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Katharine, Duchess of Kent, wife of Prince Edward and cousin of Queen Elizabeth II, died at 92.
The Duchess became a familiar figure at Wimbledon, where she began presenting trophies in 1969.
Katharine, Duchess of Kent, the wife of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth II, has died at the age of 92, Buckingham Palace announced. Born Katharine Worsley, she married into the royal family in 1961 after meeting Prince Edward several years earlier while he was stationed at a military barracks in northern England. The palace said she passed away peacefully on Thursday evening at Kensington Palace, surrounded by her family.
“The King and Queen, along with 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 charities, her passion for music and her empathy for young people,” Buckingham Palace said.
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Role At Wimbledon
The Duchess became a familiar figure at Wimbledon, where she began presenting trophies in 1969. One of the tournament’s most memorable moments came in 1993, when she comforted Czech player Jana Novotna after her heartbreaking loss in the women’s singles final. Offering her shoulder to cry on, she assured Novotna that one day she would win. Five years later, Novotna lifted the trophy. Her long association with the tournament ended in 1999 after she was denied permission to bring the young son of a bereaved friend into the royal box.
Faith And Public Life
In 1994, the Duchess made headlines when she converted to Roman Catholicism- becoming the first senior member of the royal family to do so openly since King Charles II more than three centuries earlier. The decision went against the Act of Settlement of 1701, which barred royals from becoming Catholic. Throughout her life, the Duchess was known for her work with charities, her dedication to music education and her quiet but enduring presence within the royal family.
United Kingdom (UK)
September 05, 2025, 20:06 IST
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