Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark

Princess Marina  of Greece and DenmarkPrincess Marina of Greece and Denmark
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Birth Date:
13.12.1906
Death date:
27.08.1968
Length of life:
61
Days since birth:
42842
Years since birth:
117
Days since death:
20303
Years since death:
55
Extra names:
Princess Marina Duchess of Kent, Марина Греческая и Датская, Марина Грецька
Categories:
Princess
Cemetery:
Sts Peter and Paul Cathedral

Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark, CI, GCVO, GBE (Greek: Πριγκίπισσα Μαρίνα της Ελλάδας και Δανίας; 13 December [O.S. 30 November] 1906 – 27 August 1968) was the daughter of Prince Nicholas of Greece and Denmark and Grand Duchess Elena Vladimirovna of Russia.

In 1934, she married Prince George, Duke of Kent, the fourth son of King George V of the United Kingdom and Mary of Teck. From then on she also became known as the Duchess of Kent. Princess Marina's marriage was the most recent occasion on which a foreign-born princess married into the British Royal Family.

Early life

Princess Marina was born in Athens, Greece, on 13 December 1906. Her father was Prince Nicholas of Greece and Denmark, the third son of George I of Greece. Her mother was Grand Duchess Elena Vladimirovna of Russia, a granddaughter of Tsar Alexander II of Russia. She was the youngest of the couple's children. One of her paternal uncles was Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark, the father of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

She was baptised near the end of 1906, and her godparents were: the King of Greece (her paternal grandfather); the King of the United Kingdom (her great-uncle by marriage); the Princess of Wales; Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark (her paternal uncle); Grand Duke Boris Vladimirovich of Russia (her maternal uncle); and Grand Duchess Victoria Fyodorovna of Russia (her maternal aunt).

The family was generally poor and forced into exile when she was 11, following the overthrow of the Greek monarchy. They later moved to Paris, while the Princess stayed throughout Europe with her extended family.

Marriage and children

In 1932 Princess Marina and Prince George, Duke of Kent, a second cousin through Christian IX of Denmark, met in London. Their betrothal was announced in August 1934. On 29 November 1934, they married at Westminster Abbey, London. The wedding was followed by a Greek ceremony in the private chapel at Buckingham Palace.

The bride's gown was in white and silver silk brocade, designed by Edward Molyneux, and worked on by a team of seamstresses including, at Marina's request, Russian émigreés.

Her eight bridesmaids were her first cousins, Greek princesses Irene, Eugenie and Katherine, her maternal first cousin Grand Duchess Kira Kirillovna of Russia, Princess Juliana of the Netherlands, her husband's niece Princess Elizabeth of York, her husband's cousins the Lady Iris Mountbatten and Lady Mary Cambridge.

The Royal School of Needlework made a quilt as a wedding gift for Princess Marina and the Duke of Kent. Following the marriage she became the Duchess of Kent.

The couple had three children:

  • Prince Edward, Duke of Kent (9 October 1935) he married Katharine Lucy Mary Worsley on 8 June 1961. They have three children.
  • Princess Alexandra, The Hon. Lady Ogilvy (25 December 1936) she married Rt. Hon. Sir Angus James Robert Bruce Ogilvy, son of David Lyulph Gore Wolseley Ogilvy, 7th Earl of Airlie and Lady Alexandra Marie Bridget Coke, on 24 April 1963. They have two children.
  • Prince Michael of Kent (4 July 1942) he married Marie Christine von Reibnitz on 30 June 1978. They have two children.

The Duke of Kent was killed on 25 August 1942, in an aeroplane crash at Eagles Rock, near Dunbeath, Caithness, Scotland, while on active service with the Royal Air Force. The Duchess, according to royal biographer Hugo Vickers, was "the only war widow in Britain whose estate was forced to pay death duties".

During World War II, Marina was trained as a nurse for three months under the pseudonym "Sister Kay" and joined the civil nurse reserve.

