The Duke of Kent turns 89! Royal enjoys bagpipe rendition of Happy Birthday at his Kensington home – as his wife, 91, makes a rare appearance by his side

The Duke of Kent has celebrated turning 89 by being serenaded with Happy Birthday on the bagpipes – with his wife by his side. 

Prince Edward, the oldest working member of the royal family, spent his special day at the couple’s Kensington Palace home, Wren House.

He was joined by his son, Lord Nicholas Windsor and his younger brother Prince Michael of Kent, 82.

Edward, the late Queen’s cousin, watched the recital alongside his wife Katharine, 91, who was pictured for the first time sitting in a wheelchair, with a blue shawl around her shoulders.

It was a rare appearance for the Duchess of Kent, who did not attend the Platinum Jubilee celebrations, nor the late Queen’s funeral or the King’s Coronation.

After the rendition, Prince Edward, holding a walking stick, shook hands with and chatted to the pipers

It was a rare appearance for the Duchess, who did not attend the Platinum Jubilee celebrations, nor the late Queen’s funeral or the King’s Coronation 

Dubbed ‘Steady Eddie’, the Duke has become known for his dependability during his decades of royal service

The Duke of Kent celebrated turning 89 with the Happy Birthday recital, as he was joined by his wife, the Duchess of Kent, on the steps of their Kensington home

The Duke of Kent Royal thanked the Scots Dragoon Guards for their well wishes on his birthday

The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards were dressed in their red tartan kilted uniforms

On Wednesday, the family watched as three pipers from Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (Carabiniers and Greys) performed tunes including Happy Birthday, Hills Of Biggar and Scotland The Brave.

After the rendition, Edward, holding a walking stick, shook hands with and chatted to the pipers, who were dressed in their red tartan kilted uniforms, thanking them for their well wishes. 

The Duchess of Kent made the decision to drop her title in 2002 after stepping back from royal duties in 1996, famously telling the BBC, ‘Call me Katharine’. 

Katharine retreated from royal life to spend more than a decade teaching music in a state primary school in Hull.

The royal made a rare public appearance with her husband on the 62nd anniversary of their wedding in early June 2023. 

She joined the Duke at St James’s Palace, where a portrait of her was unveiled by her daughter, Lady Helen Taylor, 59, after a concert by the Future Talent group.

The appearance is believed to have been the Duchess’s first public engagement with her husband since she attended the wedding of Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank in 2018.

On Wednesday, the family watched as three pipers from Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (Carabiniers and Greys) performed tunes

The Duke served as an officer in The Royal Scots Greys, which eventually became the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, between 1955 and 1971

The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards performed songs including Happy Birthday, Hills Of Biggar and Scotland The Brave

The Duke served as an officer in The Royal Scots Greys, which eventually became the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, between 1955 and 1971 and was posted to Hong Kong, Cyprus and Northern Ireland. He is its deputy colonel-in-chief.

Dubbed ‘Steady Eddie’, the Duke has become known for his dependability during his decades of royal service.

He performed a key supporting duty during Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, just three months before her death.

The two appeared on the balcony together, standing side by side, as the Duke took the salute of the passing soldiers after Trooping the Colour.

Birthday wishes were posted on the royal family’s official social media accounts, showing the Duke, who has appeared frail in recent years, carrying out royal engagements despite being just one year from 90.

Last week, he joined the King at a reception to celebrate the Commonwealth diaspora ahead of Charles’s tour to Samoa, and attended a concert.

He also held a meeting in his role as the country’s top Freemason – the secret society’s Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England.

The Duke is perhaps best known for being the former president of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club and presenting the Wimbledon trophies each summer, while the Duchess is famed for consoling losing Wimbledon finalists, notably a tearful Jana Novotna in 1993.

Alongside the Princess of Wales, the Duke is joint president of the Scout Association.