Buckingham Palace has released official details for the funeral of Katharine, Duchess of Kent, who passed away on Sept. 4 at the age of 92
Newsroom (08/09/2025, Gaudium Press ) Buckingham Palace has released official details for the funeral of Katharine, Duchess of Kent, who passed away on Sept. 4 at the age of 92. The Catholic service, a historic event for the British royal family, will take place at Westminster Cathedral in London on Tuesday, Sept. 16, at 2 p.m. local time, marking the first royal funeral at the cathedral since its construction in 1903 and the first royal Catholic funeral in modern history.
According to a palace statement, the Duchess’ coffin will rest in the Lady Chapel at Kensington Palace before being transferred to Westminster Cathedral on Monday, Sept. 15, for the Rite of Reception and Vespers. The Requiem Mass the following day will be attended by King Charles, Queen Camilla, other members of the royal family, the Duke of Kent, and the Duchess’ family. Following the service, the coffin will be taken by hearse to the Royal Burial Ground at Frogmore in Windsor. Flags at all official royal residences flying the Union flag will be half-masted on the day of the funeral.
The private service, which will not be broadcast, will include family, friends, and representatives from the Duchess’ charities and regimental affiliations, honoring her wish for a Catholic funeral at Westminster Cathedral. The palace noted that the plans have the full support of the royal family.
A Life of Service and Breaking Tradition
Katharine Lucy Mary Worsley was born on Feb. 22, 1933, in Hovingham, Yorkshire, to Sir William Worsley, a wealthy landowner, and Joyce Morgan Brunner. Raised in an aristocratic family with roots at the Hovingham Hall estate, she developed a passion for music, mastering the piano, violin, and organ. Her eclectic tastes ranged from Mozart to Eminem, a reflection of her broad cultural engagement.
In 1961, she married Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, cousin to Queen Elizabeth II, and became a working royal, undertaking official duties such as attending state functions and charitable events. The couple had three children—George, Earl of St. Andrews; Lady Helen Windsor; and Lord Nicholas Windsor—and endured the loss of a stillborn son, Patrick, in 1977, as well as a miscarriage, experiences that led to severe depression for the Duchess.
Katharine made history in 1994 when she converted to Catholicism, becoming the first prominent British royal to do so since the Act of Settlement 1701, which barred Catholics from the line of succession. Guided by Cardinal Basil Hume and Fr. Michael Seed, she found solace in the Catholic Church amid personal health challenges. Queen Elizabeth approved the conversion, allowing the Duke and Duchess to retain their titles and succession rights. In a 1994 BBC interview, Katharine expressed appreciation for the Catholic Church’s structure, saying, “I do love guidelines and the Catholic Church offers you guidelines. I like to know what’s expected of me.”
A Public Figure with a Human Touch
To the public, the Duchess was perhaps best known for her compassionate moment at Wimbledon in 1993, when she comforted a tearful Jana Novotna after the tennis player lost the women’s final to Steffi Graf. Defying royal protocol, Katharine embraced Novotna, predicting she would one day win the title. When Novotna triumphed in 1998, the Duchess presented her with the winner’s plate, sharing a poignant moment that The New York Times described as Novotna raising the trophy “high above her head” while crying. The Duchess was a fixture at Wimbledon, often seen in the royal box alongside her husband, who served as president of the All England Club for 50 years.
In 1996, Katharine stepped back from public royal duties to teach music at an elementary school in Hull, where she was known simply as “Mrs. Kent.” In 2002, she further distanced herself from royal life, discontinuing the use of her “Her Royal Highness” title, though she continued to attend family events. She also founded Future Talent, a musical charity, in 2004, and volunteered discreetly at The Passage, a London-based charity for the homeless.
A Historic Conversion and Legacy
Katharine’s conversion to Catholicism was a significant moment in British royal history, given the monarchy’s Protestant tradition, cemented by the Act of Settlement 1701. While Victoria Eugenie of Battenberg converted in 1906 to marry King Alfonso XIII of Spain, Katharine’s decision was more prominent due to her active role in British public life. Her spokesman clarified that the conversion was a personal choice, unrelated to the Church of England’s decision to ordain women priests, and Cardinal Hume noted her continued affection for Anglicanism.
Katharine’s life was marked by a blend of duty, compassion, and quiet rebellion against royal norms. Her funeral at Westminster Cathedral will reflect her spiritual journey and her enduring connection to the royal family and the causes she championed.
Raju Hasmukh with files from:
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Buckingham Palace Press Release, Sept. 8, 2025.
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“Katharine, Duchess of Kent, 92, Dies; Broke Tradition With Catholic Conversion,” People, Sept. 4, 2025.
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“A Royal Consoler at Wimbledon,” The New York Times, July 1993; July 1998.
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“Who was the Duchess of Kent, and who are the other Catholic members of Britain’s royal family?” The Pillar, Sept. 5, 2025.
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