The Duke of Kent was out for a rare public engagement, months after the death of his beloved wife Katharine, Duchess of Kent, as he quietly marked Holocaust Memorial Day this week.
Last September, the Duchess of Kent died aged 92. Her funeral was held on September 16 and was attended by senior members of the royal family.
Since then, Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, has largely stayed out of the public eye, making his appearance this week all the more poignant.
Duke of Kent attends performance to mark Holocaust Memorial Day
Holocaust Memorial Day is observed every year on January 27. It serves as a national moment of reflection in the UK, remembering the millions of Jews and others who suffered under Nazi persecution.
On Tuesday, the Duke of Kent, who is a first cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth II, visited the Imperial War Museum to “reflect on the lives of those who survived the Holocaust and the memory of those who did not”.
Total respect for him still working and fulfilling his duty!
During the visit, the duke, now 90, watched a moving performance by the English Chamber Orchestra.
Photos shared on the royal family’s official Instagram page, which you can see here, showed the Duke of Kent seated in a wheelchair and holding a walking stick. He was dressed smartly in a grey suit as he listened to the orchestra.
Royal fans were quick to praise the duke in the comments.
One person wrote: “Such high respect for HRH Duke of Kent. At his age he is doing a fantastic job.”
Another added: “I have the upmost respect for HRH Duke of Kent. An honourable, hard working gentleman who has always been loyal to our country and the monarchy.”
A third commented: “AMAZING he is still doing his duty for the king at his age. No retirement for the duke.”
Meanwhile, someone else gushed: “Tremendous! Total respect for him still working and fulfilling his duty!”
Duchess of Kent’s death
It has been five months since the Duke of Kent lost his wife of 64 years.
Buckingham Palace confirmed the Duchess of Kent’s death on September 5 last year, releasing a statement at the time.
It said: “It is with deep sorrow that Buckingham Palace announces the death of Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Kent.
“Her Royal Highness passed away peacefully last night at Kensington Palace, surrounded by her family.
Read more: Kate Middleton’s new hair look wins over royal fans: ‘This suits her so much’
“The King and Queen and all Members of The Royal Family join The Duke of Kent, his children and grandchildren in mourning their loss and remembering fondly The Duchess’s life-long devotion to all the organisations with which she was associated, her passion for music and her empathy for young people.”
Her funeral took place at Westminster Cathedral on September 16. As a Catholic, the duchess was honoured with a Requiem Mass, marking the first Catholic funeral for a member of the royal family in recent history.
You can share your praise and support for the Duke of Kent on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix.