Katharine, the Duchess of Kent, has died aged 92, Buckingham Palace said on Friday; she passed away peacefully on Thursday night, 4 September 2025, at her home in Kensington Palace, surrounded by family.
Key Takeaways
- Katharine Worsley married Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, in 1961 and became widely known as the Duchess of Kent.
- Buckingham Palace confirmed she died peacefully on the night of 4 September 2025 at Kensington Palace.
- She was closely associated with Wimbledon from 1969 and regularly presented trophies.
- Her public profile included comforting Jana Novotna after the 1993 final and a 1999 disagreement over royal box access.
- In 1994 she converted to Roman Catholicism, the first British royal to do so since 1685.
- She taught music in Hull, supported musical charities, and had three children and 10 grandchildren.
Verified Facts
Born Katharine Worsley, she met Prince Edward, the Duke of Kent, in 1956 while he was stationed at a military barracks in northern England. The couple married in 1961 and the duchess took on numerous public and charitable duties over subsequent decades.
Buckingham Palace said she died peacefully on Thursday night at Kensington Palace, with family at her side. The palace statement noted the royal family joins the Duke of Kent and his descendants in mourning her loss.
The duchess became particularly associated with the Wimbledon tennis championships from 1969 onward, frequently appearing in the royal box to help present trophies. One of the most remembered moments came in 1993 when she comforted Jana Novotna after the Czech player wept following the singles final; Novotna later won Wimbledon in 1998.
Her relationship with Wimbledon later became strained after an incident in 1999 when she was reportedly refused permission to invite the 12-year-old son of a bereaved friend into the royal box. She also surprised the public by converting to Roman Catholicism in 1994 — the first member of the British royal family reported to have done so since King Charles II in 1685.
The duchess was active in music education and charity work. She taught music at a school in Hull for several years, supported musical causes, and is survived by three children and 10 grandchildren.
Context & Impact
Her public image combined traditional royal duty with approachable gestures that resonated with the public: small acts, such as consoling a tearful finalist at Wimbledon, reinforced her reputation for warmth and empathy.
Her 1994 conversion drew attention because of historical succession and religious restrictions originating from the early 18th century; while conversion did not change her family status, it revived public discussion about religious rules and the monarchy’s modern role.
Locally, her anonymous teaching in Hull and long-term support for youth music programmes illustrated a quieter strand of royal philanthropy, where personal involvement mattered as much as ceremonial appearances.
“The King and Queen and all Members of the royal family join the Duke of Kent, his children and grandchildren in mourning their loss,”
Buckingham Palace statement
Unconfirmed
- Reports vary on the precise reasons surrounding the 1999 royal box refusal; full details have not been published by official sources.
- Some accounts of her private charitable work remain anecdotal and were carried out anonymously until reported later.
Bottom Line
Katharine, Duchess of Kent, combined high-profile ceremonial roles with discreet community work over many decades. Her death marks the loss of a public figure remembered for both her Wimbledon moments and her quieter commitments to music and youth.