London
—
The Duchess of Kent, one of Britain’s most beloved royals, died on Thursday evening at age 92, surrounded by shut household, Buckingham Palace introduced Friday.
“It is with deep sorrow that Buckingham Palace announces the death of Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Kent,” a press release from Buckingham Palace mentioned.
“Her Royal Highness passed away peacefully last night at Kensington Palace, surrounded by her family,” the assertion continued.
King Charles, Queen Camilla and different members of the British royal household will bear in mind the duchess for her “life-long devotion to all the organisations with which she was associated, her passion for music and her empathy for young people,” the palace mentioned.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer despatched his “sincere condolences” to the royal household following the demise, calling the duchess “one of our hardest working royals.”
“She brought compassion, dignity and a human touch to everything she did,” he added.
The Prince and Princess of Wales mentioned the duchess “will be a much missed member of the family” in a press release posted on X. “The Duchess worked tirelessly to help others and supported many causes, including through her love of music,” the put up mentioned.
The King has permitted a interval of royal mourning to happen till the day of her funeral. Details of the funeral and who will attend haven’t but been launched. The Union Jack over Buckingham Palace was lowered to half mast in an indication of respect following the announcement of the duchess’ demise, and the standard framed announcement was positioned on the royal residence’s railings.
During this era of royal mourning, members of the royal household and workers will put on particular clothes till the funeral. Troops on public duties and people working within the Royal Mews and Livery will put on black armbands.
The duchess will not be as properly known as different members of the household to the present technology of royal-watchers as she stepped again from royal duties greater than 20 years in the past, in 2002. However, in Britain and to tennis followers worldwide she will probably be remembered for the half she performed at the Wimbledon tennis event., the place she introduced the trophy at the women’ singles closing for years.
Born Katharine Worsley to an aristocratic household from Yorkshire, the duchess met her future husband, Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, in 1956, whereas he was stationed at a navy barracks in northern England. She married into the royal household 5 years later, in 1961. Prince Edward was a cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Following their wedding ceremony, the duchess turned a working royal, volunteering for the Passage evening shelter for the homeless, and touring the world as an envoy for UNICEF. The couple had three kids, and one other son who was stillborn. In 1994, she turned the primary royal to transform to Catholicism for greater than 300 years.
At Wimbledon, she famously forged apart royal formalities and have become a consoling determine for the competitors’s finalists – most notably comforting a devastated Jana Novotna following the Czech star’s defeat within the 1993 closing.
Five years later, it was a distinct story when Novotna beat Nathalie Tauziat within the closing to win the title, with the duchess readily available to current the trophy.
After stepping again from public duties in 2002, the duchess, who had a deep ardour for music and performed the piano, organ and violin, taught the topic at a major college in Hull, northeastern England, for a number of years. She additionally based Future Talent, a charity that seeks to offer kids equal alternatives to excel in music.