The Duchess, married to Prince Edward, Duke of Kent , a first cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth II was the oldest member of the Royal Family.
Flags at royal residences, including Buckingham Palace, have been lowered to half-mast as the nation enters a period of royal mourning approved by King Charles III, lasting until the day of her funeral. The date is yet to be announced.
Tributes from the Royal Family
In a statement, Buckingham Palace said:
“The King and Queen and all members of The Royal Family join The Duke of Kent, his children and grandchildren in mourning their loss and remembering fondly The Duchess’s lifelong devotion to all the organisations with which she was associated, her passion for music and her empathy for young people.”
King Charles III and Queen Camilla remain at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, where they are spending the British summer.
A Life of Service and Dedication
The Duchess stepped back from public duties in 2002, but her legacy remains significant. She was best known for her presence at the Wimbledon tennis championships, where she regularly presented trophies and famously consoled a tearful Jana Novotna on centre court in 1993 after her loss in the women’s singles final.
Away from royal life, Katharine led a remarkably private existence. While working at Wansbeck Primary School, she taught incognito:
“I was just known as Mrs Kent. Only the head knew who I was. The parents didn’t know and the pupils didn’t know. No one ever noticed,” she told The Guardian in 2014.
Surviving Family
The Duchess is survived by her husband, the Duke of Kent, and their three children:
- George Windsor, Earl of St Andrews
- Lady Helen Taylor
- Lord Nicholas Windsor
Further details regarding funeral arrangements and official commemorations will be released in the coming days.
