Royal portraits Duke of Kent provides a unique insight

The Duke of Kent has opened the royal photograph album as he prepares to tell his life story, sharing previously unseen images of his cousin, the Queen, with her family.

The Duke, who has recorded memories of his unusual life for posterity, has offered a glimpse of the Royal family at play, from the Queen and Princess Margaret as young sisters to the Queen and Prince Philip enjoying a casual lunch at Balmoral.

Known as Prince Edward before he inherited the title aged six on the death of his father, the Duke has had a ringside seat to royal history for his 86 years.

He is first cousin to the Queen, related through their fathers, and his book promises “unique insights, with photographs from the Duke’s personal collection”.

A Royal Life is serialised in the Telegraph Magazine today.

Clockwise from top left: the Queen in Scotland; Her Majesty, a young Earl of Ulster and the Duke of Gloucester during Christmas at Windsor Castle; (below) the Duke of Kent on a pony in Bray; the Duke’s parents, Prince George and Princess Marina, with him and Princess Alexandra, his sister; the Queen and Prince Philip have lunch at Balmoral; the Prince of Wales with the Duchess of Kent at Balmoral; the Duke of Kent on his way to go skiing – on a previous trip, he had forgotten his passport