The Duchess of Kent’s mourning grandchildren appeared sombre as they attended a vigil in honour of the late royal on Monday.
The Duchess’s coffin was transported in a royal hearse, a creation by Queen Elizabeth, from her residence in Kensington to Westminster Cathedral for a private vigil with her close family members.
Katharine, who preferred the straightforward title of Mrs. Kent, reflecting her practical, down-to-earth Yorkshire nature, died at the age of 92 on September 4 after experiencing a period of ill health.
Buckingham Palace announced that she died ‘peacefully’ at Kensington Palace, surrounded by her loved ones.
Her coffin has rested in the private chapel at Kensington Palace since her passing to allow members of the family to pay their respects privately.
Earlier in the day, her departure from the royal home, where she had long resided, was poignantly marked by a lone Piper from The Royal Dragoon Guards. She had served as the Deputy Colonel-in-Chief of this regiment since it was established in 1992.
Among those grieving the loss of the late royal were her grandchildren. As an exceedingly popular figure in her royal generation, it comes as no surprise that Katharine was the grandmother of some of the Royal Family’s most endearing grandchildren, although many of them prefer to avoid the public eye.
Katharine, together with her husband, Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, had three children: Lady Helen Taylor, George Windsor, Earl of St Andrews, and Lord Nicholas Windsor.
The Duchess of Kent’s grandchildren are seen standing outside Westminster Cathedral during her vigil. Pictured L-R: Columbus Taylor, Lady Amelia Windsor, Lady Marina Windsor, Eloise Taylor (fourth right), Cassius Taylor (third right), Estella Taylor (second right)
Sixty-one-year-old Helen is mother to her four children with husband Timothy Taylor, Columbus Taylor, 31, Cassius Taylor, 28, otherwise known as the ‘bad boy royal’, Eloise Olivia Katherine Taylor, 22, and Estella Taylor, 20.
Meanwhile, Helen’s younger brother Lord Nicholas Windsor, 55, is the father of two sons, Albert Windsor, 17, and Leopold Windsor, 15.
The youngest of Katharine’s children, George Windsor, the Earl of St Andrews, has three children: Edward Windsor, 36, Lady Marina Charlotte Windsor, 32, and Lady Amelia Windsor, 30.
Both Lady Amelia Windsor, 30, and her sister Lady Marina Windsor, 32, were dressed in black for the vigil, as they paid their respects to their late grandmother.
Lord Nicholas Windsor, 55, the youngest of the Duke and Duchess of Kent’s children, was seen at the back of a minibus which was carrying her grandchildren and Prince and Princess Michael of Kent. The Prince, 83, is the Duke of Kent’s brother.
The Duke of Kent’s sister, Princess Alexandra, 88, also arrived by taxi and in a wheelchair. The Duke of Kent is now the oldest living member of the Royal Family following the death of his wife.
Following Katharine’s death, several of her grandchildren posted tributes on social media, with Lady Amelia sharing a vintage monochrome photograph of her grandmother, along with a red love heart.
Lady Marina Charlotte Windsor (right) and Lady Amelia Windsor look sombre as they arrive at Westminster Cathedral ahead of their grandmother’s funeral tomorrow
The Duchess of Kent’s grandchildren (pictured Lady Estella Taylor centre) were seen travelling in the back of a mini van for the vigil today
Lord Nicholas Windsor (far right) is pictured travelling in a mini van with the Duchess of Kent’s grandchildren
Others, such as Lady Marina, shared several glamorous photographs of the late royal in her youth, including graceful snaps captured on her wedding day in 1961.
The 32-year-old, who is one of Katharine’s 10 grandchildren, wrote: ‘Rest in peace my amazing and beloved Amama [grandmother], we will miss and love you so much always and thank you to everyone who has sent such kind and touching messages, sending lots of love to all.’
Other pictures including the Duchess dressed in a yellow ensemble, cuddling a koala bear, along with a more recent snap of her dressed in a more casual white shirt and jeans combination, standing in a doorway.
Lady Marina also shared an Instagram story that said: ‘My amazing Amama, I love you always and forever and more than words could ever say.
‘Thank you for everything, all the deep love, special friendship, giggles and hugs, I will miss you so much and you will always be in my heart.’
Katharine became the oldest living member of the Royal Family when Queen Elizabeth II died in September 2022.
The wife of the Duke of Kent, cousin of Queen Elizabeth and grandson of King George V was universally admired for her beauty and elegance.
However she was equally renowned for her compassion and dignity, seeking permission from the late Queen to convert to Catholicism and give up full-time royal duties following a series of personal tragedies to work as a music teacher in a Hull primary school.
Lady Amelia Windsor (pictured right) is seen at the back of the mini bus alongside Lady Estella Taylor (centre)
India Hicks shared a picture of herself with her late godmother, the Duchess of Kent, on Instagram
She also founded a charity, Future Talent, to support some of the country’s brightest but under-supported musical prodigies.
After leaving Kensington Palace earlier today, her coffin arrived at Westminster Cathedral for a series of private funeral rites, ahead of the requiem mass tomorrow.
Having travelled the three miles from the royal residence, the Royal Hearse arrived shortly before 5pm, the sun shining brightly as the Union flag flew at half mast.
Her coffin, covered in the royal standard, differentiated from other senior royals by its white border, was accompanied by members of her immediate family.
Service personnel from the Royal Dragoon Guards, a regiment the duchess supported as deputy Colonel-in-Chief since its inception in 1992, formed the bearer party.
Earlier, a lone piper from the same regiment led the Duchess of Kent’s coffin as she left Kensington Palace for the final time.
The musician played as it travelled the short distance from the royal residence to the main road, before the Royal Hearse made its way to Westminster Cathedral via police convoy.
Close friends and family started arriving at the cathedral some 20 minutes before the arrival of the coffin.
Lady Marina Windsor also shared a more recent image of her grandmother
Lady Marina Windsor shared an Instagram story with a heartfelt tribute to her grandmother, saying that she loves her more than words can ‘ever say’
Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, Lady Marina Windsor and the Duchess of Kent are pictured in 2017
The requiem mass, a Catholic funeral, will be held tomorrow, falling 12 days after Katharine died peacefully at home, surrounded by her family.
It will be attended by the King, Queen and other senior royals, marking the first Catholic funeral service held for a member of the royal family in modern British history.
The funeral rites on Monday evening included a Vigil for the Deceased, Rite of Reception, which usually involves the coffin being sprinkled with holy water, and evening prayers known as Vespers will be taken by Bishop James Curry, Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster and Titular Bishop of Ramsbury.
The sombre event is usually marked by prayers, music, hymns and tributes.
Katharine, wife of the late Queen’s cousin the Duke of Kent, converted to Catholicism in 1994.
A devout follower of the Roman Catholic faith, the duchess became the first member of the royal family to convert to Catholicism in more than 300 years. Her husband did not convert, so he remained in the line of succession.
The Duchess of Kent is survived by Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, and their three children.
