September 05, (THEWILL) — Buckingham Palace has announced the death of Katherine, Duchess of Kent, at the age of 92.
In a statement on Friday, September 5, the Palace said: “It is with deep sorrow that Buckingham Palace announces the death of Her Royal Highness, The Duchess of Kent.
“Her Royal Highness passed away peacefully last night at Kensington Palace, surrounded by her family.”
The statement added: “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 the organisations with which she was associated, her passion for music and her empathy for young people.”
As a mark of respect, the Union Flag at Buckingham Palace was lowered to half-mast at midday.
Born Katharine Worsley, she married Queen Elizabeth II’s first cousin, Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, in 1961. The couple had three children: George, Earl of St. Andrews; Lady Helen Windsor; and Lord Nicholas Windsor.
The Duchess gradually withdrew from royal duties in 1996 and went on to teach music at a primary school in Hull under the name “Mrs. Kent.”
In a 2005 interview, she reflected on the experience: “Only the head knew who I was. The parents didn’t know and the pupils didn’t know. No one ever noticed. There was no publicity about it at all , it just seemed to work.”
In 2002, she formally renounced the style of “Her Royal Highness,” further stepping back from public life.
Still, she continued to attend major royal occasions, including the weddings of Prince William and Kate Middleton in 2011, and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018.
A passionate advocate for music and education, she co-founded the charity Future Talent in 2004 to support young musicians from underprivileged backgrounds.
She was also involved in extensive volunteer work, lending her support to causes such as the Passage Night Shelter, cancer hospitals, and UNICEF.
Evi Ben Ezaga writes on entertainment, culture, and trending stories.
