Buckingham Palace has announced the death of Katharine, Duchess of Kent, wife of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent. She died peacefully on Thursday night at her Kensington Palace home, surrounded by family. She was 92.
Born Katharine Worsley in 1933, she married Prince Edward in 1961, becoming a member of the royal family and a first cousin by marriage to the late Queen Elizabeth II. The couple met five years earlier while the Duke was serving in northern England.
The palace, in a statement, said King Charles III, Queen Camilla, and other members of the royal family joined the Duke of Kent and his family in mourning, praising the duchess’s lifelong dedication to charitable causes, her love of music, and her support for young people.
The Duchess was closely associated with Wimbledon, where she regularly presented trophies from 1969. She became widely admired for her compassion, notably consoling Czech player Jana Novotna after her defeat in the 1993 singles final. She stopped presenting trophies in 1999 after a disagreement with tournament organisers.
In 1994, she became the first senior royal in over 300 years to convert openly to Roman Catholicism, a move seen as groundbreaking. She was also devoted to music, supporting musical charities and teaching at a Hull school.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer described her as compassionate and modest, noting her public warmth at Wimbledon and her quiet service as a teacher.
She is survived by her husband, three children, and ten grandchildren.