Later life and death

After her husband's death, the Duchess of Kent continued to be an active member of the British Royal Family, carrying out a wide range of royal and official engagements. She was the president of the Wimbledon All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club for 26 years. She was President of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution from 1943 until her death and was awarded the RNLI's Gold Medal in 1967 to mark this contribution. Her first cousin Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, married her niece, the future Queen Elizabeth II.

In June 1952 the Duchess laid the foundation stone of the new St Mark's Church in Bromley, London, which had been damaged in the war.

In 1952, the Duchess also visited Sarawak (then a British Crown Colony), where she laid the foundation stone of the Cathedral of St. Thomas in Kuching. She also visited the Batu Lintang camp, a Japanese internment camp during World War II which had been converted to a teacher training college, and the town of Sibu, where she opened the outpatient department of the Lau Kheng Howe Hospital.

In March 1957 when the Gold Coast (later Ghana)—gained independence from Britain, the Duchess of Kent was appointed to represent the Queen at the celebrations. Fifty years later, at the 50th Anniversary of Ghana's Independence, it would be her son, Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, who would be appointed by the Queen to represent her.

Marina earned a place in the International Best Dressed List Hall of Fame in 1960 together with Princess Grace of Monaco, Patricia Lopez-Willshaw and Merle Oberon.

In September 1966, when the British Protectorate of Bechuanaland became the new Republic of Botswana, the Princess was appointed again to represent the Queen at the celebrations. The main public hospital in Gaborone, the new Botswana's capital, is named "Princess Marina Hospital".

She served as the first Chancellor of the University of Kent at Canterbury from 1963 until her death from a brain tumour at Kensington Palace at 11.40 am on 27 August 1968, aged 61. Funeral service for the Princess was held in the St. George's Chapel on 30 August. She was buried in the Royal Burial Ground, Frogmore. Her funeral was the final royal ceremony attended by her brother-in-law, the former Edward VIII.

Legacy

The Kinks recorded "She's Bought a Hat Like Princess Marina" for their 1969 album Arthur (or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire). The song was written by Ray Davies.

Princess Marina gave her name to many facilities, including:

  • Princess Marina College, Arborfield, Berkshire
  • Princess Marina House, a facility of the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund at Rustington.
  • Princess Marina Hospital, Upton, Northamptonshire
  • Princess Marina Hospital, Gaborone, Botswana
  • Princess Marina Sports Complex, Rickmansworth.
  • Duchess of Kent Hospital, Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia
  • Kent College (a teacher training college) Tuaran, Sabah, Malaysia

She is portrayed by Rita McDonald Damper in the Netflix television series The Crown.

Titles, styles, honours and arms

Titles and styles
  • 13 December 1906 – 29 November 1934: Her Royal Highness Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark
  • 29 November 1934 – 8 June 1961: Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Kent
  • 8 June 1961 – 27 August 1968: Her Royal Highness Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent

At the time of her death, Princess Marina's full style was: Her Royal Highness Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent, Countess of St. Andrews and Baroness Downpatrick, Companion of the Imperial Order of the Crown of India, Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order, Dame Grand Cross of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Dame Grand Cross of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.

Just before the current Duke of Kent's wedding in June 1961 to Katharine Worsley, she announced that she wished to be known as HRH Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent instead of HRH The Dowager Duchess of Kent, a change in traditional style that was granted by her niece, Queen Elizabeth II. Upon her marriage in 1934, Princess Marina had become HRH The Duchess of Kent, Countess of St. Andrews, and Baroness Downpatrick. However, she remained a Princess of Greece and Denmark. Following her elder son's wedding, she simply reverted to her own princely prefix.

Honours

British and Commonwealth honours

  • CI: Companion of the Order of the Imperial Crown of India
  • GCVO: Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
  • GBE: Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
  • GCStJ: Dame Grand Cross of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem
  • Royal Family Order of King George V
  • Royal Family Order of King George VI
  • Royal Family Order of Queen Elizabeth II
  • Canada Canadian Forces Decoration

