Duke of Kent to miss Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph due to ‘episodic mobility issues’ and also forced to withdraw Festival of Remembrance at Royal Albert Hall

The Duke of Kent has missed today’s Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph due to ‘episodic mobility problems’.

The late Queen’s 88-year-old cousin was also reportedly forced to pull out of the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall yesterday due to health concerns.

Sources said the Duke, Prince Edward, had ‘no choice’ but not to attend this weekend’s services The sun.

They added that it was ‘always’ the plan for his equerry, Captain George Hopkins of the Scots Guards, to place a wreath at the Cenotaph this morning.

The Duke’s absence has raised fresh concerns about his well-being, just days after he celebrated his 88th birthday on November 9.

The late Queen’s 88-year-old cousin (pictured together) was also reportedly forced to pull out of the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall yesterday due to health concerns

The Duke of Gloucester, The Duchess of Gloucester, The Duke of Kent and Princess Alexandra watch a flypast to mark the centenary of the Royal Air Force in 2018

While he may not be as well known as his late cousin and Senior Royal counterparts, the Duke of Kent certainly has a career worth mentioning.

An army veteran, daredevil driver and tennis enthusiast, the Duke is certainly versatile and continues to amaze royal watchers even to this day.

The duke was born in 1935 in his parents’ first home in Belgravia, London, and was named after Prince George’s older brother Edward, the future king.

His father was the younger brother of both King George and the former King Edward VIII, while his mother, Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark, was the niece of the Duke of Edinburgh’s father, Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark.

Present at his christening at Buckingham Palace were nine-year-old Princess Elizabeth, his cousin, as well as King George V and Queen Mary – his godparents – and the then Prince of Wales.

In his role as president of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club from 1969, the Duke became a familiar face on television every year when he presented trophies to champion and runner-up at Wimbledon.

His involvement in the top tennis event did not end until 2021, when he stepped down as president after more than five decades.

Unlike his younger brother, Prince Michael of Kent, the duke has largely stayed out of controversy. Above: Prince Edward and Prince Michael arrive for the Queen’s funeral

Duke of Kent, Duchess of Gloucester, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie during the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey on September 19, 2022 in London

The Princess of Wales and the Duke of Kent on Wimbledon center court after the 2021 men’s final

The Duke of Kent walks with his then fiancée, Miss Katherine Worsley, through the churchyard of All Saints, Hovingham, in April 1961

The Duke has also represented the monarch on numerous trips abroad and was vice-chairman of the Overseas Trade Board and later of British Trade International from 1976 to 2001.

His close relationship with the Queen was typified in May 2021, when he stepped in as her ‘plus one’ at Trooping the Colour, following Prince Philip’s death the month before.

This was followed by his appearance at the Queen’s side at her Platinum Jubilee celebrations last year.

In his book, the Duke’s warm words about the Queen summarize the devotion to duty that characterizes him.

Choosing words that few could disagree with, he said, “I always felt like I wanted to support her. That is by far the most important thing in life.’

The 88-year-old was among those who walked behind Elizabeth II’s coffin as it was carried to Westminster Abbey.

The solemn journey showcased his decades of loyal service 70 years after he performed the same duty at the funeral of his uncle, King George VI, the Queen’s father.