H.R.H. THE LATE DUKE OF KENT. (Hansard, 8 September 1942)

§ LORD ADDISON
My Lords, on behalf of my noble friends I should like with deep sincerity and with kindred sadness to associate ourselves with the Motions which the noble Viscount has submitted to the House. The noble Viscount indicated that His Royal Highness upheld in his life the splendid traditions of our Royal House, which are an example to the world of how, under wise guidance, monarchical institutions can adjust themselves to changing times, and provide a high example to the whole commonwealth of nations. His Royal Highness lost his life in characteristic, unostentatious service in the interest of the State, in the prime of life, his young wife and his children bereft: a signal example of the waste and sacrifice that are being forced upon the world at this time by the murderous brutality of the Nazis and their insatiable war-makers—which will be overcome, pray God, by free peoples who will make an end of such wickedness. In the time to come no doubt the spot where His Royal Highness met his death will be reverenced and will make a solitary place to be glorious and an inspiration.

THE MARQUESS OF CREWE
My Lords, my noble friends and I desire to associate ourselves in the fullest degree with what has been said from both the Front Benches, of regret at the tragedy 268 that has brought about the death on active service of His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent, and of sympathy with their Majesties the King and Queen and with the whole Royal Family, especially, I would say, with Queen Mary, and most of all, of course, with the Duchess of Kent and her children, who are left to face the coming years without him. As the noble Viscount, Lord Cranborne, has reminded us, those coming years seemed to promise a future to His Royal Highness as attractive as could be presented to any man in his middle years. His personal popularity, and the universal good will which greeted him, brought about by his exquisite courtesy of manner; the hope of increasing interest in many forms of culture, art and music, and the enjoyment of foreign travel of which he had already seen so much; the prospect of undertaking great Imperial responsibilities, such as that of the Governorship of Australia which was so unhappily prevented by circumstances, and one can picture him also as representing the King-Emperor in free and federated India; most of all, of course, the radiant happiness of his home—all that went for nothing at the call of duty and the danger which he had to meet in the service of King and country.
But I do not now think only of his war service. Perhaps I may be allowed to mention two quite recent occasions on which I was privileged to observe his devotion to public work. As it happens, I am the senior of the four Elder Brethren of Trinity House who have seats in your Lordships' House—besides, of course, members of the Royal Family. It was only a few weeks ago, towards the middle of last month, that for the second time His Royal Highness, having succeeded his great uncle, the Duke of Connaught, as Master of that great corporation, made the formal declaration of loyalty to the King in the service of that corporation, and I know that all the Elder Brethren, and also the far larger number of Younger Brethren, most of whom are far older in age than he was, were looking forward to being for the rest of their lives presided over by a prince who himself had had a naval education, and was equally interested in the affairs of that corporation on which, in peace as well as in war, the safety of His Majesty's ships and of the Merchant Navy so much depends. The other occasion was that 269 of the annual meeting of King Edward's Hospital Fund of which His Royal Highness had become President. I can see him now, a gallant figure in Air Force uniform, delivering the annual address and carrying out the rather complicated duties of the meeting with all capacity. Those gatherings and others like them will see him no more, but we cannot forget, while we think most at this moment of his chivalrous last journey, that in happier days he would have given great service in his peaceful public duties and in the leadership of many good causes.

§ VISCOUNT TRENCHARD
My Lords, as the oldest officer in the Royal Air Force, I would like to say how deeply grieved the Royal Air Force are by the tragic loss of His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent in an air accident. I learnt recently from personal experience when visiting aerodromes that the whole Air Force realized and appreciated the keen interest he took in them—and not only the interest, but the help that he gave them in every way.

THE LORD ARCHBISHOP OF YORK
My Lords, I would like to associate those who sit on these Benches with what has already been said. Monarchy in this country has developed in recent years so that the Sovereign suffers when his people suffer, and in return the people share in his bereavement. The whole Empire feels deeply with the King in the death of a much-loved brother, and with the Duchess of Kent and her children in the great and irreparable loss which they have suffered. The death of the Duke has come as a personal loss to large numbers who had only seen him on public occasions, but who have marked the thoroughness and dignity with which he carried out his many duties, while those who had come into contact with him, however slightly, had felt at once his charm and friendliness. He and his companions died on active service, and their names will be enrolled among the great host of those, of all ranks and classes, who have made the supreme sacrifice for their country. They have passed away from us, but we believe that in the unseen world they still live and there are given further and greater opportunities of serving.