The Prince and Princess of Wales immediately gave a loving tribute to the Duchess of Kent, who has died on the age of 92.
William and Kate mentioned the Duchess – who turned the oldest dwelling member of the Royal Household when Queen Elizabeth II died in 2022 – could be ‘a lot missed’.
The longer term king and queen described how she had ‘labored tirelessly’ in her life to assist others.
The Duchess died at Kensington Palace on Thursday evening, surrounded by members of her household. She is survived by Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, and their three kids.
In an announcement signed ‘W & C’, the Prince and Princess of Wales mentioned: ‘Our ideas immediately are with The Duke of Kent and his household, significantly George, Helen and Nicholas.
‘The Duchess labored tirelessly to assist others and supported many causes, together with by way of her love of music. She will likely be a a lot missed member of the household’.
A spokesman for Prince Harry mentioned he had despatched his condolences privately to the Kent household.
The Prince and Princess of Wales, pictured yesterday, have paid tribute to the Duchess of Kent
The Duke and Duchess of Kent leaving Westminster Abbey after the marriage of the now Prince and Princess of Wales in 2011
The Duchess of Kent, right here pictured on a 1991 pink carpet, has died, Buckingham Palace has introduced
The assertion launched by the Prince and Princess of Wales
One of the crucial glamorous royals of her technology, she was additionally admired for her dedication to forge her personal path and life-long dedication to charity work.
The Duchess was additionally a sublime fixture at Wimbledon. She captured the hearts of the nation when she consoled Czech star Jana Novotna as she broke down in tears on Centre Courtroom after dropping to reigning champion Steffi Graf in 1993.
Her unhappy passing was introduced on social media by the Royal Household’s official Twitter account.
This afternoon a dying discover was positioned on the gates of Buckingham Palace, the place the Union Flag was flown at half mast. In 1992 she famously transformed to Catholicism, and is anticipated to have a Catholic funeral in every week’s time in accordance together with her needs.
‘It’s with deep sorrow that Buckingham Palace publicizes the dying of Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Kent‘, the Royal Household’s noon assertion mentioned.
‘Her Royal Highness handed away peacefully final evening at Kensington Palace, surrounded by her household.
‘The King and Queen and all Members of The Royal Household be part of The Duke of Kent, his kids and grandchildren in mourning their loss and remembering fondly The Duchess’s life-long devotion to all of the organisations with which she was related, her ardour for music and her empathy for younger individuals‘.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer mentioned the Duchess of Kent introduced ‘compassion, dignity and a human contact to every thing she did’, as he paid tribute following her dying.
Married to Prince Edward, the Duke of Kent, cousin to Queen Elizabeth, the couple, pictured collectively in 1991, have three kids: George, Earl of St Andrews, Girl Helen Taylor, and Lord Nicholas Windsor
For many years, Katharine was a sublime fixture at Wimbledon. She famously comforted a tearful Jana Novotna after she misplaced to defending champion Steffi Graf within the Girls’s singles closing in 1993
The Duchess of Kent (final pictured final October) is anticipated to have a Catholic funeral, attended by senior royals together with the King and Queen. Will probably be the primary Catholic funeral service held for a member of the royal household in trendy British historical past
Her dying was introduced by the Royal Household at noon
The duchess, who has been unwell for a while, died at Wren Home, her marital dwelling in Kensington Palace, surrounded by shut household late on Thursday night.
No additional particulars about the reason for the duchess’s dying have been launched.
The King is at the moment at Balmoral and was knowledgeable shortly after she handed. Different members of the Royal Household have additionally been knowledgeable.
Buckingham Palace mentioned that any visits by the household to pay their respects in individual would stay non-public.
The King has authorized that Royal Mourning ought to happen till and together with the day of the duchess’s funeral, which is anticipated to be in every week’s time.
Throughout this time members of The Royal Household and employees will put on clothes which pays acceptable tribute throughout this era. These in Livery, the Royal Mews and Troops on Public Duties will put on black armbands.
