Buckingham Palace has announced the death of the Duchess of Kent, aged 92. She was renowned for her connection to Wimbledon and for secretly teaching music at a state primary school for over a decade.
Born Katharine Worsley into an aristocratic Yorkshire family, she married Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, in 1961. The duke, a cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth II, remains a working royal at 89. Though the couple led largely separate lives, they never divorced and had three surviving children.
“It is with deep sorrow that Buckingham Palace announces the death of Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Kent,” the royal family 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 life-long devotion to the organisations she supported, her passion for music and her empathy for young people.”
The duchess, who converted to Catholicism in 1994, became the oldest living royal after Elizabeth II’s death in 2022. She famously presented trophies at Wimbledon, consoling Jana Novotna after her defeat in the 1993 women’s final.
In later life, she revealed struggles with depression following pregnancy complications, including an abortion after contracting rubella and a subsequent stillbirth.
After reducing her royal duties in 2002, she taught music anonymously for 13 years in Hull, with only the headteacher aware of her identity.
She died peacefully on Thursday evening at Kensington Palace, surrounded by her family.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer praised her compassion and dedication, calling her “one of our hardest working royals”. The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, described her as “an advocate for children and young people’s welfare” who inspired generations of musicians.
The Union Jack at Buckingham Palace was lowered to half-mast in her honour.