Katharine, Duchess of Kent

Katharine, Duchess of Kent (born Katharine Lucy Mary Worsley; 22 February 1933 – 4 September 2025), was a member of the British royal family. She was the wife of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, a grandson of King George V.

Katharine converted to Catholicism in 1994, becoming one of the few members of the royal family to convert since the passing of the Act of Settlement 1701. For over three decades, she was a familiar presence at Wimbledon, where she presented the Ladies' Singles Trophy and became known for her warmth and compassion. A lifelong supporter of music, she performed with several choirs and held honorary roles in musical organisations. In later years, she taught music at a primary school in Kingston upon Hull, where she was known simply as "Mrs Kent", and in 2004 co-founded the charity Future Talent to support musically gifted children from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II on 8 September 2022, Katharine became the oldest living member of the British royal family, until her own death. Her funeral marked the first royal Catholic funeral in the United Kingdom in modern history.

Early life and education

Katharine Lucy Mary Worsley was born on 22 February 1933 at Hovingham Hall, Yorkshire, the fourth child and only daughter of Sir William Worsley, 4th Baronet (1890−1973), Lord-lieutenant of North Riding, and his wife Joyce Morgan Brunner (1895–1979). Her mother was the only daughter of Sir John Brunner, 2nd Baronet, and granddaughter of Sir John Brunner, 1st Baronet, co-founder of Brunner Mond—one of the four companies that merged in 1926 to form Imperial Chemical Industries. She was a descendant of Oliver Cromwell through his youngest daughter Frances, Lady Russel. Worsley was baptised at All Saints' Church, Hovingham, on 2 April 1933. Her godparents were her maternal uncle Sir Felix Brunner, 3rd Baronet, Major Sir Digby Lawson, 2nd Baronet, her paternal aunt Lady Colegate, and Margaret D'Arcy Fife of Nunnington Hall.

Worsley received no formal education until she was ten. She was educated at Queen Margaret's School, York, and at Runton Hill School in North Norfolk. While in the sixth form there, she took science lessons at Gresham's School. At school, she was introduced to music, and was taught to play the piano, organ and violin. In her final year at Runton Hill, she was formally elected music secretary; in this role, she organised school recitals in Norwich. She left school with a pass in oral French and a "very good" in English literature.

Worsley worked for some time in a children's home in York and at a nursery school in London. She failed to gain admission to the Royal Academy of Music, but followed her brothers to Oxford – where they were at the university – to study at Miss Hubler's Finishing School, 22 Merton Street, devoting much of her time to music. She was one of only eight pupils there and was instructed by three different teachers: The principal, a Miss Hubler, taught French literature, painting, and history; a French woman taught cookery; and a Viennese woman taught music.

Marriage

Worsley met Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, the eldest son of Prince George, Duke of Kent, and Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark, while he was based at Catterick Garrison. Princess Marina reportedly disapproved of her son's choice for a bride and twice forbade the match before agreeing to the marriage in 1961. On 8 June 1961, the couple married at York Minster, the first royal marriage in that location in 633 years (the last one being between Edward III and Philippa of Hainault). The bride's father escorted her, and the best man was Edward's brother Prince Michael of Kent. Princess Anne was one of the bridesmaids. The Archbishop of York, Michael Ramsey, officiated the marriage service. Guests included actors Noël Coward and Douglas Fairbanks Jr. as well as members of the British, Greek, Danish, Norwegian, Yugoslavian, Romanian, and Spanish royal families. Her white silk gauze dress was designed by John Cavanagh, used 273 yards (250 m) of fabric and had "a high neckline and long sleeves and a commanding train". The Kent Diamond and Pearl Fringe Tiara secured her veil.

They had three living children:

• George, Earl of St Andrews, born 26 June 1962 at Coppins; married Sylvana Tomaselli
• Lady Helen Taylor, born 28 April 1964 at Coppins; married Timothy Taylor
• Lord Nicholas Windsor, born 25 July 1970 at King's College Hospital in London; married, 2006, Paola Doimi de Lupis de Frankopan

Katharine had a miscarriage in 1975 owing to rubella and gave birth to a stillborn son, Patrick, in 1977; this loss sent her into a severe depression which she spoke about publicly. "It had the most devastating effect on me", she told The Daily Telegraph in 1997. "I had no idea how devastating such a thing could be to any woman. It has made me extremely understanding of others who suffer a stillbirth."

She moved to the married quarters in Hong Kong and Germany while her husband was serving with the Royal Scots Greys. The couple later took numerous royal engagements on behalf of the Queen, including the Ugandan independence celebrations and the coronation of the King of Tonga.

Katharine and her husband lived at Wren House, Kensington Palace, in London. From 1972 to 1990, Anmer Hall was leased to the couple.

Wimbledon

Katharine accepted honorary membership of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in 1962, marking the beginning of a decades-long association with Wimbledon. She was a familiar figure at the championships, presenting the Ladies' Singles Trophy from 1976 to 2001, with only three exceptions. She became widely known for her compassion during the 1993 final, when she comforted runner-up Jana Novotná after a tearful defeat. The moment was praised for its sincerity and became emblematic of her public warmth. In 1999, Katharine was refused permission to seat the 12-year-old son of murdered headmaster Philip Lawrence in the Royal Box. Alternative seating outside the box was offered. She later received what The Daily Telegraph reported in a front-page story was a "curt letter" from club chairman John Curry, reminding her that children, other than members of the royal family, were not permitted in the Royal Box. In response, she reportedly threatened to boycott the box altogether. Her final presentation was to Venus Williams in 2001.

Catholic Church

Katharine was formally received into the Catholic Church in January 1994, a move that drew public attention due to its rarity among members of the British royal family since the Act of Settlement 1701. This was a personal decision, and she had received the approval of the reigning monarch, Elizabeth II. As she explained in an interview on BBC:

I do love guidelines and the Catholic Church offers you guidelines. I have always wanted that in my life. I like to know what's expected of me. I like being told: You shall go to church on Sunday and if you don't you're in for it!

Although the Act of Settlement 1701 means a member of the royal family marrying a Catholic relinquishes their right of succession to the British throne, the act does not include marriage to an Anglican who subsequently becomes a Catholic. Therefore, the Duke of Kent did not lose his place in the line of succession to the British throne.

Since then, the couple's younger son, Lord Nicholas, their grandson Lord Downpatrick, and their granddaughter Lady Marina also became Catholics. Their elder son, the Earl of St Andrews, father of Lord Downpatrick, had married a Catholic and thus was barred from succession until the 2013 Succession to the Crown Act revoked his exclusion. The Dukedom of Kent is also not subject to the Act of Settlement, so Downpatrick is in line to become the Duke of Kent.

Later years

In 1978, Katharine was hospitalised for several weeks owing to "nervous strain". Reports by the BBC stated that she suffered from coeliac disease and Epstein–Barr virus, whose symptoms resemble those of ME (myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as "chronic fatigue syndrome").