British royal family member has split from his wife: Report

A family friend is quoted as saying, "It's very sad, but the couple have been separated for some time"

The Duke of Kent's son and his wife have separated

SEPTEMBER 18, 2025 4:05 PM EDTSEP 18, 2025, 4:05 PM EDT

The Duke of Kent's son Lord Nicholas Windsor and his wife Paola have reportedly split. The Daily Mail reported on Sept. 17 that it understands the late Duchess of Kent's youngest child and his wife of 19 years have separated.

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - SEPTEMBER 15: (EMBARGOED FOR PUBLICATION IN UK NEWSPAPERS UNTIL 24 HOURS AFTER CREATE DATE AND TIME) Lord Nicholas Windsor attends a Vigil for the Deceased with Rite of Reception and Vespers for the Dead for Katharine, Duchess of Kent ahead of her funeral tomorrow at Westminster Cathedral on September 15, 2025 in London, England. Katharine, Duchess of Kent was married Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, the first cousin of Queen Elizabeth II. She died on September 4 at the age of 92 at Kensington Palace surrounded by her family. Having converted to Catholicism in 1994, her funeral will take place at Westminster Cathedral and will be the first Catholic funeral to be held for a member of the royal family in modern British history. (Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)

The outlet noted that Paola was absent from the Duchess of Kent's funeral earlier this week. Nicholas, who is King Charles' godson, married Paola in 2006. Their wedding is said to have been the first Roman Catholic wedding of a member of the British royal family since Queen Mary I's reign. Nicholas and Paola share three sons: Albert, Leopold and Louis.

POTSDAM, GERMANY - AUGUST 27: Lord Nicholas Windsor and Lady Nicholas Windsor (born Countess Paola Doimi di Delupis) with kids attend the religious wedding ceremony of Georg Friedrich Ferdinand Prince of Prussia to Princess Sophie of Prussia in the Friedenskirche Potsdam on August 27, 2011 in Potsdam, Germany. (Photo by Andreas Rentz/Getty Images)

A friend of the family told the Daily Mail, "It's very sad, but the couple have been separated for some time."

"They no longer attend family events together. Both are very conservative and dislike divorce, so apparently they will never actually get divorced," the friend added.

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The news was reported the day after the Duchess of Kent's funeral. Nicholas, his siblings, George, Earl of St Andrews and Lady Helen Taylor, father and other family members attended the requiem mass for the Duchess at Westminster Cathedral on Sept. 16. King Charles, Prince William and the Princess of Wales were among the royal family members in attendance.

The Duchess' funeral marked the first royal Catholic funeral in modern history. Following the mass, the late royal's coffin was taken by hearse to the royal burial ground at Frogmore, Windsor.

(left-right) Prince Michael of Kent, the Duke of Kent, the Duchess of Kent and Lord Nicholas Windsor watch as three pipers from the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (Carabiniers and Greys) play outside Wren House, Kensington Palace to mark the Duke of Kent's 89th birthday. Picture date: Wednesday October 9, 2024.

The Duchess of Kent's death was announced by Buckingham Palace on Sept. 5. Her Royal Highness was 92.

"It is with deep sorrow that Buckingham Palace announces the death of Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Kent. Her Royal Highness passed away peacefully last night at Kensington Palace, surrounded by her family," the palace said in a statement. "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 all the organisations with which she was associated, her passion for music and her empathy for young people."