElizabethII marks the coming of a new generation for the Britishroyal family.

After Her Majestydied at age 96on Sept. 8, her cousinPrince Edward, Duke of Kent, became the only person to havewalked in the processionfor both Her Majesty’sstate funeraland her fatherKing GeorgeVI’sfuneralin 1952.

The Queeninherited the crownfrom her late father in 1953, and she went on to rule for 70 years as Britain’s longest-reigning monarch.

Queen Elizabeth II and her cousin Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, celebrate her Platinum Jubilee in June, 2022.Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Prince Edward, 86, previously helped the Queen celebrate her milestone anniversary at herPlatinum Jubileein June, where heaccompanied her to take the official salutefor Trooping the Colour. It was her first without her late husband,Prince Philip.

The Duke of Kent is the son ofPrince George, the fourth son of King George V and Queen Mary and the younger brother of King George VI (Queen Elizabeth’s father). His mother, Princess Marina, is royalty in her own right — before her marriage, she was Princess of Greece and Denmark. Princess Marina’s mother was Grand Duchess Elena Vladimirovna of Russia, a granddaughter of Emperor Alexander II of Russia.

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Prince Edward became the Duke of Kent at age 7, inheriting the title after his father died in a wartime flying accident in 1942. He served in the armed forces for over two decades.

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The Queen’s coffintraveled to Westminster Hallin a solemn procession on Wednesday, and it has since been lying in state for mourners to pay their respects.

More than 2,000 people from around the world gathered Monday at Westminster Abbeyfor the Queen’s funeral, before she was laid to rest at Windsor Castle.

source: people.com