Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, was born on 9 October 1935 at the family's London home, 3 Belgrave Square. He was baptised as Edward George Nicholas Paul Patrick.

His father was Prince George, Duke of Kent, the younger brother of King George VI and King Edward VIII. His mother, Princess Marina, was the daughter of Prince Nicholas of Greece.

He has two younger siblings: Prince Michael of Kent and Princess Alexandra.

The Duke's family moved from London to Buckinghamshire in 1936 shortly after his birth.

In 1942 Prince George, Duke of Kent died in a tragic wartime flying accident near Caithness in Scotland while on active service.

The title Duke of Kent passed to the present Duke. It dates back to the eleventh century when William I conferred it on his half-brother Bishop Odo. It was revived at the end of the eighteenth century, when it was given to Queen Victoria's father Edward. The current Duke's father, Prince George, had received the title in 1934 when he married Princess Marina of Greece.