Prince Edward Duke Of Kent

Twenty-four-year-old Prince Edward Augustus, the future father of Queen Victoria, arrived in Quebec City in 1791 and found himself immersed in a society struggling for an identity. His life became woven into the fabric of a highly-charged society and left an indelible mark on the role of the monarchy in Canada.

Twenty-four-year-old Prince Edward Augustus, the future father of Queen Victoria, arrived in Quebec City in 1791 and found himself immersed in a society struggling for an identity. His life became woven into the fabric of a highly-charged society and left an indelible mark on the role of the monarchy in Canada.

The story of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, is the story of early Canada. The story of Prince Edward Augustus, Duke of Kent (1767-1820) is also a story of early Canada. An active participant in the very genesis of the country, including discussions that would eventually lead to Confederation, the Prince lived in Quebec City, undertook historic tours of Upper Canada and the United States (both firsts for a member of the Royal Family) before he was stationed in Halifax, Nova Scotia, as commander-in-chief of British North America. Canada’s maps are dotted with his name (Prince Edward Island the most obvious example), making him one of the most honoured among our forgotten historical figures. Exiled from the court of his father, and accompanied by his long-time mistress Julie de St. Laurent, the 24-year-old Prince Edward Augustus arrived in Quebec City in 1791. His life became woven into the fabric of a highly-charged society and left an indelible mark on the role of the monarchy in Canada. Seventy years later the country would be united under the crown of his daughter, Victoria, Sir John A. Macdonald’s "Queen of Canada."

His Royal Highness Prince Edward The Duke of Kent KG GCMG GCVO ADC(P), first cousin to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, has devoted his life to the service of his country. Even before he served twenty-one years as a regular soldier in the British Army, he was introduced to this life of service by his widowed mother, HRH Princess Marina, The Duchess of Kent, during an extensive tour of the Far East at the time of his seventeenth birthday.His interest in modern technology, especially computing and engineering, in issues of health, fitness and social welfare, and in the development of the intellect, has seen him become the patron, president or active member of more than one hundred charities and social organisations. His military service, and deep interest in military history, sees him making a particularly important contribution to many military-related organisations - the chief of which must be the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.At the time of his eightieth birthday on October 9, 2015, Prince Edward remains one of the busiest members of the royal family. This book is offered as a tribute to his life of service, and to the myriad organisations, large and small, local, national and international, that make up the fabric of the United Kingdom in the twenty-first century.