It’s unlikely there will likely be any nationwide mourning interval because the Duchess had not been a working royal since 2002, though it’s anticipated there will likely be those that want to pay tribute.
A discover is positioned on the gates of Buckingham Palace in London saying the dying of the Duchess of Kent immediately
The Union flag flies at half mast over Buckingham Palace in tribute on Friday afternoon
Royal engagements are more likely to proceed, though households will think about the ‘format and tone’ of engagements throughout this era.
The Royal web site will even mirror the announcement of The Duchess’s dying, her life and repair. A web-based Ebook of Condolence will even be accessible within the coming days.
Particulars of her funeral will likely be introduced within the coming days, though it’s more likely to be a Catholic service for the reason that Duchess had transformed to the faith.
Particulars of royal attendance will likely be launched within the coming days however it’s anticipated that the majority, if not all, family members would attend – together with non-working royals. That is more likely to embody Prince Andrew, the Duke of York.
Prince Harry will even, notably, be within the UK subsequent week.
The duchess attended occasions marking the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012 and was current for the then-Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s 2011 marriage ceremony, and the Sussexes’ nuptials in 2018 the place she wore snug white trainers paired with a floral Erdem maxi gown and walked arm in arm with a employees member from the royal family for assist.
Lately her well being grew more and more poor and he or she didn’t attend Queen Elizabeth’s funeral or the King’s coronation.
The Duchess’s life-long ardour for music and making it accessible to all noticed her co-found the Future Expertise charity.
In an announcement they mentioned: ‘Everybody at Future Expertise is deeply saddened to listen to the information of the dying of Katharine – our Co-Founder and the visionary behind our charity.’
Nicholas Robinson OBE, Co-Founding father of Future Expertise and a pal of the Duchess for greater than 20 years, advised the Day by day Mail immediately of her braveness and compassion.
‘I’ve misplaced a really pricey pal,’ he mentioned.
‘She was as soon as described as Katharine, the compassionate duchess. And that phrase, compassionate…it simply sums her up. She was such a form, real and understanding individual. It was all about different individuals. Genuinely selfless. She was additionally a shy individual, so nothing she did was for glory. She was simply so great.’
The King, who’s at Balmoral, was knowledgeable shortly after her dying. Prince Harry will even, notably, be within the UK subsequent week, when the funeral is anticipated to happen. Meghan Markle is anticipated to stay within the US
Mr Robinson first met Katharine 21 years in the past when he was headmaster of King’s School Choir Faculty in Cambridge, which was attended by two of her grand-daughters, Girl Marina and Girl Amelia.
They began chatting about her ardour for music and need to assist kids, which resulted in them beginning a charity collectively, Future Expertise, which helps proficient younger musicians with out entry to the appropriate assist and mentoring.
He recalled: ‘She had the imaginative and prescient and the eagerness. She wished to assist younger individuals and fight the dearth of alternative and monetary and sensible assist, however she didn’t know go about it. So I promised I might assist her.
‘She was such a hands-on founder and trustee, so hardworking. In these early years – and keep in mind she was 71 on the time – she was at our workplace in London three days every week, writing letters, ringing individuals, planning. It was such an enormous a part of her life and on the time there weren’t many members of the Royal Household who had arrange their very own charity. However I might see her ardour and enthusiasm and the way in which her eyes lit up when she talked about it.
‘She felt there ought to be no youngster on this nation who had musical expertise who couldn’t develop that expertise as a result of they didn’t have the appropriate means, assist and entry. We assist by way of mentoring, paying tuition payments, offering them with the appropriate recommendation on instructing and musical devices. It’s like becoming a member of a household, and that was pushed by her. Kids are there to be listened to, inspired, supported and heard.’
Speaking of her 13 years working anonymously in a Hull major faculty, Mr Robinson recalled how she would journey up and down by practice to Yorkshire each Friday to show.
