The Duchess of Kent dies aged 92, Buckingham Palace announces

The Duchess of Kent dies aged 92, Buckingham Palace announces

The recent passing of the Duchess of Kent at the age of 92 has left Buckingham Palace in deep sorrow. The announcement of her peaceful passing at Kensington Palace on Friday has led to flags being lowered to half-mast at royal residences, including Buckingham Palace. The duchess, named Katharine, was the eldest member of the Royal Family and was married to Prince Edward, the Duke of Kent, who was a first cousin to the late Queen Elizabeth II. She was widely recognized for her presence at the Wimbledon tennis championships, where she presented trophies and offered comfort to competitors, notably consoling a tearful Jana Novotna in 1993.

King Charles, presently at Balmoral in Scotland, received the news of her passing on Thursday night. A period of royal mourning will follow until the duchess’s funeral, during which dark clothing will be worn and troops on public duties will don black armbands. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer commended the Duchess of Kent for bringing “compassion, dignity, and a human touch to everything she did.” She was known for her love of music, supporting music charities, and teaching music incognito at a Hull primary school under the moniker “Mrs. Kent.”

Born as Katharine Worsley into an aristocratic family in Yorkshire, the duchess entered the Royal Family in 1961 upon marrying the Duke of Kent, a descendent of King George V. She embraced a range of royal responsibilities while also forging her own unique path, notably becoming a Catholic in 1994, the first royal to convert to Catholicism in over three centuries. Alongside internal volition, she regularly volunteered at the Passage homelessness charity. The Duchess and Duke of Kent had three children, although one was stillborn. Her musical affinity led her to advocate for music education for young people, even conducting part-time music teaching at a Hull school where her royal lineage remained unknown. Her legacy lives on through her husband, the Duke of Kent, and their two sons and daughter

Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More