Foreign honours

  • Greece Order of Saints Olga and Sophia, 1st Class
  • Greece Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Beneficence
  • Mexico Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the Aztec Eagle
  • Peru Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the Sun of Peru
  • Chile Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Merit
  • Brazil Dame Grand Cross of the National Order of the Southern Cross
  • Argentina Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the Liberator San Martin
  • Austria Grand Decoration in Gold with Sash for Services to the Republic of Austria
Honorary military appointments
  • Canada Colonel-in-Chief, of The Kent Regiment
  • United Kingdom Colonel-in-Chief, of The Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment
  • United Kingdom Colonel-in-Chief, of The Dorset Regiment
  • Canada Colonel-in-Chief, of The Essex and Kent Scottish Regiment
  • United Kingdom Colonel-in-Chief, of The Devonshire and Dorset Regiment
  • United Kingdom Colonel-in-Chief, of the Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
  • United Kingdom Colonel-in-Chief, of The Queen's Regiment (Allied)
  • Honorary Colonel, of the Buckinghamshire Battalion, The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry
  • Honorary Colonel, of the 4th Battalion, The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry
  • Honorary Colonel, of the 431 LAA Regiment RA
  • Honorary Colonel, of the 299th (Royal Buckinghamshire Yeomanry, Queen's Own Oxfordshire Hussars, and Berkshire) Field Regiment, RA
  • Honorary Colonel, of the Buckinghamshire Regiment, RA (Territorials)
  • Colonel, of the Queen's Own Buffs
  • United Kingdom Commandant, Women's Royal Naval Service (1940-1968) (Chief Commandant from 1951)
  • Australia Honorary Commandant, of the Women's Royal Australian Naval Service

