Katharine, Duchess of Kent at the Chelsea Flower Show, London, 22nd May 2000. Image: Surrey Live.
(The Post News) – King Charles has sanctioned a royal period of mourning for the Duchess of Kent, Katharine Worsley, who has died at the age of 92. Buckingham Palace confirmed that the Duchess, wife of the late Queen Elizabeth’s cousin, the Duke of Kent, passed away on Thursday.
The statement shared that the Duchess, also known as Mrs. Kent, peacefully passed away at Kensington Palace “surrounded by her family.”. She is survived by her husband, Prince Edward, 83, 10 grandchildren, and three children: George, Lady Helen, and Lord Nicholas Windsor.
Duchess of Kent’s History in the Royal Family
Worsley joined the royal family when she tied the knot with Edward George Nicholas Paul Patrick in 1961 at age 28, following their first meeting five years earlier when he served at a military barracks in northern England.
Throughout her life, the Duchess made numerous headlines. In 1994, she made history as the first British royal woman to convert to Roman Catholicism, despite an 18th-century law barring royals from doing so. She most notably remembered for handing out trophies to Wimbledon finalist and consoling tennis player Jana Novotná after she wept upon losing the singles final to Steffi Graf in 1993. Later, in 1999, she attracted attention for denying a bereaved friend permission to bring her 12-year-old son into the royal box.
Mrs. Kent had a lifelong love of music. She secretly taught music at state primary schools in Hull, in northeast England, and supported musical charities. She loved and valued children, shaped in part by personal tragedy—terminating a pregnancy in 1975 due to contracting German measles and giving birth to a stillborn son in 1977.
Reflecting on her time teaching music, she said: “I love those children, I loved being there and I love East Hull. I wouldn’t have stayed there for 13 years if I hadn’t.” King Charles, who is currently at Balmoral, announced that the official mourning period will last until the day of the Duchess’s burial.
Please share your thoughts, contact Lukhona via email: journalist-lukhona@thepostnews.net
About the Author
