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Prince Edward, Duke of Kent

Born Belgrave Square, 9 Oct 1935

6 facts1 source

Living person. The family sees only the name, dates and photo; everything else stays private unless they choose to share it.

Facts and their sources

A life in time

  1. 9 Oct 1935

    Born in Belgrave Square

  2. 1962–1970

    3 children are born

During his lifetime

He has lived through 10 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Belgrave Square.

General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.

The 1930s · Prince is born in Belgrave Square

In the news1919–1939

Council Housing Construction Began in 1919

Following the 1919 Housing Act, local authorities began building council houses to replace slums, with over 1 million built by 1939.

Getting around

Walking was the primary mode of commuting

In the 1930s, walking was the most common way for people to commute to work, remaining the primary method for one-third of the population.

What it cost

Starting wage for a fourteen-year-old worker

A common starting wage for a fourteen-year-old starting work was 10 shillings a week for a 45-hour work week.

The Second World War. The deadliest war in history, from 1939 to 1945: some 70 million people died. Brazil sent 25,000 soldiers to fight in Italy.Around the world · 1939–1945

The Second World War. The deadliest war in history, from 1939 to 1945: some 70 million people died. Brazil sent 25,000 soldiers to fight in Italy.

Chief Photographer's Mate (CPHoM) Robert F. Sargent · public domain

What people wore

Turbans served as safety and style

The turban, initially a safety device to protect hair from factory machinery, became popular everyday wear that also disguised unkempt hair during the war.

Music

Popular wartime dance routines

The Hokey Cokey became a hit song and dance routine in 1942, featuring simple actions that allowed for mass participation by anyone. Other popular wartime dances included the conga, which was easily mastered with a simple one, two, three kick format.

Daily life

Schooling and Classroom Life

Schools often lacked lunches, so children in winter brought a potato marked with their initials to be baked in the school coal-oven. Pupils were taught using rote learning, and in smaller schools, might start by writing in trays of sand before using chalkboards or expensive pencils.