Duchess Of Kent Passes Away At 92, Related To Queen Elizabeth, Wimbledon Icon, Know All About Her

Born as Katherine Worsley, the Duchess of Kent was the oldest living member of the British royal family after Queen Elizabeth II's passing in 2022. However, leaving the UK's monarchy and its public grieving, one of the most-loved royals, Katherine, has passed away at the age of 92. Throughout her extensive life, the duchess was most well-known for her kindness and became an ever-present, iconic figure at Wimbledon. Here's everything to know about the legacy of the Duchess of Kent, Katherine. 

Duchess of Kent's early life and marriage to Prince Edward

Katherine Worsley was born into a family with royal ties, as her father, a baronet who also served as a Lord-Lieutenant to the British monarchy. As a child, she had shown a keen interest in music, which developed into a passion for studying it as a subject. As a result, Katherine was admitted to Oxford University and studied music there. In her later years, she also listened to rap music and expressed appreciation for rappers like Eminem and Ice Cube. 

Despite serving as a Lord-Lieutenant to the monarchy, the Worsley family were still untitled. However, this fact did not hinder Prince Edward, the Duke of Kent, who met and fell in love with Katherine while serving near her ancestral home. After Prince George III (1738-1820), Prince Edward became the second prince to marry a lady from an untitled family. However, after the news of their marriage was announced to the public, everyone rejoiced at their union. After obtaining consent from Queen Elizabeth II, which was the protocol at the time, Katherine Worsley tied the knot with Prince Edward on June 9, 1961, and became the Duchess of Kent. 

Duchess of Kent, Katherine's relation to Queen Elizabeth II 

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Edward were first cousins. Hence, after her wedding to the duke, Katherine also became related to the Queen through marriage. As a royal couple and part of the British monarchy, the Duke and Duchess would often undertake work on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II. They crowned the King of Tonga and also overlooked the Ugandan independence. Duchess Katherine and Prince Edward were often seen by their side when the Queen and the royal family made their appearances from the palace. However, due to poor health, Katherine was unable to attend both the Queen's funeral and the coronation of King Charles III. 

Duchess Katherine's family life and conversion to Catholicism 

Duchess Katherine and Prince Edward have three children- George, Earl of St. Andrews, Lady Helen Taylor and Lord Nicholas Windsor. Katherine had also embraced motherhood for the fourth time. However, after getting infected with rubella, she unfortunately gave birth to a stillborn son named Patrick. Due to this loss, Katherine battled with depression, which she had been quite open about. In an interview with The Daily Telegraph, she had once shared:

"It had the most devastating effect on me. 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."

After 300 years, Katherine became the first British royal to convert to Catholicism and formally joined the Roman Catholic Church in 1994. Though rules were in place that dictated that the English crown could only be passed down to Protestants, Queen Elizabeth gave her official approval to the duchess to become a Catholic. Talking about changing her faith, Katherine shared with the 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!"

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Duchess of Kent's iconic appearances at Wimbledon 

Duchess of Kent stepped down from her royal duties in 2002. However, she became an integral part of Wimbledon, presenting the ladies’ singles final trophy for decades. Her most iconic appearance in the tennis tournament was in 1993, when she broke royal formalities and consoled Jana Novotna, the finalist who lost the match. This became one of the most unforgettable moments of Wimbledon, also making Katherine a symbol of the tennis tournament with her kindness. 

Duchess of Kent's death and tributes from the royal family

After stepping down from her duties, Katherine also chose to forgo the title of 'Her Royal Highness'. Following this, she joined a primary school as a music teacher. The duchess's humble nature made her one of the most beloved British royals. Taking to their official X handle, the British royal family announced about the passing of the Duchess of Kent on September 4, 2025. Along with many political leaders, Prince William and Kate Middleton, who are the deceased's family members, expressed their condolences as well. The Prince and Princess of Wales wrote:

"Our thoughts today are with The Duke of Kent and his family, particularly George, Helen and Nicholas. The Duchess worked tirelessly to help others and supported many causes, including through her love of music. She will be a much missed member of the family."

Condolences to the loved ones of the Duchess of Kent, Katherine. 

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