Source: wikipedia.org, timenote.info

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        Relations

        Relation nameRelation typeBirth DateDeath dateDescription
        1Prince Nicholas of  Greece and DenmarkPrince Nicholas of Greece and DenmarkFather22.01.187208.02.1938
        2Grand Duchess Elena VladimirovnaGrand Duchess Elena VladimirovnaMother17.03.188213.03.1957
        3Princess Elizabeth of  Greece and DenmarkPrincess Elizabeth of Greece and DenmarkSister24.05.190411.01.1955
        4Prince George Duke of KentPrince George Duke of KentHusband20.12.190225.08.1942
        5Кирилл ВладимировичКирилл ВладимировичUncle12.10.187612.10.1938
        6Prince Christopher  of Greece and DenmarkPrince Christopher of Greece and DenmarkUncle10.08.188821.01.1940
        7Constantine I of GreeceConstantine I of GreeceUncle02.08.186811.01.1923
        8Александр ИскандерАлександр ИскандерUncle15.11.188726.01.1957
        9Сергей АлександровичСергей АлександровичUncle11.05.185717.02.1905
        10Сергей  РомановСергей РомановUncle11.05.185717.02.1905
        11Prince Andrew of  Greece and DenmarkPrince Andrew of Greece and DenmarkUncle02.02.188203.12.1944
        12Prince AlfredPrince AlfredUncle15.10.187406.02.1899
        13Andrei  VladimirovichAndrei VladimirovichUncle02.05.187930.10.1956
        14Boris  Wladimirowitsch RomanowBoris Wladimirowitsch RomanowUncle24.11.187709.11.1943
        15Alexandra  GeorgievnaAlexandra GeorgievnaAunt30.08.187024.09.1891
        16Princess Maria of Greece and DenmarkPrincess Maria of Greece and DenmarkAunt03.03.187614.12.1940
        17Empress Alexandra  FeodorovnaEmpress Alexandra FeodorovnaAunt06.06.187217.07.1918
        18Marie of RomaniaMarie of RomaniaAunt29.10.187518.07.1938
        19Edward  VIIIEdward VIIINephew23.06.189428.05.1972
        20George VIGeorge VINephew14.12.189506.02.1952
        21George  VGeorge VFather in-law03.06.186520.01.1936
        22Mary of TeckMary of TeckMother in-law26.05.186724.03.1953
        23George IGeorge IGrandfather24.12.184518.03.1913
        24Владимир АлександровичВладимир АлександровичGrandfather10.04.184704.02.1909
        25Maria  PavlovnaMaria PavlovnaGrandmother14.05.185406.09.1920
        26Olga  Constantinovna of RussiaOlga Constantinovna of RussiaGrandmother03.09.185118.06.1926
        27Maximilian de  BeauharnaisMaximilian de BeauharnaisGreat grandfather02.10.181701.11.1852
        28Konstantin NikolayevichKonstantin NikolayevichGreat grandfather21.09.182725.01.1892
        29Duke Peter  Georgievich of OldenburgDuke Peter Georgievich of OldenburgGreat grandfather26.08.181214.05.1881
        30Alexander IIAlexander IIGreat grandfather29.04.181813.03.1881
        31Николай СтаршийНиколай СтаршийGreat grandfather27.07.183113.04.1891
        32Константин КонстантиновичКонстантин КонстантиновичGreat grandfather10.08.185802.06.1915
        33Михаил НиколаевичМихаил НиколаевичGreat grandfather25.10.183218.12.1909
        34Grand Duchess Maria  Nikolaevna of RussiaGrand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna of RussiaGreat grandmother18.08.181921.02.1876
        35Duchess Alexandra  Petrovna of OldenburgDuchess Alexandra Petrovna of OldenburgGreat grandmother02.06.183825.04.1900
        36Princess Theresa  of Nassau-WeilburgPrincess Theresa of Nassau-WeilburgGreat grandmother17.04.181508.12.1871
        37Elisabeth  of Saxe-AltenburgElisabeth of Saxe-AltenburgGreat grandmother25.01.186524.03.1927
        38Olga  FeodorovnaOlga FeodorovnaGreat grandmother20.09.183912.04.1891
        39Maria  AlexandrovnaMaria AlexandrovnaGreat grandmother08.08.182403.06.1880
        40князь Николай  Романовкнязь Николай РомановCousin00.00.192215.09.2014
        41Кира  РомановаКира РомановаCousin09.05.190908.09.1967
        42Кирилл  АндросовКирилл АндросовCousin05.12.191507.02.1992
        43Ольга  НиколаевнаОльга НиколаевнаCousin15.11.189517.07.1918
        44Vladimir  RomanovVladimir RomanovCousin30.08.191721.04.1992
        45Дмитрий  РомановДмитрий РомановCousin17.05.192631.12.2016
        46Anastasia RomanovaAnastasia RomanovaCousin18.06.190117.07.1918
        47Helen of Greece and DenmarkHelen of Greece and DenmarkCousin02.05.189628.11.1982
        48Татьяна РомановаТатьяна РомановаCousin10.06.189717.07.1918
        49Mikhail Aleksandrovich RomanovMikhail Aleksandrovich RomanovCousin04.12.187813.06.1918
        50Nikolajs II RomanovsNikolajs II RomanovsCousin19.05.186817.07.1918
        51Ольга  РомановаОльга РомановаCousin13.06.188224.11.1960
        52Великая княгиня Ксения АлександровнаВеликая княгиня Ксения АлександровнаCousin06.04.187520.04.1960
        53Natalia PaleyNatalia PaleyCousin05.12.190527.12.1981
        54Vladimir  PaleyVladimir PaleyCousin09.01.189718.07.1918
        55Grand Duchess Maria PavlovnaGrand Duchess Maria PavlovnaCousin18.04.189013.12.1958
        56Prince PhilipPrince PhilipCousin10.06.192109.04.2021
        57Великая княжна Мария НиколаевнаВеликая княжна Мария НиколаевнаCousin26.06.189917.07.1918
        58Lennart  BernadotteLennart BernadotteCousin08.05.190921.12.2004
        59Natālija AndrosovaNatālija AndrosovaCousin23.02.191725.07.1999
        60Georg von MerenbergGeorg von MerenbergCousin16.10.189711.01.1965
        61Irina Alexandrovna of RussiaIrina Alexandrovna of RussiaCousin03.07.189526.02.1970
        62Maria of YugoslaviaMaria of YugoslaviaCousin06.01.190022.06.1961
        63Elisabeth of  RomaniaElisabeth of RomaniaCousin12.10.189414.11.1956
        64Princess IrenePrincess IreneCousin13.02.190415.04.1974
        65Георг IIГеорг IICousin19.07.189001.04.1947

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