page_title: Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark
section_title: Early life
hierarchical_section_title: Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark / Early life
caption_attribution_description: Daughters of Prince and Princess of Greece: Olga, Eliy, &amp; Marina
context_page_description: Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent born Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark, CI, GCVO, GBE, later known as The Duchess of Kent, was a princess of the Greek royal house, who married Prince George, Duke of Kent, fourth son of King George V and Queen Mary in 1934. They had three children: Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, Princess Alexandra, and Prince Michael.
  The Princess was widowed in 1942, when her husband was killed in a plane crash on active service. In later life, she carried out many royal engagements, including the independence celebrations for Ghana and Botswana.
context_section_description: Princess Marina was born in Athens, Greece, on 13 December 1906. Her father was Prince Nicholas of Greece and Denmark, the third son of George I of Greece. Her mother was Grand Duchess Elena Vladimirovna of Russia, a granddaughter of Emperor Alexander II of Russia. She was the youngest of the couple's children. One of her paternal uncles was Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark, the father of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (making her Philip's first cousin).
  She was baptised near the end of 1906, and her godparents were:  King George I of Greece (her paternal grandfather); King Edward VII of the United Kingdom (her great-uncle by marriage); Mary of Teck, the Princess of Wales; Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark (her paternal uncle); Grand Duke Boris Vladimirovich of Russia (her maternal uncle); and Grand Duchess Victoria Fyodorovna of Russia (her maternal aunt).
  Marina spent her early years in Greece, and lived with her parents and paternal grandparents at Tatoi Palace. Along with her sisters, she was raised to be devout and religious, which was encouraged by her grandmother, Queen Olga of Greece. Marina's family travelled outside of Greece often, especially during the summer months. Her first recorded visit to Britain was in 1910 after the death of her godfather, Edward VII. She officially met her other godmother and future mother-in-law, Mary of Teck (then Queen Mary), who treated Marina and her sisters like her own children.
  The Greek royal family was forced into exile when Marina was 11, following the overthrow of the Greek monarchy. They later moved to Paris, while the Princess stayed with her extended family throughout Europe.
caption: Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark, right, with her sisters Princess Olga of Greece and Denmark, left, and Princess Elizabeth of Greece and Denmark, centre.
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