The Duchess of Kent has died aged 92, Buckingham Palace confirmed on Friday. She passed away peacefully on Thursday evening at her Kensington Palace home, surrounded by her family.
Born Katharine Lucy Mary Worsley on 22 February 1933, she married the Duke of Kent, a cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth II, in 1961. The duchess was known for her elegant style and her role presenting trophies at Wimbledon, where her husband served as president of the All England Club for over 30 years.
In 1994, she became the first member of the royal family in over 300 years to convert to Catholicism. She later dropped her HRH title in 2002 and devoted much of her time to teaching music at a state primary school in Hull, as well as volunteering for Samaritans and serving as a Unicef ambassador.
Buckingham Palace said: 'The king and queen and all members of the royal family join the Duke of Kent, his children and grandchildren in mourning their loss and remembering fondly the duchess’s lifelong devotion to all the organisations with which she was associated, her passion for music and her empathy for young people.'
Her funeral is expected to take place at Westminster Cathedral, presided over by Cardinal Vincent Nichols, marking the first Catholic funeral service for a member of the royal family in modern British history.