‘You would see the kids’s eyes gentle up together with her. They drank in her enthusiasm. They liked what she was doing with them. Pop songs…she liked every kind of music,’ he recalled.
He believes whereas the duchess had an interior sense of empathy, she was additionally formed by her private tragedies, which led her withdrawing from official royal duties and changing to Catholicism.
‘Given her tragic experiences personally, it gave her a deeper empathy and understanding in with the ability to join with individuals,’ he mentioned.
‘She was a trailblazer in her approach, however simply doing it within the background so quietly and effortlessly. The well-known story of how she comforted Navotna at Wimbledon, you bought a glimpse there of the actual individual behind the scenes.
‘I feel individuals will bear in mind her with monumental affection and admiration, and love. The truth that we have now this glorious charity and all these exceptional musicians because of her imaginative and prescient means her legacy gained’t be forgotten.
‘You will need to do not forget that the [late] Queen gave her permission to transform to turn into a Catholic [which was unusual]. I feel she drastically admired her.’
The Duchess of Kent wearing tutorial robes in her position because the Chancellor of Leeds College in 1967
The Kents, pictured on their marriage ceremony day, married on June 8 1961 at York Minister. The union introduced Katharine into the Royal Household, but she had by no means been within the limelight
The Duke of Kent and his fiancee, Miss Katharine Worsley, who turned the Duchess of Kent, in a Could 1961 picture launched earlier than their marriage
The Duchess of Kent together with her child son, the Earl of St Andrews at her dwelling, Coppins in Iver, Buckinghamshire in July 1962
The Duchess of Kent smiling with American comic Sammy Davies Jr., when the celebs had been introduced after the Royal Selection Present on the London Palladium. Jerry Lewis (centre) and Tommy Steele look on
The Duchess of Kent throughout her go to to Oxfam’s Mayfair Honest at Grosvenor Home, the place she met the Honest’s President, Mr Paul Getty, the American oil millionaire, and his visitor, Hollywood actress, Zsa Zsa Gabor, in Could 1972
The Duchess of Kent acknowledges the gang from the Royal field at Wimbledon in July 1975 as Margaret Thatcher smiles and appears on
Diana, the Princess of Wales speaking to The Duchess of Kent at Earls Courtroom in London at a celebration of the fortieth anniversary of The Queen’s Accession in 1992
Pope John Paul II receiving the Duchess of Kent – who transformed to Roman Catholicism – throughout a non-public viewers on the Vatican in 1994
The Duchess of Kent being greeted by a well-wisher in Varanasi, in northern India throughout her go to to mark the fiftieth anniversary of UNICEF, in 1996
The Duchess of Kent cradling a baby with Cerebral Palsy at The Philani Vitamin and Rehabilitation Centre in Cape City South Africa throughout her six day go to in her position as Patron of the UK Committee for UNICEF in 1997
The Duchess of Kent presenting the women singles trophy to USA’s Venus Williams in 2001
Katharine, Duchess of Kent, attends a gala pre-wedding dinner held on the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park on April 28 2011
Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, is more likely to attend the funeral
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer mentioned in an announcement: ‘I want to ship my honest condolences to His Majesty The King and the royal household on the dying of Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Kent.
‘For a few years, she was considered one of our hardest working royals – supporting our late Queen Elizabeth II in her official duties at dwelling and overseas.
‘She introduced compassion, dignity and a human contact to every thing she did. Many will do not forget that second on the Wimbledon Women Remaining, when she touchingly comforted the runner-up, Jana Novotna.
‘Later, when it was found she had been giving her time and dealing anonymously as a music instructor at a faculty in Hull, it appeared typical of her unassuming nature.
‘In so some ways, the duchess sought to assist. My ideas are together with her husband, His Royal Highness The Duke of Kent, her household and all these whose lives she touched.’
The Duchess gave up full-time royal duties and her HRH title to pursue a life away from the highlight in 2002.
