The coffin of the Duchess of Kent has been transported to Westminster Cathedral in preparation for her funeral tomorrow, where her husband, the Duke of Kent, showed his reverence with a solemn bow. The Duchess, spouse of the late Queen’s cousin, passed away peacefully at the age of 92 on September 4, surrounded by her family.
Today, her coffin, shrouded in the Royal Standard, departed from Kensington Palace with a military piper from the Royal Dragoon Guards leading the procession to Westminster Cathedral. Upon arrival, the Duke of Kent, accompanied by their daughter Lady Helen Taylor, respectfully lowered his head. The couple also had two sons, George, Earl of St Andrews, and Lord Nicholas Windsor.
Members of the Royal Family, including Prince Michael of Kent, Princess Alexandra, Lord and Lady Frederick Windsor, and the Duchess’s grandchildren, Lady Amelia and Lady Marina Windsor, were present to receive her coffin. A bearer party from the Royal Dragoon Guards, the regiment the Duchess supported as deputy Colonel-in-Chief, carried her coffin into the cathedral.
Inside, private funeral rites were conducted, including a Vigil for the Deceased, Rite of Reception with holy water, and evening prayers led by Bishop James Curry. Her coffin will remain in the Chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mary overnight before the requiem mass, a Catholic funeral service, to be attended by the King, Queen, and other senior royals, marking the first Catholic funeral for a royal family member in modern British history.
Known for her devout Roman Catholic faith, the Duchess converted to Catholicism in 1994, breaking a 300-year tradition within the royal family. She was keen on having her funeral at Westminster Cathedral as per her wish. While the King will not be the first monarch to attend a Catholic funeral, Queen Elizabeth II previously attended the Catholic state funeral of King Baudouin of the Belgians in 1993.
The Duchess, born Katharine Worsley in Yorkshire in 1933, became renowned for presenting Wimbledon trophies and comforting Jana Novotna at the 1993 ladies’ singles final. After marrying the Duke of Kent in 1961, the couple had three children and engaged in public duties representing the late Queen. Despite facing personal tragedies, including pregnancy complications and a stillborn son, the Duchess continued her charitable work and teaching career in Hull.
Her dedication to music education, volunteering efforts, and philanthropic endeavors defined her later years, with occasional public appearances like attending Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding in 2018. The Duchess’s legacy as a compassionate and committed member of the royal family will be remembered by those whose lives she touched.