The funeral of the Duchess of Kent is scheduled to occur today in the heart of London. Katharine, who was the spouse of the late Duke of Kent and a cousin of the Queen, peacefully passed away at her residence on September 4 at the age of 92, surrounded by her family.
The Catholic funeral, serving as her requiem mass, will be attended by prominent members of the royal family, including the King and Queen. This event marks a significant moment in modern British history as it is the first Catholic funeral service for a member of the Royal family.
In a solemn ceremony at Westminster Cathedral on the eve of the funeral, the duchess’s coffin was received. Soldiers from The Royal Dragoon Guards, a regiment she had actively supported as deputy Colonel-in-Chief, had the honor of carrying the coffin into the cathedral.
Known for her devout adherence to the Roman Catholic faith, the duchess made history by becoming the first Royal family member in over three centuries to convert to Catholicism in 1994. Her wish to have her funeral service at Westminster Cathedral was fulfilled.
Close family members, including her husband, the Duke of Kent, and their daughter Lady Helen Taylor, were greeted by the Dean of Westminster Cathedral Father Slawomir Witon as they observed the soldiers carrying the coffin into the cathedral.
The coffin, adorned with the Royal standard featuring a white ermine border symbolizing her status as a prince’s spouse, was embellished with a large floral arrangement. Ahead of a series of private funeral rites, Prince Michael of Kent and Princess Alexandra, the Duke of Kent’s siblings, entered the cathedral.
These private rites included a Vigil for the Deceased, the Rite of Reception involving the sprinkling of holy water on the coffin, and Vespers, evening prayers led by Bishop James Curry, Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster and Titular Bishop of Ramsbury.