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Katharine, Duchess of Kent

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Katharine, Duchess of Kent

Katharine, Duchess of Kent (born Katharine Lucy Mary Worsley; 22 February 1933 – 4 September 2025), was a member of the British royal family. She was the wife of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, a grandson of King George V. Katharine converted to Catholicism in 1994, becoming one of the few members of the royal family to convert since the passing of the Act of Settlement 1701. For over three decades, she was a familiar presence at Wimbledon, where she presented the Ladies' Singles Trophy and became known for her warmth and compassion. A lifelong supporter of music, she performed with several choirs and held honorary roles in musical organisations. In later years, she taught music at a primary school in Kingston upon Hull, where she was known simply as "Mrs Kent", and in 2004 co-founded the charity Future Talent to support musically gifted children from disadvantaged backgrounds. Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II on 8 September 2022, Katharine became the oldest living member of the British royal family, until her own death. Her funeral marked the first royal Catholic funeral in the United Kingdom in modern history.

Infobox

Born
Katharine Lucy Mary Worsley22 February 1933Hovingham Hall, North Riding of Yorkshire, England
Died
4 September 2025(2025-09-04) (aged 92)Kensington Palace, London, England
Burial
16 September 2025Royal Burial Ground, Frogmore
Spouse
mw- 1961)
Issuemore...
mw- George Windsor, Earl of St Andrews Lady Helen Taylor Lord Nicholas Windsor
House
Worsley (by birth) Windsor (by marriage)
Father
Sir William Worsley, 4th Baronet
Mother
Joyce Morgan Brunner
Religion
Catholic Church (previously Church of England)
Education
Queen Margaret's School, York Runton Hill School

Tables

Coat of arms of the Duchess of Kent · Titles, styles, honours and arms › Arms
Notes Coat of arms of the Duchess of Kent, depicting her husband's arms impaled with those of her father. Coronet Coronet of a Grandchild of the Sovereign Escutcheon The Duke of Kent's arms impaled with those of the Duchess's father, Sir William Worsley, 4th Baronet. Supporters The Royal Supporters differenced with the like coronet and label. Orders The Royal Victorian Order circlet.VICTORIA Other elements Insignia of GCVO appended
George Windsor, Earl of St Andrews
George Windsor, Earl of St Andrews
Name
George Windsor, Earl of St Andrews
Birth
26 June 1962
Marriage
9 January 1988
Marriage
Sylvana Tomaselli
Children
Edward Windsor, Lord DownpatrickLady Marina WindsorLady Amelia Windsor
Lady Helen Taylor
Lady Helen Taylor
Name
Lady Helen Taylor
Birth
28 April 1964
Marriage
18 July 1992
Marriage
Timothy Taylor
Children
Columbus TaylorCassius TaylorEloise TaylorEstella Taylor
Lord Nicholas Windsor
Lord Nicholas Windsor
Name
Lord Nicholas Windsor
Birth
25 July 1970
Marriage
4 November 2006
Marriage
Paola Doimi de Lupis de Frankopan
Children
Albert WindsorLeopold WindsorLouis Windsor
Lord Patrick Windsor(stillborn)
Lord Patrick Windsor(stillborn)
Name
Lord Patrick Windsor(stillborn)
Birth
5 October 1977
Name
Birth
Death
Marriage
Children
George Windsor, Earl of St Andrews
26 June 1962
9 January 1988
Sylvana Tomaselli
Edward Windsor, Lord DownpatrickLady Marina WindsorLady Amelia Windsor
Lady Helen Taylor
28 April 1964
18 July 1992
Timothy Taylor
Columbus TaylorCassius TaylorEloise TaylorEstella Taylor
Lord Nicholas Windsor
25 July 1970
4 November 2006
Paola Doimi de Lupis de Frankopan
Albert WindsorLeopold WindsorLouis Windsor
Lord Patrick Windsor(stillborn)
5 October 1977
· External links
Preceded byMary, The Princess Royal
Preceded byMary, The Princess Royal
Academic offices
Preceded byMary, The Princess Royal
Academic offices
Chancellor of the University of Leeds 1966–1999
Academic offices
Succeeded byMelvyn Bragg
Academic offices
Preceded byMary, The Princess Royal
Chancellor of the University of Leeds 1966–1999
Succeeded byMelvyn Bragg

