The Duke of Kent, who lost his wife, the Duchess of Kent, in September last year, is famous for his steadfast support of his first cousin Queen Elizabeth II. In a similar vein, the Duchess of Edinburgh has stepped up to take on an increasing number of royal duties to support King Charles III and Queen Camilla, particularly following the disgrace of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor (formerly Prince Andrew) and the departure of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
Any family scandal was far from the minds of Sophie and Edward as they learned more about the work being done at the Surrey Space Centre, part of the University of Surrey, and recognised the University’s multidisciplinary teaching and research across medicine and engineering.
At the Space Centre, Their Royal Highnesses toured laboratories, met researchers, and viewed a student-designed pod which will be used to launch satellites into space. The Duchess also met medical students training together in collaborative teaching wards, before joining a virtual-reality anatomy session. The engagement was also a celebratory occasion as the Duke of Kent marks 50 years as Chancellor of the University.
The Duke of Kent and The Duchess of Edinburg greeted each other with a kiss at the Surrey Space Centre
Jordan Pettitt – PA Images/Getty Images
The Duke of Kent and the Duchess of Edinburgh greeted each other with a warm kiss on the cheek and were spotted chatting happily and sharing jokes. Social media users were struck by how comfortable they looked in each other’s company. ‘Two wonderful people working together,’ one posted in response to a Royal Family video recapping the visit. Another added, ‘It’s lovely how naturally Sophie fits into the Royal Family and supports the relatives of various ages.’
Perhaps taking inspiration from his late cousin, the Duke of Kent has continued to work into his tenth decade of life. Indeed, he carried out dozens of engagements last year alone. This unwavering devotion to the monarchy has led to the Duke being affectionately known as ‘Steady Eddie’ – a trusted confidant to generations of royals who maintains a position at the very heart of The Firm.