Diana’s godson Lord Downpatrick on life as a royal

He is the grandson of the Duke of Kent and the brother of jet-setting model Lady Amelia Windsor, but it appears Lord Downpatrick prefers a rather more low-key existence. 

Edward, godson of Princess Diana, admitted he would happily skip a sun-soaked summer holiday with his parents, the Earl and Countess of St Adnrews, in favour of a solo trekking expedition or trip to Scotland.

‘There is something more rewarding about it,’ he told Tatler about travelling alone. ‘Often you end up talking with strange things like a stream or a bird or marmot.’ 

Despite feeling most at home in the wilderness, far away from the trendy haunts favoured by many young royals, the 29-year-old conceded it is still quite cool’ being born into the royal family.

Lord Downpatrick is the grandson of the Duke of Kent and the brother of jet-setting model Lady Amelia, pictured together, but he most enjoys living in the rugged Scottish Highlands

Edward, informally known as Eddy, is the eldest child of George Windsor, Earl of St Andrews, who is heir to the dukedom of Kent. His grandfather is the Queen’s first cousin Edward, the Duke of Kent. 

He is close to his younger sisters, Lady Marina Windsor, 25, and Lady Amelia Windsor, 23, a socialite with a successful modelling career. 

The budding fashion designer, who founded his own label, FIDIR, last year, also enjoys a good relationship with his distant cousin Princess Beatrice, 30.

 Lord Downpatrick, 29, admitted it was still 'quite cool' being born into the Royal Family. Pictured, Edward with his sister Lady Marina at an event in 2014

 Lord Downpatrick, 29, admitted it was still ‘quite cool’ being born into the Royal Family. Pictured, Edward with his sister Lady Marina at an event in 2014

In the interview with Tatler, Lord Downpatrick admitted he had not always realised that he would be treated differently because of his title and position in life.

He said: ‘Only with age – and with a degree of cynicism – can you possibly tell that some people treat you differently because you haven’t got a Mr in front of your names.’

The budding fashion designer added on being born into the royal family: ‘It’s complete luck that it happens to be you but it’s quite cool that it has.’

Edward, informally known as Eddy, is the eldest child of George Windsor, Earl of St Andrews, who is heir to the dukedom of Kent. Pictured with his parents and sisters Amelia (centre) and Marina (right) on the balcony of Buckingham Palace for Trooping the Colour in 2001

Edward, informally known as Eddy, is the eldest child of George Windsor, Earl of St Andrews, who is heir to the dukedom of Kent. Pictured with his parents and sisters Amelia (centre) and Marina (right) on the balcony of Buckingham Palace for Trooping the Colour in 2001

Lord Downpatrick, a graduate of Oxford, spends most of his time in London but enjoys escaping to explore inhospitable landscapes. 

Recently he has been ski-climbing in Norway, and hiking in British Columbia and Austria. 

Now he has his sights on finding a more permanent base in Scotland, with a fixer-upper farmhouse and physical shop top of his wishlist. 

He added: ‘Despite the horizontal rain and gloom, as I’ve grown up I’ve appreciated the Highlands more and more, and that’s just where I really long to be.’ 

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