Duchess of Kent laid to rest at Westminster Cathedral as husband and royals mourn

The Duchess of Kent was buried Tuesday at a requiem mass at Westminster Cathedral as members of the royal family gathered to pay their respects and her husband, the Duke of Kent, was visibly emotional.

Prince Edward, the 89-year-old Duke of Kent, arrived with the aid of a walking stick and later stood arm-in-arm with his daughter, Lady Helen Taylor, as the private family service took place. The King and the Prince and Princess of Wales were among senior royals in attendance. Buckingham Palace said Queen Camilla withdrew from the service shortly before it began as she recovered from acute sinusitis.

The requiem mass — a Roman Catholic funeral — was held in the cathedral at the request of the duchess and is the first modern royal funeral to take place there. Soldiers from The Royal Dragoon Guards carried the coffin into the cathedral, and a piper from the regiment led parts of the procession, playing a lament used at the late Queen Elizabeth II's funeral. Three of the duchess's grandchildren took part in the service, reading the Prayer of the Faithful. Choral music by Maurice Duruflé and Mozart's Ave verum corpus, reportedly the duchess's favourite piece, were included in the liturgy.

The duchess's coffin, made of English willow and draped with the royal standard bordered in white ermine to indicate she was the spouse of a prince, bore a wreath of British garden flowers chosen by the family. The bouquet included white roses as a symbol of Yorkshire, rosemary for remembrance and sprigs of yew from Hovingham Hall, the duchess's childhood home.

A personal message from Pope Francis, read by Archbishop Miguel Maury Buendía, apostolic nuncio to Great Britain, praised the duchess's “legacy of Christian goodness” and her care for vulnerable people. Archbishop Buendía said the pope offered his apostolic blessing to those mourning her loss.

The duchess, Katharine, formerly Katharine Worsley, died peacefully at Kensington Palace on Sept. 4 at the age of 92, Buckingham Palace announced the following day. She was married to Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, in 1961 and the couple had three children: George, Earl of St Andrews; Lady Helen Taylor; and Lord Nicholas Windsor.

Katharine Worsley was born in Yorkshire in 1933 and became known for a blend of public service and quieter private work. She converted to Roman Catholicism in 1994, becoming the first member of the royal family to do so in more than 300 years. After stepping back from regular royal duties, she spent more than a decade teaching music in state primary schools, founded the charity Future Talent to support young musicians and volunteered with organisations including the Samaritans and UNICEF.

Her public roles included patronages and military associations, such as roles with the Royal Dragoon Guards and the Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire. She was a familiar figure at Wimbledon for many years, presenting trophies and often consoling runners-up. Her teaching and charity work later in life drew public praise and reflected a retreat from the more formal aspects of royal life: she was given permission to drop the use of her HRH style.

The funeral followed a Vigil for the Deceased and a Rite of Reception held at the cathedral on the eve of the service, during which the coffin was received in a solemn ceremony. The following day’s requiem included traditional Catholic rites and music chosen in line with the duchess’s wishes.

The attendance list included a broad cross-section of the royal family and family friends. Among those present were Prince Andrew and his ex-wife, Sarah, Duchess of York; the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester; Prince and Princess Michael of Kent; Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence; and public figures who had known or worked with the duchess. Some senior royals, including Prince Michael of Kent, appeared frail as they entered the cathedral.

Buckingham Palace said the Duke of Kent had been informed about Queen Camilla's withdrawal and expressed understanding of her decision. Palace aides said there was hope the queen would recover in time to participate in the state visit to the United States being hosted by the King, which begins in full at Windsor on Wednesday.

Family members and a number of close friends paid tribute to the duchess’s long-standing commitments to music education and charitable causes. She founded Future Talent in 2004 to support children from lower-income backgrounds in accessing musical training and instruments. The duchess had taught at a primary school in Hull for 13 years and continued to champion young musicians through her foundation.

Her life had included public honours and private struggles. The duchess suffered health problems over the years, including a diagnosis of the Epstein-Barr virus and coeliac disease, and endured the loss of an infant in the 1970s. She remained known for her music, charity work and an approachable manner that earned her public affection.

The funeral at Westminster Cathedral was attended by members of the public who gathered to watch arrivals and pass by the cathedral. Following the funeral rites, the family was expected to continue private commemorations. The palace confirmed that the King and other senior royals joined the Duke of Kent and his family in mourning the duchess and remembering her long record of public and charitable service.