CHURCH leaders have paid tribute to the Duchess of Kent after her death, aged 92, was announced by Buckingham Palace.
A press release from the Palace on Friday said that the Duchess, who was married to the late Queen’s cousin, the Duke of Kent, had “passed away peacefully” on Thursday 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 of the organisations with which she was associated, her passion for music and her empathy for young people,” it continued.
The Archbishop of York said in an announcement: “Today, we mourn the death of Katharine, HRH The Duchess of Kent, who was born here in Yorkshire and whose Royal Wedding was held at York Minster in the town whose freedom she held.
“Katharine was an advocate for kids and young people’s welfare throughout her life. She taught and encouraged generations of young musicians. Millions will remember her comfort and kindness exemplified in her embrace of Jana Novotna in the ultimate at Wimbledon whose Patron she was for a few years.”
The Archbishop went on to talk of her “deep and profound faith”, which, in 1994, “led her from Anglicanism to Roman Catholicism”.
The Duchess was received into the RC Church by the then Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Hume, in a personal ceremony within the chapel of his house beside Westminster Cathedral (News, 14 January 1994). A press release from Lambeth Palace and Bishopthorpe on the time quoted the Archbishops as saying: “This is a private decision of a devout Christian on a spiritual journey. Such journeys quite commonly lead individuals across the denominational boundaries which unfortunately still separate the Christian family, and the traffic is two-way. . . The Duchess retains to the total her special place in our hearts and prayers.”
In an announcement issued by Downing Street on Friday, the Prime Minister described the Duchess as “considered one of our hardest working royals”, who “brought compassion, dignity and a human touch to the whole lot she did”. The discovery that she had been “working anonymously as a music teacher at a college in Hull . . . seemed typical of her unassuming nature”, he said.
The Bishop of London, the Rt Revd Sarah Mullally, posted a prayer on X. She described the Duchess as “a lady of compassion, grace, and quiet strength. My heartfelt prayers are with The Duke of Kent and your complete Royal Family as they grieve her loss and rejoice her legacy.”
The Dean of Westminster, the Very Revd Dr David Hoyle, said: “She lived a protracted lifetime of dedicated public service and personal commitment to values that hold us all in community. We give thanks for her quiet witness and pray for many who feel this loss so deeply.”
Prayers could be said within the Abbey and its flag would fly at half mast, an announcement said.
