The Duke and Duchess of Kent: Oct 2003-

[Lady Marmalade]

Thank you!!
The tiara on the head of the Queen next to Margaret..isn't that the Norwegian Emerald Tiara? And that is Princess Mary, Countess of Harewood ,and the Duchess of Gloucester standing next to the Queen Mother?

[auntie]

Beautiful! Thank you! I am besotted with all this splendour.

[Elspeth]

Originally Posted by Lady Marmalade

Thank you!!

The tiara on the head of the Queen next to Margaret..isn't that the Norwegian Emerald Tiara? And that is Princess Mary, Countess of Harewood ,and the Duchess of Gloucester standing next to the Queen Mother?

As far as I know, yes, yes, and yes.:)

[kelly9480]

Marina bequeathed her jewels in the Greek fashion -- majority to the sons with the son-in-law expected to purchase jewellery for the daughter. But a lot of the Kent jewels have been sold over the years for money. Even right after Marina's death a brooch, necklace and earrings were sold to meet death duties. I think the Gloucesters willed everything to Richard before their deaths, because he had no trouble paying up. But Marina held on to her stuff til the end.

[branchg]

I wouldn't say "a lot" of Kent jewels were sold over the years for money. A few pieces were sold, but the majority has remained with the family.
Also, keep in mind that Princess Alice, unlike Princess Marina, had more private money as the daughter of the 7th Duke of Buccleuch and 9th Duke of Queensbury. She had a small fortune to pass on to her son. In addition, the Duke of Gloucester inherited money from Princess Louise as well as her jewels.

[kelly9480]

Originally Posted by branchg

I wouldn't say "a lot" of Kent jewels were sold over the years for money. A few pieces were sold, but the majority has remained with the family.

At least one brooch, a two necklaces, a pair of earrings, and a tiara have been sold that we know of. And since the jewels aren't likely to be seen in public much more due to Kate never needing them in her new life, more may have gone that we don't know of.

Also, keep in mind that Princess Alice, unlike Princess Marina, had more private money as the daughter of the 7th Duke of Buccleuch and 9th Duke of Queensbury. She had a small fortune to pass on to her son. In addition, the Duke of Gloucester inherited money from Princess Louise as well as her jewels.

Alice was one of seven children of a not very wealthy Scottish duke. The current duke only has 50million, almost all of which is tied up in 4 estates and art. No small fortune to pass on to a daughter when the family is stuff-rich and cash-poor. She probably had a trust fund, but considering the Buccleuchs lack of wealth now, it probably wasn't much to look at.

The reason the Gloucesters weren't as hard up as the Kents is simply because they didn't have to go into debt during WWII. Once George died, Marina lost the stipend and she was dependent on George VI for money until after the war, when she was put on the Civil List (her husband had been on the CL, but she didn't take his position when he died). Those 3 years of hardship led to many of the financial problems the Kents have suffered to this day. They weren't able to build a nest egg, and were forced to sell furniture and deplete savings to survive.

[wymanda]

Originally Posted by branchg

In addition, the Duke of Gloucester inherited money from Princess Louise as well as her jewels.

The DoK inherited property that came from his great aunt, Pncess Victoria who left his father her country estate, Coppins. This was later sold and the Kents used a house on the Sandringham estate. Therefore, IMO, they must still have the proceeds from the sale of Coppins invested somewhere.

[james]

Rare picture picture of the Duke of Kent (then Prince Edward of Kent) on Grandma Queen Mary's knee with his two York cousins.

[florawindsor]

Originally Posted by kelly9480

Marina bequeathed her jewels in the Greek fashion -- majority to the sons with the son-in-law expected to purchase jewellery for the daughter. But a lot of the Kent jewels have been sold over the years for money. Even right after Marina's death a brooch, necklace and earrings were sold to meet death duties. I think the Gloucesters willed everything to Richard before their deaths, because he had no trouble paying up. But Marina held on to her stuff til the end.

i'm not familiar with the British laws, so i always wonder, in Britain, if somebody gives his children his money/valuable things as gifts before he dies, does he still have to pay tax about these things? if not, why so many people still hold on to their fortune untill they die and let their children pay so much death duties?

[james]

If you look at the "kent jewels" thread in the "jewels" forum it's apparent that Princess Michael has many fine pieces of jewellry some of which were given to her as wedding gifts by the Duchess of Windsor when the Prince and Princess visited her in Paris whilst on honeymoon.

[xicamaluca]

A ceremony is was hold today in the German city of Dresden to consecrate the Church of our Lady which was destroyed by Allied bombing during World War II. The Duke of Kent attended. I leave here a pic from the Duke, next to Germany´s first Lady, Eva Köhler.

http://eur.news1.yimg.com/eur.yimg.c...1512170844.jpg

Some articles in UK press:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4389904.stm

http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/article323189.ece

[Elspeth]

The Duke of Buccleuch wasn't wealthy back in the early 20th century? I thought he was supposed to be one of the wealthiest of the Scottish aristocrats.

[kelly9480]

The wealthiest of the Scottish aristocrats isn't saying much. Even the wealthiest Scottish aristocrats remain poor compared to English aristocrats. The Duke of Buccleuch today has around 50 million (the Duke of Roxburghe has 70 million or so), while the Earl of Derby, by no means near the wealthiest of the wealthy English aristocrats, has around 45 million, though.

The Buccleuchs are the largest private landowners in the UK (and possibly Europe with some 250,000 acres), but most of their land is in Scotland and isn't worth much money. Their wealth is tied up their agricultural estates and their art collection (things that don't earn a huge income), not in property, industry, stocks, etc (things that do).

[purple_platinum]

The Duke of Kent speaks to troops at Shaibah Logistics Base in Iraq where he toured the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers' welfare, domestic and training facilities, 5 February 2006.


The Duke of Kent meets ‘Ben’ the goat during a visit to the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards stationed in Um Qasr, Iraq, 6 February 2006.


from royal.gov.uk

[purple_platinum]

from Wenn

HRH The Duke of Kent formally opens the newly built masonic lodge at Beamish open air museum
County Durham, England - 19.4.06

[Princejohnny25]

Whats the chain that the DoK is wearing at the opening of the masonic lodge.

[Warren]

Originally Posted by Princejohnny25

Whats the chain that the DoK is wearing at the opening of the masonic lodge.

Probably his Grand Master's chain.

[iceflower]

The Duchess at the Classical Brit Awards 04.05.2006:


(gettyimages)

[fanletizia]

HRH Prince Edward, Duke of Kent (R) watching the action on Centre Court during day four of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 29, 2006 in London, England

from getty

[iceflower]

"LONDON - JULY 02: The Duchess of Kent delivers her speech at the Summer Tennis Soiree with the Stars dinner hosted by EBS and the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation at Kensington Palace July 2, 2006 in London. (Photo by Getty Images for Laureus)"


(gettyimages)