She subsequently spent greater than a decade anonymously instructing music in a Hull major faculty, the place she was merely often known as Katharine, or plain ‘Mrs Kent’.
Married to Prince Edward, the Duke of Kent, cousin to Queen Elizabeth, the couple have three kids: George, Earl of St Andrews, Girl Helen Taylor, and Lord Nicholas Windsor.
The Duchess was born Katharine Lucy Mary Worsley in Yorkshire – a county she at all times retained a passionate affiliation with – on February 22 1933.
Her adored father was Sir William Worsley, 4th Baronet and Lord Lieutenant of the North Driving of Yorkshire, whereas her mom, Joyce Morgan Brunner, was the daughter of Sir John Brunner – the founding father of Brunner Mond, which was to turn into ICI (Imperial Chemical Industries).
She grew up on the ancestral household seat of Hovingham Corridor in North Yorkshire, the place her household has lived for the reason that early 18th Century, and acquired no formal schooling till the age of 10.
She then went on to review at Queen Margaret’s Faculty, York, and Runton Hill Faculty in North Norfolk, the place she developed a life-long ardour for music, studying the piano, organ and violin. Her daughter, Girl Helen Taylor, has mentioned her mom was a pianist of just about live performance commonplace.
They married at York Minster on June 8 1961, the primary royal marriage ceremony to be held there for 633 years, with the bride sporting the spectacular Kent Diamond and Pearl Fringe Tiara.
The most effective man was Edward’s brother, Prince Michael of Kent, whereas Princess Anne was one of many bridesmaids.
Friends included actors Noël Coward and Douglas Fairbanks Jr. in addition to members of the British, Greek, Danish, Norwegian, Yugoslavian, Romanian, and Spanish royal households.
Whereas she threw herself into royal duties, incomes the enduring respect of Queen Elizabeth, it was clear, nonetheless, there was one thing lacking from this considerate and religious lady’s life for plenty of years.
Katharine was noticed final October together with her devoted husband, the Duke of Kent, by her facet as he was serenaded by a piper for his 89th birthday. They had been joined by their son Lord Nicholas Windsor (proper) and the duke’s youthful brother Prince Michael of Kent, 83 (left)
The Duke and Duchess of Kent arriving on the Galilee Porch entrance of St George’s Chapel in Windsor Fortress, for the funeral of the Queen Elizabeth II’s aunt Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester in 2004
The Duchess of Kent on the Chelsea Flower Present in 2000
The duchess greets Diana, Princess of Wales at Wimbledon, the place she was a fixture for a few years
The Duchess of Kent with Josie Russell, then 9, who survived a horrific hammer assault wherein her mom and sister each died, throughout a photocall for the Kids of Braveness Awards at Westminster Abbey in 1996
The Duchess of Kent presents the 1978 Wimbledon Women Singles trophy to Martina Navratilova in 1978. The Duke and Duchess had been Wimbledon fixtures for a few years
Two years earlier, the Duke (proper) and Duchess introduced the winner’s plate to Chris Evert
When true royalty met showbiz royalty: The duchess at a charity picture name with Bruce Forsyth
This was exacerbated when she suffered a devastating miscarriage in 1975 owing to rubella, after which gave delivery to a stillborn son, Patrick, in 1977.
This loss despatched her right into a extreme despair, which noticed her hospitalised for ‘nervous pressure’ in 1978, one thing she bravely spoke about publicly later.
‘It had essentially the most devastating impact on me,’ she mentioned later. ‘I had no thought how devastating such a factor may very well be to any lady. It has made me extraordinarily understanding of others that suffer a stillbirth.’
Earlier than retiring from the Royal Household within the Nineteen Nineties, Katharine was a fixture at Wimbledon for a few years the place she turned recognized for presenting the Wimbledon finalists with their trophies – a task the Princess of Wales has now stepped into.
In 1993, the duchess famously confirmed her compassionate facet when she comforted an emotional Jana Novotna on the court docket as she burst into tears after dropping out to Steffi Graf.
