Duchess of Kent, Katharine, Passes Away at 92

The Duchess of Kent has died aged 92, Buckingham Palace says.

Katharine married into the British royal family in 1961, tying the knot with Queen Elizabeth II’s cousin Prince Edward, Duke of Kent.

“It is with deep sorrow that Buckingham Palace announces the death of Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Kent,” Buckingham Palace said.

“Her Royal Highness passed away peacefully last night at Kensington Palace, surrounded by her family.

“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.”

After marrying Prince Edward in 1961, the duchess had been a working member of the British royal family for decades.

But in recent decades she had kept a low profile, retiring her royal title in 2002.

After giving up her Her Royal Highness (HRH) title in the early noughties, the Duchess of Kent’s passion for music led her to become a primary school teacher for more than a decade.

Speaking to The Telegraph in 2022, Katharine revealed she was “just known as Mrs Kent” while teaching music at Wansbeck Primary School.

“Only the head knew who I was. The parents didn’t know and the pupils didn’t know. No one ever noticed. There was no publicity about it at all – it just seemed to work.”

The duchess also revealed her decision to teach privately was endorsed by the late Queen Elizabeth II. 

In addition to teaching music for years, Katharine was also involved with several charities and organisations, including as a Trustee of the National Foundation for Youth Music.