The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 1942. DEATH OF DUKE OF KENT.

Evening Star, Issue 24283, 26 August 1942, Page 4

The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 1942. DEATH OF DUKE OF KENT.

Thk whole Empire will grieve with its beloved Royal Family in tho sudden loss which has befallen them by the death, in an aircraft crash off the coast of Scotland, of King George’s youngest brother, the Duke of Kent. The late Duke never visited New Zealand, though he came near to doing so eight years ago, when his brother, the Duke of Gloucester, paid his visit. Prince George in that year made a tour of South Africa, winning the affection of all classes by his attractive manners and his desire to please, and it was announced that he would represent His Majesty the King on the occasion of the Melbourne Centenary, which was celebrated fowards the end of the year. On second thoughts, however, it was judged that the two lours, following so close one on the other, would be an excessive strain, and Prince Henry made the journey, which was followed by a visit to New Zealand, instead. On November 29 of the same year the marriage of the late Duke to Princess Marina, of Greece, was celebrated amidst the felicitations of the entire Empire. It was the first marriage service to be heard all over the world, thanks to a wireless broadcast which was almost incredibly successful. The Archbishop of Canterbury had reason to say: “Never in history has a- marriage been attended by so vast a company of witnesses, for a new and marvellous invention of science joins in the service the whole nation—nay, the whole Empire—as wedding guests, and more than guests, members of the family. It must be most moving tp you to know that this wealth of good wishes and goodwill is being offered to you as their wedding gift.” It was in keeping with the Royal Family’s close association with all that most vitally concerns the nation that the Duke’s death should have befallen on active service.