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British Royals

The Duke of Kent joins hands to remember at 80th anniversary of Dresden

By
14th February 2025

The Duke of Kent has paid tribute to those killed in the bombing of Dresden as he joined commemorations marking the 80th anniversary.

The Duke joined a circle of remembrance in the heart of Dresden. Prince Edward held hands with others as they formed a circle around the old town. The act takes place every year on the anniversary of the bombing as a way of remembering those killed then and throughout World War Two.

The Duke of Kent helps form a human circle around the old town of Dresden to remember those lost in 1945
(Till Budde/British Embassy Berlin)

Almost 4,000 tonnes of bombs were dropped on Dresden between February 13th and February 15th 1945 as the Allies pushed towards a final defeat of Nazi Germany. A large part of the city was destroyed and almost 25,000 people were killed.

The commemorations for the 80th anniversary centred on remembering the citizens of Dresden who were lost. The Duke of Kent joined a service of reflection and remembrance at the Frauenkirche. The church was destroyed during the bombing and has been rebuilt over the years. In 2000, the Duke presented a rebuilt Cross and Orb to sit on top of the church as a gift from the people of the United Kingdom.

The Duke of Kent has been involved in the Dresden Trust for decades
(Till Budde/British Embassy Berlin)

Further official commemorations took place at Dresden Town Hall which was severely damaged in the raids and rebuilt after the war.

The Duke of Kent also visited Neumarkt Square where he was joined by school children learning about the city’s history and through the Dresden Lernweg which is run by the Dresden Trust. The Trust was set up in 1993 to help with the redevelopment of the city and to build strong relationships between the people of the UK and the people of Dresden. The Duke of Kent is its Royal Patron.

The Duke of Kent pauses to reflect during commemorations on the 80th anniversary of Dresden
(Till Budde/British Embassy Berlin)

There was a further reminder of those bonds with an evening performance of Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem by the Dresden Philharmonie at the Dresden Kulturpalatz. The requiem was written to mark the consecration of the new Coventry Cathedral which was rebuilt after Nazi boming raids in World War Two. Coventry and Dresden are now ‘twin cities’ and work together to promote reconciliation as well as economic recovery and prosperity.

The Duke of Kent was representing King Charles III at this series of commemorations. The Duke, now 89, has a long affiliation with Dresden and has visited several times as the work to rebuild, both the city and its bonds with the UK, continues.

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About author

Lydia Starbuck is Editor in Chief at Royal Central and the main producer and presenter of the Royal Central Podcast and Royal Central Extra. Lydia is also a pen name of June Woolerton who is a journalist and writer with over twenty years experience in TV, radio, print and online. Her latest book, A History of British Royal Jubilees, is out now. Her new book, The Mysterious Death of Katherine Parr, will be published in March 2024. June is an award winning reporter, producer and editor. She's appeared on outlets including BBC 5 Live, BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Local Radio and has also helped set up a commercial radio station. June is also an accomplished writer with a wide range of material published online and in print. She is the author of two novels, published as e-books. She is also a marriage registrar and ceremony celebrant.