Helen Taylor

Lady Helen Marina Lucy Taylor (née Windsor) was born on 28 April 1964. She is a member of the British royal family, being the daughter of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, and Katharine, Duchess of Kent. She is a great-granddaughter of King George V.

Born at Coppins, a country house in Iver, Buckinghamshire, Lady Helen was the only daughter of her parents. She received her education at Eton End School in Datchet, subsequently attending St Mary's School in Wantage, and later Gordonstoun. During her time at Gordonstoun, she was one of approximately 20 sixth form students in an environment known for its traditionally masculine character.

Her early public reputation included the nickname "Melons," which she attributed to comments made by boys at Gordonstoun, stemming from her then chubby appearance. In the 1980s, her personal life attracted media attention; she was reported to have had a relationship with Nigel Oakes, whom she smuggled into her parents' residence at York House, St James's Palace—a move reportedly disapproved of by Queen Elizabeth II. Additionally, she was known to have been a fan of the band The Cure, reportedly visiting them backstage at a concert in Bath in 1983.

Following her studies at Gordonstoun, Lady Helen sought employment in London. In 1984, she began working at Christie's auction house within their Contemporary Department. Between 1987 and 1991, she worked with art dealer Karsten Schubert, where she was credited with discovering artists such as Rachel Whiteread and Gary Hume. She publicly admitted to having declined to represent Damien Hirst. For nearly two decades, she served as a fashion ambassador and muse for Giorgio Armani.

In her personal life, Lady Helen reportedly had a relationship with David Flint Wood, who later married her cousin India Hicks. She met Timothy Verner Taylor, an art dealer born on 8 August 1963, when she was 19 years old. The couple married on 18 July 1992 at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. She chose a Catherine Walker gown for the occasion, and Giorgio Armani provided attire for her wedding. Her husband was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease in 1998. Together, they have four children:

- Columbus George Donald Taylor (born 6 August 1994)

- Cassius Edward Taylor (born 26 December 1996)

- Eloise Olivia Katherine Taylor (born 2 March 2003)

- Estella Olga Elizabeth Taylor (born 21 December 2004)

Lady Helen has been involved in various charitable activities. She is a patron of the CLIC Sargent children's cancer charity and serves as a trustee of The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. Additionally, she is a member of the advisory board for the Glyndebourne Festival Opera and has served as a trustee for the organization.

She has authored articles for publications such as British Vogue, including a piece published in October 2025 paying tribute to her friend Giorgio Armani.