References

  1. Earlier royals such as Princess Victoria Eugenie of Battenberg (converted 1906) and Princess Beatrice, Duchess of Gallie
  2. "Felix (John Morgan) Brunner (1897–1982), Later 3rd Bt, and His Sister Joyce Morgan Brunner (D.1979), Later Lady Worsley, as Children | Art UK"
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  3. "Brunner Paternal Family Tree"
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  4. The New York Times
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  5. Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knighthood
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  7. Le Petit Gotha.
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  9. The Telegraph
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  10. The Duchess of Kent
  11. The Duchess of Kent
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  23. The Mirror
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  26. Wimbledon.com
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  27. Evening Standard
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  28. OK! Magazine
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  31. "BBC ON THIS DAY | 14 | 1994: Duchess of Kent joins Catholic church"
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  32. The Independent
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  33. Daily Mirror
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  34. The Independent
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  35. The Guardian
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  36. news.com.au
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  37. ELLE
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  39. The Daily Telegraph
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  40. Hello!
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  41. Future Talent
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  42. The Telegraph
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  43. "1970s"
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  44. "The National Foundation for Youth Music – Officers"
    https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/03750674/officers?page=2
  45. BBC News
    http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/real_story/3513164.stm
  46. "Private Passions, Katherine, Duchess of Kent"
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/privatepassions/pip/lmlw8
  47. "Duchess's secret life as teacher"
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  48. Future Talent
    https://www.futuretalent.org/about/us
  49. "BBC - Press Office - Young Musician of the Year 2004 winner"
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2004/05_may/02/young_musician.shtml
  50. "BBC - Press Office - Liverpool clarinettist wins BBC Young Musician 2006"
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2006/05_may/20/musician.shtml
  51. Royal UK
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  52. "The Royal wedding guest list in full"
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  53. Hello!
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  54. The Guardian
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  55. "Young musicians perform at Buckingham Palace hosted by The Duchess of Kent"
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  56. "Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Kent becomes a Samaritans Ambassador"
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  57. The Times
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  58. www.geo.tv
    https://www.geo.tv/latest/435091-duchess-of-kent-loves-rap-music-by-eminem-and-ice-cube
  59. People
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  60. BBC News
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwy5v4lgkqpo
  61. GOV.UK
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  62. Royal.uk
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  63. Liturgy Office
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  64. BBC News
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  65. www.bbc.co.uk
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  66. www.royal.uk
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  67. BBC News
    https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cpq5eynnn8ro
  68. Royal Orders
  69. "The Duchess of Kent – Activities and interests"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20120920212516/http://www.royal.gov.uk/ThecurrentRoyalFamily/TheDuchessofKent/Activitiesandinterests.aspx
  70. Getty Images
    https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/the-duke-and-duchess-of-kent-at-st-pauls-cathedral-for-lord-news-photo/52101999
  71. Getty Images
    https://www.gettyimages.com.au/detail/news-photo/the-duchess-of-kent-visiting-the-royal-police-academy-in-news-photo/52118713
  72. "The Funeral Of The Duchess Of Kent"
    https://www.gettyimages.ca/detail/news-photo/the-duchess-of-kents-personal-honours-on-display-during-her-news-photo/2235224226?adppopup=true
  73. The Gild of Freemen of the City of York
    https://web.archive.org/web/20130507171118/http://www.freemenofyork.com/famous_honorary_freemen.html
  74. Polish Institute and Sikorski Museum
    https://pism.org.uk/visit-of-his-royal-highness-the-duke-of-kent/
  75. "Yorkshire Volunteers History"
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  76. "A Brief History of the Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps, Auxiliary Territorial Service and Women's Royal Army Corps"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20140519004905/http://wracassociation.org.uk/history
  77. The London Gazette
    https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/52834/supplement/2582
  78. "Duchess steps down as University Chancellor" Archived 3 October 2006 at the Wayback Machine, Leeds University Reporter,
    http://reporter.leeds.ac.uk/424/s1.htm
  79. Livery Committee
    https://liverycommittee.org/about/livery-companies-and-guilds/royal-family-connections-with-the-livery/
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