The upcoming funeral of the Duchess of Kent is scheduled to be held at Westminster Cathedral in a week’s time, as confirmed by Buckingham Palace. King Charles, aged 78, and Queen Camilla, also 78, will be among the attendees at the private service, along with other members of the royal family, the duchess’s close relatives, friends, and representatives of her charities and regimental associations.
Non-working royals, including Prince Andrew, are expected to be present as mourners, and Prince Harry, who has upcoming public engagements in the UK next week, may also attend. This funeral will mark the first royal Catholic funeral in modern times and the first royal burial ceremony at Westminster Cathedral since its establishment in 1903. Notably, the ceremony will commence at 2 pm and incorporate elements reflecting the duchess’s special military connections.
Preceding the funeral, the duchess’s coffin will be placed in the private chapel at Kensington Palace and then transferred by hearse to Westminster Cathedral the following Monday for the Rite of Reception and Vespers before resting in the Lady Chapel overnight. Following the funeral service, the coffin will be taken by hearse to the Royal Burial Ground at Frogmore, Windsor.
In a significant personal history, the duchess, previously known as Katharine Kent, became the first royal to convert to Catholicism since the Act of Settlement of 1701 in 1994. Additionally, in 2002, she chose to step down from her royal duties and relinquished her HRH title after seeking permission from the late Queen due to personal hardships, including the loss of children and a period of depression.
Known for her musical talent, the duchess was an accomplished pianist who, during her private life, taught at a state primary school in Hull, East Yorkshire, for 13 years. Married to the Duke of Kent, 89, who is a descendant of King George V and a cousin to Queen Elizabeth, the couple has three children together – George, Earl of St Andrews, Lady Helen, and Lord Nicholas Windsor.
Despite reports of leading separate lives for an extended period, the couple remained married and content together until the duchess peacefully passed away at the age of 92 in her residence at Kensington Palace on Thursday night. While the cause of her death was not disclosed, sources mentioned that she had been unwell for a prolonged period.