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📍 London, 5 September 2025 — Buckingham Palace has announced the death of Her Royal Highness Katharine, Duchess of Kent, at the age of 92. She passed away peacefully on Thursday night at Kensington Palace, surrounded by her family.
Married to Prince Edward, Duke of Kent—cousin to the late Queen Elizabeth II—the Duchess was widely admired for her lifelong dedication to charitable causes, particularly in music education and youth welfare. She famously stepped back from royal duties in 2002 and spent over a decade teaching music anonymously at a primary school in Hull.
In 1994, she became the first senior royal in modern history to convert to Catholicism, a decision she described as deeply personal and spiritually meaningful.
Tributes have poured in from across the country. The King and Queen, along with other members of the Royal Family, expressed their sorrow and praised her compassion and service. The Prince and Princess of Wales described her as “a much missed member of the family” who “worked tirelessly to help others.”
A period of Royal Mourning has been declared until the day of her funeral, which is expected to be held next week. Flags at royal residences have been lowered to half-mast in her honour.
