NEED TO KNOW
Surprise! King Charles threw a secret party at Windsor Castle to celebrate a royal family member.
On Oct. 29, the King, 76, and Queen Camilla, 78, hosted a bash at the castle to celebrate the 90th birthday of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent.
Hello! magazine reported the news, citing The Court Circular, the British royal family’s official record of engagements.
The reception, held on Wednesday evening, reportedly drew many royal family members. According to the outlet, Princess Anne, her husband Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh and Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester all attended the celebration, as did the Duke of Kent’s siblings, Prince Michael and Princess Alexandra.
Chris Jackson/Getty
Prince William and Kate Middleton were said to be absent from the bash, which fell during their children’s half-term break from school. The Prince and Princess of Wales reduce their duties when Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7, are on school holiday in order to spend time together as a family.
A first cousin to both the late Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, the Duke of Kent turned 90 on Oct. 9.
King Charles and Queen Camilla’s office marked the milestone with a festive message on social media, which revealed that a party was in the works.
“Wishing The Duke of Kent a very happy birthday – 90 today!” courtiers wrote on X below a photo of the Duke and King Charles on the King’s May 2023 coronation day.
“Later this month, The King will host a birthday reception for The Duke, who was Queen Elizabeth II’s first cousin, at Windsor Castle,” it said.
Prince Edward, the Duke of Kent retired from service in the British Army in 1976 and has been a working royal ever since.
His wife, Katharine, Duchess of Kent, died at age 92 on Sept. 4, and the wider royal family united at her historic Catholic funeral at Westminster Cathedral on Sept. 16.
Karwai Tang/WireImage
Can’t get enough of PEOPLE’s Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!
King Charles led the royals at the somber service, with Prince William, Princess Kate and others attended.
