King Charles: One of his relatives sadly passed away while he was in Kenya

Between 31 October and 4 November King Charles III and Queen Camilla were in Kenya for a State Visit. While all eyes were on the couple, the Royal Family suffered a loss.

Indeed, Albemarle Bowes-Lyon passed away at the age of 83. Bowes-Lyon died on 30 October and we understand that his death was due to old age. As the palace has failed to release a statement so far, it is unsure whether or not any members of the Royal Family will make it to the funeral.

Who is King Charles’ cousin Albemarle?

Albemarle Bowes-Lyon was the nephew of Queen Elizabeth II’s mother. He was born in 1940 and, according to the UK government, he worked in banking before retiring in 2006. Throughout his life Mirror reports that he was close to the Royal Family and attended both the coronation and the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.

However, Bowes-Lyon wasn’t invited to King Charles III’s coronation and it is believed the two aren’t very close. Not much is known about this side of the Royal Family as they aren’t working members.

Another royal death while in Kenya

As King Charles III made his way to Kenya at the end of October 2023, many commented on the challenges this State Visit would bring. This visit to Kenya, which became independent in 1963, was crucial and demanded the new monarch to look into his country and family’s colonial past.

Also while looking into the past, it is interesting to note that the death of Albemarle Bowes-Lyon is not the first death to occur while a royal is in Kenya. Indeed, in February 1952, Princess Elizabeth was visiting the country on an official visit when she found out her father had passed away.

Famously, the 1952 Kenya trip is the journey that saw a Princess leave the UK only to welcome back a Queen.

Read more:

⋙ Queen Elizabeth: Here's how Royal Family members will mark her first death anniversary

⋙ King Charles and Prince William 'highly inappropriate' defiance of this major Royal Family rule

⋙ Will King Charles stop this extreme royal tradition that has a worrying impact on UK's history?

Sources:

gov.uk

Mirror: Sadness for King Charles following family death