Duke of Kent and Prince Edward mark 75 years of Polish Cultural Foundation

Even in the wake of personal sorrow, the Duke of Kent has maintained a busy schedule of royal duties, demonstrating his enduring dedication to public service. 

Just weeks after the passing of his wife, the Duchess of Kent, Prince Edward, attended a commemorative lunch at the Rubens at the Palace Hotel on Wednesday, marking the 75th anniversary of the Polish Cultural Foundation, located just a stone’s throw from Buckingham Palace.

The Duke has long championed Polish culture, a passion rooted in family history. 

His parents, Prince George, Duke of Kent, and Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark, opened the Polish Hearth Club in 1940, and Edward himself celebrated his milestone 90th birthday at the club on 9th October. 

Following the Second World War, his parents famously offered the Polish noble Koziell-Poklewski family refuge at their Coppins estate in Buckinghamshire, where the young Prince grew up alongside Vincent Koziell-Poklewski, forging a lifelong friendship that lasted until 2017.

The Duke has also maintained a visible presence at cultural events, including this year’s annual Bal Polski in London, celebrating Polish heritage. 

While he has scaled back the number of official engagements, he continues to honour his commitments, attending the funeral of Field Marshal Lord Guthrie, a beret parade at the Duke of York’s Royal Military School, and a concert at Wigmore Hall.

Recently, he celebrated his 90th birthday by attending a lunch at Ognisko Polskie (the Polish Hearth Club) in London on 10th October 2025.