Family Hold Private Vigil for Katharine, Duchess of Kent

Katharine, Duchess of Kent, who preferred to be known as Mrs. Kent, was remembered by close family members at a private vigil held at Westminster Cathedral this week following her death on Sept. 4 at the age of 92, Buckingham Palace said.

Her coffin was carried from her Kensington home to the cathedral in a royal hearse designed by the late Queen Elizabeth II. A lone piper from The Royal Dragoon Guards—of which the duchess had served as Deputy Colonel-in-Chief since 1992—played as the procession departed the residence that had been her home.

Those attending the private ceremony included the duchess’s three children—George Windsor, Earl of St Andrews; Lady Helen Taylor; and Lord Nicholas Windsor—along with her ten grandchildren. Photo coverage of the vigil showed relatives, dressed in black and visibly emotional, as they paid tribute to the duchess.

George Windsor, 63, the duchess’s eldest son, was present with his wife, Sylvana Tomaselli, a Canadian-born academic and historian who has lectured at Cambridge and co-founded the European Centre for the Philosophy of Gender. The couple have three children: Lord Edward Downpatrick, Lady Marina-Charlotte Windsor and Lady Amelia Windsor.

Lady Amelia Windsor, 30, a fashion model represented by Storm Management, posted a tribute to her grandmother on social media in the days after the duchess’s death. A Tatler cover model and patron of the Cross River Gorilla Project, Lady Amelia attended the vigil alongside other members of her generation.

Lady Marina Windsor, 32, the eldest daughter of George and Tomaselli, also attended. Marina, who has been described in public announcements as engaged earlier this year, has been active in philanthropic and social circles and has previously appeared at royal events.

Lady Helen Taylor attended the vigil with her children and her husband, art dealer Timothy Taylor, 62. The couple’s children include Columbus Taylor, 31, who works in the art world; Cassius Taylor, 28, who has been involved in London’s contemporary art scene and events; Eloise Taylor, 22; and Estella Taylor, 20. Photographs released from the vigil showed members of Lady Helen’s family travelling together to Westminster Cathedral.

Lord Nicholas Windsor attended with his children, including Albert Windsor, 17; Leopold Windsor, who turned 16 recently; and Louis Arthur Nicholas Felix Windsor, 11. The younger grandchildren of the duchess have in recent years made occasional public appearances at family events such as Trooping the Colour.

The duchess’s coffin was taken to Westminster Cathedral for a private family vigil, reflecting a focus on immediate relatives rather than a public ceremonial event. Buckingham Palace had announced earlier in the month that the duchess had died "peacefully" at Kensington Palace after a period of ill health.

Katharine, Duchess of Kent, was a long-serving member of the extended royal family and was known by relatives as Mrs. Kent. She held honorary military appointments, including her role with The Royal Dragoon Guards, and maintained a low-profile public presence in later years while remaining active in family and charitable commitments.

Family members seen at the cathedral included multiple generations who span roles in academia, the arts and public life. Timothy Taylor, the art dealer, was photographed supporting his wife and their children at the vigil; Columbus Taylor has worked as a sales director in the art market; Cassius Taylor has curated exhibitions and organised events in London; and Sylvana Tomaselli is an established academic in political thought.

The private vigil follows the palace statement and marks the beginning of a period of family mourning. No further public ceremonial details were released immediately following the vigil, and the palace has not published a full timetable for any future services beyond the family observances held this week.

The duchess’s death was announced by Buckingham Palace earlier in the month, which said she died surrounded by loved ones. The family’s understated tribute and the choice of a private cathedral vigil reflect the duchess’s own preferences for quieter, family-centred commemorations in recent years.