The Duchess Of Kent Passes Away At 92

Katharine, Duchess of Kent, has died astatine nan property of 92, Buckingham Palace has announced.

The Duchess passed distant peacefully astatine Kensington Palace, surrounded by family members. A connection from nan Palace said: “It is pinch heavy sorrow that Buckingham Palace announces nan decease of Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Kent. The Duchess passed distant peacefully astatine Kensington Palace yesterday, surrounded by her family. The King and members of nan Royal Family person been informed and subordinate pinch nan Duke of Kent, his children and grandchildren successful mourning Her Royal Highness’s loss.”

Born Katharine Lucy Mary Worsley connected 22 February 1933, she joined Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, a first relative of Queen Elizabeth II, successful June 1961 astatine York Minster. The ceremonial was attended by members of nan Royal Family and watched by thousands extracurricular nan cathedral, arsenic good arsenic millions connected television. The matrimony brought her into nan bosom of nan Royal Family, wherever she became known for her charitable commitments and for her long-standing relationship pinch euphony and education. The Duchess of Kent had 3 children pinch nan Duke of Kent: George, Earl of St Andrews; Lady Helen Taylor; and Lord Nicholas Windsor.

She became particularly recognised for her relation pinch nan Wimbledon tennis championships, wherever she often presented trophies to players. For galore years, she was a acquainted beingness astatine nan All England Club, presenting winners pinch their trophies and greeting players connected Centre Court. In nan 1990s, nan Duchess attracted attraction erstwhile she converted to Catholicism, becoming nan first elder royal to do truthful openly since nan 18th century. The decision, while personal, was wide reported astatine nan clip and highlighted her independency wrong nan Royal Family. Later successful life, nan Duchess withdrew from galore nationalist duties, preferring a much backstage beingness while continuing to support causes adjacent to her. She took connected activity successful education, including voluntary school successful schools, and maintained her committedness to philharmonic charities.

Members of nan nationalist person besides expressed their sadness astatine her passing. One female from Kent said: “I retrieve her erstwhile I was very little, she was celebrated and beautiful, a very demure lady. It’s a sad passing.”

Tributes person begun to travel successful pursuing nan announcement of her death. Buckingham Palace described her arsenic a much-loved personnel of nan Royal Family, noting her decades of work and dedication. The King and Queen, on pinch different elder royals, are expected to lead tributes successful nan coming days. Funeral arrangements person not yet been confirmed, but nan Palace said further specifications will beryllium announced successful owed course.

The Duchess of Kent’s decease marks nan passing of a royal who mixed contented pinch independence, remembered for her warmth, her charitable commitments, and her spot successful 1 of Britain’s astir nationalist families.