The Duke of Kent is in mourning again, just a little over a year after his wife, the Duchess of Kent, died in 2025. Prince Edward, who is celebrating his birthday today, will undoubtedly be navigating a difficult period as his Private Secretary, Nicholas Piers Turnbull, died last month at the age of 63.
Nicholas Piers Turnbull died on September 16, as per The Times. The reasons behind his death have not been disclosed. He was appointed Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order by the King posthumously on September 14, two days before his death.
The honour is awarded to those for their distinguished personal service to the Royal Family. He joined the royal household in 2019.
According to the Peerage News blog, he was born in 1962 to John Earle Turnbull, his wife, the former Mary K Heath. He married Arabella Maroussia Phillimore in 2006, and they share two sons, Alexander Tristan, born in 2008 and Crispin Finlay John, born in 2012.
September was a difficult month for the duke, who led tributes at a memorial concert honouring his late wife, Duchess Katharine, in London. According to The Telegraph, he was joined by his younger brother Prince Michael, 84, at the concert in Sinfonia Smith Square.
Other royals were in attendance, including the duke and duchess’s three children, Lady Helen Taylor, the Earl of St Andrews, and Lord Nicholas Windsor, in London.
The Duchess of Kent died in 2025 (Image: Getty)