Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark
A Greek princess who became a beloved and resilient figure in the British royal family, dedicating decades to public service after a tragic wartime loss.
1906–1968 (age 62)·Duchess of Kent·Birthday: December 13·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Born into the turbulent world of European royalty, Princess Marina carried the legacy of Greek, Danish, and Russian dynasties. Her 1934 marriage to Prince George, Duke of Kent, brought a dash of continental glamour to the British monarchy. The couple's life was cut short when the Duke was killed in a 1942 air crash, leaving Marina a widow with three young children. Rather than retreat, she forged a distinct path as a working royal for over forty years, becoming one of the most recognizable and active members of the family. Her style was impeccable, her patronage of the arts and charities was deeply felt, and her personal grace in the face of loss earned her widespread public affection. She maintained her unique status, never remarrying, and saw her children establish their own lives within and outside royal circles.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Princess was born in 1906, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Princess Was Born
The biggest hits of 1906
Princess's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1906Born
San Francisco earthquake devastates the city
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1911Started school
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire kills 146 in New York
President: William Howard Taft
1919Became a teenager
Treaty of Versailles signed; Prohibition ratified
President: Woodrow Wilson
1922Could drive
King Tut's tomb discovered in Egypt
President: Warren G. Harding"April Showers" — Al Jolson
1924Could vote
First Winter Olympics held in Chamonix, France
President: Calvin Coolidge"It Had to Be You" — Isham Jones
1927Turned 21
Lindbergh flies solo across the Atlantic; The Jazz Singer premieres
President: Calvin Coolidge"My Blue Heaven" — Gene Austin
1936Turned 30
Jesse Owens wins four golds at the Berlin Olympics
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"The Way You Look Tonight" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: The Great Ziegfeld
1946Turned 40
United Nations holds its first General Assembly
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $5,150Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Prisoner of Love" — Perry ComoBest Picture: The Best Years of Our Lives
1956Turned 50
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $10,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Heartbreak Hotel" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: Around the World in 80 Days
1966Turned 60
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1968Died at 62
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
Key Achievements
- Served as the first Chancellor of the University of Kent from its inception in 1965 until her death.
- Acted as a Counsellor of State on multiple occasions, performing royal duties in the sovereign's absence.
- Was a long-serving President of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, presenting the Wimbledon trophies for many years.
- Maintained an extensive schedule of royal engagements and patronages, including the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama.
Did You Know?
She was the last foreign-born princess to marry into the British royal family until the 21st century.
Her wedding dress, designed by Edward Molyneux, is considered a landmark of 1930s fashion.
She was an accomplished painter and held private exhibitions of her work.
During World War II, she worked as a nurse at the Red Cross's St. Mary's Hospital in Paddington.
“The only way to survive is to know all the forms of etiquette.”
