The Duchess of Kent, Katharine Worsley, died peacefully on September 4, 2025, at Kensington Palace at the age of 92, Buckingham Palace announced with deep sorrow.
Surrounded by her family, the oldest member of the Royal Family left a lasting mark as a Wimbledon icon and a devoted music teacher.
Flags across royal residences, including Buckingham Palace, now fly at half-mast, signaling a period of mourning until her funeral.
This news touches hearts across Europe and the UK as of 12:21 PM IST, Saturday, September 6, 2025.
Life and Legacy
Born Katharine Lucy Mary Worsley on February 22, 1933, in Yorkshire’s Hovingham Hall, she married Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, in 1961 at York Minster.
As a first cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth II, she embraced royal duties but carved her own path.
She became famous at Wimbledon, presenting trophies and offering comfort, notably to a tearful Jana Novotna in 1993 after her loss to Steffi Graf.
Five years later, she handed Novotna the winner’s trophy, showing her enduring connection to tennis.
The Duchess stepped back from royal life in the 1990s, converting to Catholicism in 1994—the first royal to do so in over 300 years—with support from Queen Elizabeth.
She worked as a music teacher at Wansbeck Primary School in Hull for 13 years, known simply as “Mrs Kent” to pupils unaware of her royal status.
Her love for music also led her to support charities like the National Foundation for Youth Music and UNICEF, helping children and landmine victims in Cambodia.
Royal Mourning and Tributes
ing Charles, currently in Balmoral, Scotland, learned of her death on Thursday night.
The Royal Family, including the Prince and Princess of Wales, mourn her loss, calling her a “much-missed member” who “worked tirelessly to help others.”
Prince Harry sent private condolences, while Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer praised her “compassion, dignity, and human touch.”
Martina Navratilova shared a tribute on X, saying, “She affected millions positively” , highlighting her global impact.
A period of royal mourning begins, with dark clothes and black armbands for public duties.
The funeral, likely a Catholic service, has no set date yet, amid a busy royal schedule including a state visit from President Trump and Prince Harry’s upcoming charity events.
Personal Journey and Challenges
The Duchess faced personal struggles, including “nervous exhaustion” after her parents’ deaths, but returned to public life with a focus on youth and the elderly.
She attended Prince Harry’s 2018 wedding and the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral in 2021, though frailty kept her from King Charles’s 2023 coronation.
In October 2024, she appeared in a wheelchair for the Duke’s 89th birthday, showing her declining health.
Her decision to drop the “Her Royal Highness” title in 2002 reflected her shy nature.
She once told the BBC, “I like doing things quietly behind the scenes,” a trait that defined her teaching years in Hull.
What’s Next?
The public can pay respects at Armani/Teatro in Milan from September 6-7, with a private funeral on September 8.
Milan honors her with a civic mourning day.
Her legacy as a compassionate royal and music lover endures, with exhibitions planned at Pinacoteca di Brera.
Stay tuned for more updates!