Britain’s Duchess of Kent, Katharine, the wife of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, has died aged 92, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday. She passed away peacefully on Thursday night at her home in Kensington Palace, surrounded by her family.
Born Katharine Worsley in 1933, she entered the royal family in 1961 after marrying Prince Edward, a first cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth II. Their romance began five years earlier when they met while he was stationed at a military barracks in northern England.
In a statement, the 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 life-long devotion to all the organisations with which she was associated, her passion for music and her empathy for young people.”
The Duchess is perhaps best remembered for her decades-long association with Wimbledon. From 1969, she regularly presented trophies at the prestigious tournament, becoming a familiar and admired figure on Centre Court. One of her most enduring public moments came in 1993 when she comforted Czech player Jana Novotna after her tearful defeat in the singles final, telling her, “I know you will win it one day.” Novotna went on to claim the title five years later.
However, her ties with Wimbledon soured in 1999 when she was denied permission to bring the young son of a bereaved friend into the royal box.
Beyond sport, the duchess made history in 1994 when she converted to Roman Catholicism, the first senior royal to do so openly since King Charles II more than three centuries earlier. The decision, in defiance of laws that long barred royals from becoming Catholic, underscored her independence of thought.
Katharine was equally passionate about music, not only lending her name to musical charities but also teaching at a school in Hull, often working anonymously.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer paid tribute to her compassion and modesty, recalling her public kindness at Wimbledon and her quiet dedication as a teacher. “She brought compassion, dignity and a human touch to everything she did,” he said.
The Duchess of Kent is survived by her husband, three children, and ten grandchildren.
Melissa Enoch
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