The Duchess of Kent, Katharine Worsley, who became the first Catholic convert in the royal family for more than three centuries, has died aged 92, Buckingham Palace has announced. She passed away peacefully on Thursday evening at her Kensington Palace home, surrounded by family. The palace said King Charles, Queen Camilla, and members of the royal family join the Duke of Kent and his children in mourning, remembering her lifelong devotion to music, young people, and charitable causes.
Married in 1961 to the Duke of Kent, a grandson of King George V, the duchess was once a highly visible royal figure, known for her elegance and grace. She became a household name through her presence at Wimbledon, presenting trophies and famously consoling Czech player Jana Novotná after her heartbreaking defeat in the 1993 women’s singles final. The moment, when Novotná wept on the duchess’s shoulder, became one of the most iconic in tennis history. Five years later, the duchess presented Novotná with the championship trophy.
In later years, the duchess stepped away from royal duties, preferring to be known as Katharine or Mrs Kent. She renounced her HRH style in 2002 and dedicated herself to education and community work. Remarkably, she taught music at a primary school in Hull for over a decade, led choirs, and later worked in schools serving children from Grenfell Tower. She also supported charities such as the Samaritans, served as a UNICEF ambassador, and in 2004 founded Future Talent, which helps children from low-income backgrounds pursue music.
Her personal faith marked a historic shift within the monarchy. In 1994 she became the first senior royal in centuries to convert to Catholicism, and she is expected to receive a Catholic funeral — the first of its kind for a modern royal. Despite living largely apart from the Duke of Kent in later life, the couple never divorced, and she remained a respected member of the family. Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022, she became the oldest living royal.
Born Katharine Lucy Mary Worsley in 1933 to Sir William and Lady Worsley of Hovingham Hall, Yorkshire, she grew up in an aristocratic household before marrying into the royal family at York Minster in a grand ceremony. Throughout her life, she was celebrated for her empathy, modesty, and dedication to causes often away from the spotlight. Her death marks the passing of a figure who quietly reshaped the role of a modern royal while maintaining a deep commitment to service, faith, and music.
