Duke of Kent Faces Another Heartbreaking Loss as Trusted Private Secretary Dies Ahead of His 91st Birthday
Prince Edward, the late Queen Elizabeth II’s cousin, is mourning the death of Nicholas Turnbull, who received a royal honour from King Charles just two days before his passing.
The Duke of Kent is facing another period of mourning as he marks his 91st birthday on Friday, 9 October, following the death of his long-serving private secretary, Nicholas Piers Turnbull.
Turnbull died on 16 September 2026 at the age of 63, seven years after joining Prince Edward’s household. His passing comes just over a year after the Duke lost his wife, Katharine, Duchess of Kent, in September 2025.
The timing is particularly poignant. On 14 September, only two days before his death, Turnbull was appointed a Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order by King Charles III, recognising his distinguished personal service to the Royal Family.
Nicholas Turnbull’s Seven Years of Service to the Duke
Turnbull had served as the Duke’s private secretary since 2019, helping oversee the responsibilities associated with Prince Edward’s continuing royal work.
The position involves coordinating official engagements, managing correspondence and handling communications on behalf of a senior member of the monarchy.
Although much of the work takes place away from public view, private secretaries play an important part in the organisation of royal households, particularly for members who continue official duties later in life.
Turnbull occasionally accompanied the Duke at public events. In July 2026, he joined Prince Edward in the Royal Box at Wimbledon, where the Duke has maintained a longstanding association with the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.
Prince Edward served as the club’s president from 1969 until 2021, presenting championship trophies for more than five decades.
Turnbull, who was born in 1962, was the son of John Earle Turnbull and Mary K. Heath. He married the Hon. Arabella Maroussia Phillimore, daughter of the 5th Baron Phillimore, around 2006.
He leaves behind two children, Alexander, 17, and Crispin, 14.
His death notice also identified his honours as LVO, MBE and QGM, and stated that a memorial would be arranged at a later date, with donations invited to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution or the Woodland Trust.
Another Bereavement Following the Death of Katharine, Duchess of Kent
The Duke and Duchess of Kent were married for more than six decades.
The loss of his private secretary follows an especially difficult period for the Duke, whose wife died peacefully at Kensington Palace on 4 September 2025, aged 92.
Prince Edward and Katharine Worsley married at York Minster on 8 June 1961 and spent 64 years together. They had three children and ten grandchildren.
Following her death, Buckingham Palace announced that King Charles, Queen Camilla and other members of the Royal Family had joined the Duke and his family in mourning.
The Duchess’s funeral took place at Westminster Cathedral on 16 September 2025, with the King and other senior royals attending the Requiem Mass.
Despite his bereavement, Prince Edward has continued to make selected public appearances, often with the support of members of his family.
On 27 September 2026, he attended a special concert at Sinfonia Smith Square in London to celebrate the life and musical legacy of his late wife.
The occasion brought together several generations of the Kent family, including his younger brother, Prince Michael of Kent, and his three children, George, Earl of St Andrews, Lady Helen Taylor and Lord Nicholas Windsor.
Other relatives in attendance included Lady Marina Windsor, Lady Amelia Windsor, Lord Frederick Windsor and his wife, actress Sophie Winkleman. Princess Alexandra was also present.
The Duke attended a memorial concert honouring Katharine, Duchess of Kent, in September 2026.
A Special Concert Celebrating the Duchess’s Passion for Music
The memorial concert was organised by Future Talent, the charitable organisation Katharine co-founded in 2004 to support gifted young musicians from financially disadvantaged backgrounds.
Hosted by broadcaster Alexander Armstrong, the evening featured performances by more than 40 young musicians and alumni, including members of the Future Talent Orchestra.
The programme celebrated the Duchess’s commitment to widening access to musical education. It also included Destiny’s Journey, a composition by Future Talent alumnus Sam Nutter.
Introducing the tribute, Armstrong remembered Katharine’s enthusiasm for music and her deep interest in people from all walks of life.
He spoke of “Katharine’s love of life, her love of music,” and especially her affection for people, recalling a woman who took an active interest in the musicians supported by her charity.
The Duchess’s involvement in Future Talent grew out of her own experience teaching music at a primary school in East Hull for 13 years.
During that time, she witnessed the difficulties talented children could encounter when their families lacked the financial means to support their musical development.
Working with Nicholas Robinson OBE, she established Future Talent to provide young performers with instruments, tuition, mentoring and opportunities to develop their abilities.
The charity continues to support young musicians across the United Kingdom, extending a project that became central to the Duchess’s life after she withdrew from full-time royal duties in 2002.
Duchess of Kent’s £1.4 Million Estate Reflected Her Final Wishes
Katharine, Duchess of Kent, left a substantial portion of her estate to her family, alongside a charitable gift.
Further details of Katharine’s personal legacy emerged in July 2026, when information about her will became public.
Probate records revealed that the Duchess left an estate valued at £1,433,696, with its net value standing at £1,433,206 after liabilities were accounted for.
The largest portion of her estate was designated for her three children: George, Earl of St Andrews, Lady Helen Taylor and Lord Nicholas Windsor.
She also left £5,000 to each of her nine godchildren and made a £10,000 bequest to Future Talent.
Personal belongings, including jewellery, furniture and household items, were left to the Duke, with provisions allowing for their subsequent distribution.
The charitable gift reflected the importance Katharine placed on ensuring that young people could pursue their musical ambitions regardless of their financial circumstances.
Duke of Kent Continues His Royal Commitments at 91
The Duke of Kent appeared on the Buckingham Palace balcony for Trooping the Colour in 2026.
Prince Edward remains the oldest living member of the British Royal Family and one of its longest-serving working members.
Born on 9 October 1935, he is a first cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth II and has spent much of his life representing the monarchy through charitable, military and ceremonial responsibilities.
He became a working member of the Royal Family after retiring from the British Army in 1976 and has maintained connections with more than 140 charities, professional organisations and other institutions.
Although advancing age and mobility difficulties have led him to reduce his public schedule, he continues to undertake selected engagements in support of King Charles.
Earlier in 2026, he appeared on the balcony at Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour, maintaining a royal tradition he has participated in for decades.
On 7 October, just two days before his birthday, he also attended a London concert by the International Musicians Seminar Prussia Cove, continuing his involvement with the musical organisations he has supported over the years.
His latest bereavement, coming so soon after the loss of his wife, marks another difficult chapter in the Duke’s later years.
For Prince Edward, the approach of his 91st birthday has been accompanied not only by memories of his decades of royal service, but also by the loss of two people who were closely connected to his personal and public life.
