The death of the Duchess of Kent on September 4, at the age of 92, has left the British monarchy in deep mourning. Katharine Worsley, who joined the Windsor family through her marriage to the Duke of Kent in 1961, was the oldest member of the Royal Family and a beloved and respected figure.
In recognition of her legacy, King Charles III has declared a royal mourning period until her farewell. But this goodbye will not only be a solemn farewell, it will also mark a historic milestone in the British monarchy.
The duchess’s funeral, after she had retired from royal duties to devote herself to teaching, will be the first Catholic funeral held for a member of the British Royal Family in over 400 years. King Charles III’s presence at the ceremony represents an unprecedented gesture of religious openness.
Buckingham Palace, which announced the duchess’s death “with deep sorrow,” one day after the sovereign was informed at his Scottish residence, has scheduled the funeral for next Tuesday, September 16, at 2 p.m. (local time).
It will be a powerful symbol of religious openness for the British monarchy, a path that Charles III has championed since ascending the throne in 2022, as demonstrated by inviting Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, and Jewish leaders to his coronation.
It should not be forgotten that the British sovereign is the supreme governor of the Church of England (Anglican), so it is highly unusual for a Windsor funeral to be held at London’s Westminster Cathedral, the same place where former Prime Minister Boris Johnson was married.
This cathedral should not be confused with Westminster Abbey, which is the principal church of the Catholic Church in England and Wales. Therefore, this will be the first royal funeral held in this cathedral since it opened in 1903.
Although this is the first modern-era Catholic royal funeral, it is not the first time a British sovereign has attended a Catholic royal funeral. Queen Elizabeth II attended the funeral of King Baudouin of Belgium in August 1993. However, she never attended the funeral of a pope, a tradition that has continued in this reign, as Prince William represented the British monarchy at the Vatican during the state funeral of Pope Francis.
With flags at half-mast at all royal residences, the coffin containing the remains of the Duchess of Kent will be transported by hearse to Westminster Cathedral on Monday, September 15, where the Reception Rite and Vespers will take place, and where she will lie in repose overnight in the Lady Chapel.
On the afternoon of September 16, King Charles and Queen Camilla, along with other royal family members yet to be confirmed, will join the Duke of Kent and the Duchess’s family at the Requiem Mass (officiated by the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster) for the Duchess of Kent.
Afterwards, accompanied by the Dean of Windsor, the coffin will be taken to the Royal Cemetery at Frogmore, Windsor, reflecting the duchess’s wishes with the support of the British Royal Household.
In 1994, the Duchess of Kent made a decision not seen in the British monarchy for over 300 years, as she converted to Catholicism. It is important to remember that, according to the Act of Settlement of 1701, if a member of the royal family marries a Catholic, they lose their right to the throne.
This recalls the complications Charles III had to navigate to marry Queen Camilla, who was raised Catholic. However, the Duchess of Kent was steadfast in her decision, and Elizabeth II respected and supported her, dispelling any controversy and allowing that conversion to have no consequences for her or her husband, who retained his dynastic rights.
Katharine Worsley was a unique woman in many ways, and through her decisions, she contributed significantly to modernizing the British monarchy. She always supported and dedicated herself to the institution until one day she asked to be allowed to pursue her dream of becoming a music teacher.
She then devoted herself to teaching in public schools, where no one knew she was one of Queen Elizabeth II’s beloved cousins. She also insisted on not using the style of Royal Highness and always proudly asserted her origins, for which she was initially criticized.
The press nicknamed her the ‘Yorkshire girl,’ though she was proud of it. The truth is, she did have aristocratic lineage, but not enough for the most conservative sectors. She was the daughter of a baronet, which is considered a minor title, so Marina of Greece, mother of Edward of Kent, preferred someone of a higher rank for her son.
While there were criticisms, Elizabeth II approved. And this is how Katharine of Kent paved the way for other women who later entered royalty through marriage.