A Royal Life, HRH The Duke of Kent
A Royal Life, HRH The Duke of Kent
List: $31.99 | Sale: $22.40
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A Royal Life

Author: HRH The Duke of Kent, Hugo Vickers

Narrator: Gareth Armstrong, Gregory Cox, Hugo Vickers, Julie Teal, Richard Attlee, Sandra Duncan

Unabridged: 8 hr 10 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 05/12/2022

Includes: Bonus Material Bonus Material Included


Synopsis

The insights and memories of a member of the British Royal Family - HRH The Duke of Kent in conversation with Hugo Vickers about some of the key events of his life and the Queen's reign.

HRH The Duke of Kent has been at the heart of the British Royal Family throughout his life. As a working member of the Royal Family, he has supported his cousin, The Queen, representing her at home and abroad. His royal duties began when, in 1952, at the age of sixteen, he walked in the procession behind King George VI's coffin, later paying homage to The Queen at her Coronation in 1953. Since then he has witnessed and participated in key Royal occasions. He represented The Queen at independence ceremonies from the age of twenty-five, he was riding with her when blanks were fired at Trooping the Colour in 1981, he was the oldest soldier on parade at Remembrance Sunday at the Cenotaph in November 2020 and he was alongside The Queen at her official birthday celebrations in June 2021 as Colonel of the Scots Guards.

No member of the Royal Family has spoken extensively of the modern reign and their part in it before. A Royal Life is a unique account based on a series of conversations between the Duke and acclaimed Royal historian Hugo Vickers. It covers some of the most important moments and experiences of the Duke's life, from his upbringing at his family home Coppins in Buckinghamshire, his twenty-one years of army life, his royal tours and events, through to his work for over 140 different organisations, including presenting the trophies at Wimbledon for more than 50 years. Here too are recollections of family members including his mother, Princess Marina, his grandmother, Queen Mary, his cousin, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, and his uncle, King George VI.

Other members of the Royal Family contribute their memories, including his wife, the Duchess of Kent, the Duke's siblings, Princess Alexandra and Prince Michael of Kent, his son, the Earl of St Andrews, his daughter, Lady Helen Taylor as well as his cousins, Princess Elizabeth of Yugoslavia, Archduchess Helen of Austria and her brother, Hans Veit Toerring.

A Royal Life is an unprecedented, insightful and remarkable slice of Royal history.

(P) 2022 Hodder & Stoughton Limited

About Hugo Vickers

Hugo Vickers is a writer, lecturer and broadcaster, and an acknowledged expert on the British Royal Family. He has written biographies of the Queen Mother, Cecil Beaton, Vivien Leigh, Princess Andrew of Greece and the Duchess of Windsor. His book The Kiss won the1996 Stern Silver Pen Award for Non-Fiction. His recent bestsellers have included Malice in Wonderland and The Sphinx - the life of Gladys, Duchess of Marlborough. He collaborated with HRH The Duke of Kent on A Royal Life. He is a Deputy Lieutenant for Berkshire.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Carolyn

I enjoyed listening to the audiobook of A Royal Life. The reminiscences of the Queen's cousin, the Duke of Kent, and his family, are fascinating. The Duke of Kent is closely related to Europe's royal houses through both his parents (Prince George Duke of Kent and Princess Marina of Greece and Denmar......more

My Interest Unless you just found my blog today, you’ll know I follow the British Royal Family. The Book H.R.H. Prince Edward (the “other” Prince Edward) was born to Prince George, Duke of Kent (son of George V and Queen Mary) and his wife, Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark (first cousin of Prince......more

1,5 Contrary to what the cover suggests this one was not actually written by HRH The Duke of Kent but by Hugo Vickers, and it was the result of some investigation on his side (huge accent on some), and conversations with The Duke recorded over Zooms, phone, and in person. The result of all this effor......more


Quotes

A pleasure to read... a timely reminder of the need for service Telegraph