On October 9, 2025, within the quiet elegance of Wren House at Kensington Palace, Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, marked his 90th birthday in a moment that blended celebration with profound sorrow. The milestone, already poignant for a royal who has served steadfastly for decades, became unforgettable when the duke received a secret gift left by his late wife, Katharine, Duchess of Kent, who passed away in July 2024 at 91. A handwritten letter, nestled in a velvet-lined box alongside a silver locket engraved with their intertwined initials, carried her final words to him: “Wish you were here, my darling, but know I’m always with you.” As Edward read the note, penned in Katharine’s elegant script during her final weeks, tears welled in his eyes, a rare and raw display of grief that moved his family and close aides gathered for the intimate occasion.

A Life of Devotion: The Duke and Duchess’s Enduring Bond

Prince Edward, cousin to Queen Elizabeth II, and Katharine Worsley married in 1961, forging a partnership that spanned 64 years of shared duty, love, and quiet resilience. Known for her warmth and dedication to music and education, Katharine was a beloved figure, though she stepped back from public life in the 1990s to focus on teaching and charity. Her death, after a private battle with illness, left Edward bereft, with palace sources describing him as “adrift without his anchor.” The couple’s life together—marked by raising their three children, George, Earl of St Andrews, Lady Helen Taylor, and Lord Nicholas Windsor—was a tapestry of royal service and personal moments, from state banquets to quiet evenings at their Yorkshire estate, Coppins.

The duke, still active in his patronage of over 140 organizations, including the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, has carried on with stoic determination since Katharine’s passing. Yet, his 90th birthday revealed the depth of his loss, as the gift she left behind brought their shared history flooding back.

The Secret Gift: A Letter and Locket from the Heart

The surprise was orchestrated by the couple’s children, who discovered Katharine’s gift while sorting through her personal effects at Coppins. The letter, written in early 2024 as Katharine faced her declining health, was intended as a final birthday gesture for her husband, whose devotion she cherished deeply. Tucked within a rosewood box, the note was accompanied by a silver locket, a delicate piece etched with “E & K” and containing a tiny photograph of the couple from their 1961 wedding at York Minster—a radiant Katharine in her John Cavanagh gown, Edward beaming beside her in his military uniform.

The presentation unfolded during a small gathering in Wren House’s drawing room, where family, including the Earl and Countess of St Andrews and Lady Helen, joined a few trusted aides. As the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards played outside—a nod to last year’s bagpipe serenade for Edward’s 89th—his eldest son handed him the box. Reading Katharine’s words, which recalled their first dance to Glenn Miller’s Moonlight Serenade and their shared laughter over burnt toast at Coppins, Edward’s composure faltered. “Wish you were here,” she wrote, evoking their habit of exchanging postcards during his military travels, “but know I’m always with you, in every step you take.” The locket, clasped in his trembling hands, became a tangible link to her presence, its weight a quiet reminder of her enduring love.

A Family United in Memory

The emotional weight of the moment resonated deeply with those present. Lady Helen, known for her close bond with her mother, reportedly embraced her father as he wept, while the Countess of St Andrews later shared that the gift felt like “Mummy’s way of being here today.” The children, aware of their mother’s wish to comfort Edward, had kept the discovery secret, amplifying its impact. A palace aide noted, “The duke is a man of duty, but this was a glimpse into the heart he keeps guarded. Katharine knew exactly how to reach him, even now.”

The gathering, though understated, carried regal touches: a cake adorned with 90 candles, a toast with Edward’s favorite single malt, and stories of Katharine’s wit—like her playful insistence on teaching Edward to waltz properly for a 1970s charity ball. These anecdotes, shared amid the glow of Wren House’s chandeliers, painted a picture of a marriage grounded in mutual respect and quiet humor, a stark contrast to the public’s often formal perception of the royals.

A Legacy of Love Amid Royal Duty

Katharine’s gift arrives at a time of reflection for the Kent family, as Edward navigates his role as one of the monarchy’s elder statesmen. At 90, he remains a working royal, attending engagements with a vigor that belies his age, from unveiling memorials to supporting veterans’ causes. Yet, sources say he carries Katharine’s absence keenly, often pausing at Coppins to touch her piano, where she once taught children through her charity, Future Talent. The locket, now worn close to his heart, has become a private talisman, spotted beneath his suit at a recent RNLI event.

The broader royal family, including King Charles III and the Prince and Princess of Wales, sent warm tributes for the duke’s milestone. Charles, himself facing health challenges, penned a personal note praising Edward’s “unwavering service,” while Catherine, who shares Katharine’s passion for music, hosted a small musical tribute in her honor at Kensington Palace the week prior. These gestures underscore the monarchy’s tight-knit support for Edward, whose quiet dignity mirrors the late Queen’s ethos.

A Poignant Reminder of Humanity Beneath the Crown

For royal watchers, the duke’s emotional response offers a rare window into the personal toll of a life in service. Edward and Katharine’s marriage, less spotlighted than those of younger royals, was a cornerstone of stability, weathering public scrutiny and personal loss, including the stillbirth of their son Patrick in 1977. The letter and locket, a final act of love from a woman who shunned the limelight, reaffirm her legacy as a duchess who prioritized heart over pomp.

As Edward moves forward, the gift serves as both solace and strength, a reminder that love endures beyond loss. The phrase “Wish you were here” now echoes not just in his heart but in the quiet corners of Wren House, where Katharine’s spirit lingers. For a duke who has spent a lifetime upholding duty, this tender moment reveals the universal truth: even royals grieve, love, and carry on, holding tight to memories that shine brighter than any crown.