King joins members of royal family for Catholic funeral of Duchess of Kent

The King has joined members of the royal family for the poignant final farewell to the Duchess of Kent.

Mourners filled Westminster Cathedral for the requiem mass, a Catholic funeral, the first to be held for a member of the royal family in modern British history.

A personal tribute from the Pope to the duchess hailing her “devoted care for vulnerable people” formed part of the deeply religious service.

Pope Leo XIV, whose words were read to the congregation by Archbishop Miguel Maury Buendia, the diplomatic representative in the UK of the Holy See, the government of the Roman Catholic Church, praised the duchess’s “legacy of Christian goodness”.

A devout follower of the Roman Catholic faith, the duchess became the first member of the royal family to convert to Catholicism for more than 300 years, doing so in 1994, and it was her wish to have her funeral at Westminster Cathedral.

Among those attending were the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Princess Royal and Sir Tim Laurence, the Duchess of Edinburgh and close family members of the Duke and Duchess of Kent, but the Queen was absent after suffering from acute sinusitis.

The disgraced Duke of York made a rare appearance outside the environs of Windsor with his ex-wife Sarah, Duchess of York.

His public career was effectively ended by his friendship with American financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as was the post of former UK ambassador to the US Lord Peter Mandelson.

The Pope said he was “saddened” to learn of the duchess’s death and sent “heartfelt condolences” to the King, the royal family, her widower the Duke of Kent and her children and grandchildren “at this time of sorrow”.

He added: “Entrusting her noble soul to the mercy of our Heavenly Father, I readily associate myself with all those offering thanksgiving to Almighty God for the duchess’s legacy of Christian goodness, seen in her many years of dedication to official duties, patronage of charities and devoted care for vulnerable people in society.

“To all who mourn her loss, in the sure hope of the resurrection, I willingly impart my apostolic blessing as a pledge of consolation and peace in the Risen Lord.”

Former Formula One world champion Sir Jackie Stewart and actresses Rula Lenska and Dame Maureen Lipman were also among the mourners at service, conducted by Cardinal Vincent Nichols, leader of the Roman Catholic church in England and Wales.

Personal elements of the ceremony included the participation of three of the duchess’s grandchildren – Lady Marina-Charlotte Windsor, Eloise Taylor and Albert Windsor – who were reading the Prayer of the Faithful.

The duchess’s daughter Lady Helen Taylor and one of her two sons the Earl of St Andrews were also giving readings.

Camilla was meanwhile resting at Windsor after Buckingham Palace confirmed she was no longer attending due to illness.

A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: “With great regret, Her Majesty The Queen has withdrawn from attendance at this afternoon’s requiem mass for the Duchess of Kent as she is recovering from acute sinusitis.

“Her thoughts and prayers will be with the Duke of Kent and all the family.”

The announcement raises questions over Camilla’s attendance at US President Donald Trump’s high-stakes and busy state visit, which begins in full at Windsor on Wednesday and is being hosted by the King.

The Queen is, however, hopeful that she will have recovered sufficiently to be able to attend all royal elements of the trip as planned, with highlights including a lavish state banquet.

Katharine, the wife of the late Queen Elizabeth II’s cousin the Duke of Kent, died peacefully at home, surrounded by her family, on the evening of September 4, aged 92.

The duchess was known for consoling losing Wimbledon finalists, notably a tearful Jana Novotna in 1993, and presented trophies at the championships for many years.

She preferred to be known as Mrs Kent and dropped her HRH style, retreating from royal life to spend more than a decade secretly teaching music in a state primary school in Hull.