The Duke of Kent, who is cousin to Queen Elizabeth II, has been hospitalised after suffering a "minor stroke". Prince Edward, 77, fell ill on Sunday evening and was taken to London's University College Hospital before being moving to Kind Edward VII Hospital in Westminster, where the Queen was treated for gastroenteritis earlier this month.Buckingham Palace has said the cause of Prince Edward's illness is a "mild stroke" that has forced him to cancel his upcoming engagements for the next three weeks.
"He's still being assessed and it's not thought to be serious." said a Palace spokesperson, who added the Duke was "feeling well and looking forward to resuming official engagements as soon as possible". The Duke's wife, Katharine, Duchess of Kent, is expected to visit her husband while he is in hospital.Prince Edward carries out a great number of royal duties on behalf of his cousin, the Queen, and is well-known for presenting trophies, with his wife, to the winners at Wimbledon as part of his role as president of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.
Over his 50 years of representing the British royals the Duke of Kent has acted as Vice-Chairman of British Trade International and the United Kingdom's Special Representative for International Trade and Investment. London-born Edward has also served as President of the Scout Association for 38 years.Edward's musically minded wife Katharine is known for her involvement in several choirs, her love of football and for being the first senior Royal to publicly convert to Catholicism since the Act of Settlement was passed in 1701.The Duke of Kent is brother to Princess Alexandra and prospective grandfather Prince Michael of Kent. Prince Michael's son Frederick, who is the Duke of Kent's nephew, is expecting a baby with wife and actress Sophie Winkleman.