Buckingham Palace’s Official Announcement

Earlier in the day, Buckingham Palace also released a formal statement, noting that the King, Queen, and the wider Royal Family are in mourning.

“It is with deep sorrow that Buckingham Palace announces the death of Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Kent,” the statement read.

“Her Royal Highness passed away peacefully last night at Kensington Palace, surrounded by her family.

“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.”

A Life Devoted to Family, Faith, and Music

Katharine, Duchess of Kent, was admired for her deep love of music and became well known to the public as the royal who captivated Wimbledon audiences when presenting trophies at the tournament.

Her life changed dramatically when she married Prince Edward, the late Queen Elizabeth II’s cousin, in 1961 at York Minster. Their ceremony was historic, marking the first royal wedding held at the cathedral in over six centuries.

Katherine later made headlines as the first senior member of the Royal Family to openly convert to Catholicism since the Act of Settlement, which prohibits Catholics from the line of succession. Her decision, taken with Queen Elizabeth’s permission, was regarded as a deeply personal matter of faith.