The Duchess of Kent has died at the age of 92, Buckingham Palace has announced. She passed away peacefully on Thursday night at Kensington Palace, surrounded by close family members.
The Prince and Princess of Wales paid a personal tribute, writing on social media: 'Our thoughts today are with The Duke of Kent and his family, particularly George, Helen and Nicholas. The Duchess worked tirelessly to help others and supported many causes, including through her love of music.'
Known for consoling losing Wimbledon finalists, including a tearful Jana Novotna in 1993, the Duchess presented trophies at the championships for many years. She stepped back from public royal duties in 2002 but remained associated with several organisations.
Married to the Duke of Kent since 1961, she was a skilled pianist, organist and singer. She secretly taught music at state primary schools in East Yorkshire and London, spending 13 years at Wansbeck Primary School in Hull. In 2004, she founded the charity Future Talent, which helps children from low-income backgrounds access music education.
The King, currently at Balmoral, was informed of his cousin's death late on Thursday night. Royal Mourning has been approved and will continue until the day of the funeral. The union flag at Buckingham Palace was lowered to half mast as a mark of respect.
