The Duchess of Kent, who her students lovingly called ‘Mrs Kent’, has passed away at the age of 92. As confirmed by Buckingham Palace, she breathed her last at Kensington Palace, in the presence of her family, last night. With the union flag now lowered to half mast, the Royal Family mourns the loss.
A familiar face in the royal box at the Wimbledon tennis tournaments, she had made a huge contribution to music charities and often taught at the Hull primary school. Her students, unaware of her lineage, referred to her as ‘Mrs Kent’.
Who was Duchess of Kent?
Married to Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, the first cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth II, she was born as Katharine Worsley to an aristocratic land-owning family in Yorkshire. In 1961, she entered the Royal Family after she married the Duke of Kent, the grandson of King George V. Both late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles were present at the congregation. Known to have preferred to drop the royal title, she became the oldest member of the Family after Queen Elizabeth II’s demise.
An avid follower of Catholicism, she became the first member of the Royal Family to convert and is expected to have a Catholic style funeral with the king and queen, both in attendance. It is set to be the first of its kind throughout the 300-year history of the British Royal Family.
Duchess’ love for music
The Duchess has been known to have an extreme passion for music and philanthropy. Serving as a UNICEF ambassador, she volunteered for the Samaritans and founded the charity Future Talent in 2004.
A skilled pianist, organist, and singer, she earlier taught music at primary schools in secret. Working with musicians from all backgrounds, she used her love for music to overcome barriers and give low-income children an equal chance at art.
Tumultuous ‘nervous exhaustion’
While the Duchess of Kent liked to live her life devoted to charity and music, she had her share of challenges. She lost a stillborn child, Patrick, in 1977, which led to a seven-week period she spent in the hospital. Previously, this time was described as a period of ‘nervous exhaustion’ after the Duchess opened up about the “acute depression” she faced.
The couple is survived by three children, George, Earl of St Andrews, Lady Helen Windsor, and Lord Nicholas Windsor. However, they spent a large part of their lives living apart, but did not announce a divorce.
Known for her empathetic displays at the Wimbledon tournaments, she was often seen awarding trophies to the winners. Known for her iconic moment with sportswoman Jana Novotna, she bashed all royal formalities when she went in for a hug after she lost the match.
