The Duchess of Kent's coffin will begin its journey to Westminster Cathedral on Monday, led by a military piper from The Royal Dragoon Guards, a regiment she supported as deputy Colonel-in-Chief since 1992. The coffin will travel from Kensington Palace for private funeral rites attended by her immediate family.
Personnel from the regiment will form the bearer party, carrying the coffin into the cathedral, where it will rest overnight in the Chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The requiem mass, a Catholic funeral, will take place on Tuesday, attended by the King, Queen, and other senior royals.
This will be the first Catholic funeral service held for a member of the royal family in modern British history. Katharine, wife of the Duke of Kent, died peacefully at home on 4 September at age 92. She converted to Catholicism in 1994, becoming the first royal to do so in over 300 years.
On Monday, the funeral rites will include a Vigil for the Deceased and the Rite of Reception, with the coffin sprinkled with holy water. Evening prayers, known as Vespers, will be led by Bishop James Curry.