A 12 months earlier, she had turn into the primary member of the royal household to transform to Catholicism for the reason that Act of Settlement 1701. Since her husband the Duke of Kent didn’t convert, he remained within the line of succession.
‘I do love pointers and the Catholic Church gives you pointers. I’ve at all times wished that in my life. I wish to know what’s anticipated of me. I like being advised: You shall go to church on Sunday and in case you do not you are in for it!’ she advised the BBC.
Katharine Worsley leaving her Hovingham Corridor dwelling for York Minster the place she was to turn into the Duchess of Kent on her marriage to Duke of Kent on June 8, 1961
The Duke wore the ceremonial uniform of his regiment the Royal Scots Greys to his marriage ceremony to Katharine Worsley
Katharine Kent pictured together with her son Lord Nicholas Windsor waving to crowds from a automotive in July 1982
Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark pictured together with her son Prince Edward after his engagement to Katharine Kent was introduced
Ten years later she requested the late Queen for permission to surrender royal duties and her HRH title, a request the monarch sympathetically agreed to.
The duchess defined that ‘there was nothing that I felt I wished to cover away from… It was simply one thing that occurred in my life. I used to be at all times – I would not say pleased with it, however I used to be glad I did it. I used to be supported by way of it as properly. The Queen mentioned: ‘Sure, go and do it,’ so I did.’
Remarkably, she took a place as a music instructor in Wansbeck Main Faculty in Kingston upon Hull, and in addition gave piano classes in a rented studio flat close to her official residence at Kensington Palace.
Speaking about her profession as a music instructor she mentioned: ‘Instructing [the children] could be very satisfying. It is a privilege. To me it is one of the thrilling jobs anybody can do.’
The duchess additionally served as president of the Royal Northern School of Music, and was the director of Nationwide Basis for Youth Music from 1999 to 2007, in addition to attending occasional large-scale Royal Household capabilities over time.
In 2004 she arrange the charity Future Expertise, which provides music assist, devices and lessons, to underprivileged kids between the ages of 6 and 18. From small beginnings, they now assist 100 musical kids.
Katharine pictured in 1992 – shortly earlier than she retired from royal life and have become a music instructor in Hull
Katharine, Duchess of Kent pictured arriving at a pink carpet occasion in 1991. She stepped again from public life in 2002
The duchess with South African president Nelson Mandela at a charity breakfast
Speaking of her profession as a music instructor, the Duchess as soon as advised the BBC how considered one of her favorite items of music was ‘Thank You’ by Dido – though she additionally, remarkably, admitted a ardour for rap together with Eminem and Ice Dice.
Inevitably, her life decisions and dedication to stay exterior of the royal fold led to hypothesis about her and the Duke of Kent’s marriage, however actually the couple continued to share a house, Wren Home, at Kensington Palace till she died. The Duke is now aged 89 and whereas frail himself, stays a working royal.
She was final seen in public in October 2024 in {a photograph} to mark her husband’s 89th birthday, the place it was famous that she was sitting in a wheelchair.
Queen Elizabeth was mentioned to have at all times admired the duchess’s type, calm nature and robust sense of loyalty and religion, making her a Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO). She was additionally awarded the Honorary Freedom of the Metropolis of York in 1989.
It is for that reason that her dying has sparked seven days of official royal mourning.
Though she is now not a working royal, the household are understood to be eager to pay tribute given the particular place she holds of their hearts.
A discover saying her dying will likely be displayed on the gates to Buckingham Palace and flags flown at half mast, it’s understood.
The ‘hybrid’ mourning plan will see the royal web site mirror her passing and supply tributes.
Royal duties will proceed be undertaken through the seven-day mourning interval, though solely suitably low-key engagements will likely be carried-out by relations,
A full Royal Household turnout is anticipated at her funeral, particulars of that are but to be introduced.
Acceptable preparations being made for that, though the occasion itself will likely be non-public.
