Katharine, Duchess of Kent’s coffin was carried to Westminster Cathedral ahead of her royal funeral, which is set to take place tomorrow.
The Duchess Of Kent Passed Away On September 4th
The Duchess of Kent passed away on September 4th at age 92 after being ill for some time. She was the oldest surviving member of the royal family at the time.
Katharine was the wife of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, and the cousin of Queen Elizabeth II. The coffin was transported from Kensington Palace to Westminster Cathedral.
Ahead of the funeral, the coffin rested in the private chapel at Kensington Palace. Katharine lived at Wren House. A private vigil was held at Westminster Cathedral.
Several members of the royal family attended the event. The Duke of Kent, Lady Helen Taylor, Prince Michael of Kent, Lady Gabriella Kingston, Lord Frederik Windsor, and his wife, Sophie Winkleman, were in attendance.
The funeral plans will honor the Duchess’s last wishes. It will be a celebration of the Duchess’s life.
A piper of the Royal Dragon Guards will lead the occasion. On Monday evening, Katharine received her private funeral rites. Those rites included the Vigil for the Deceased and the Rite of Reception.
Evening prayers, known as Vespers, will be led by Bishop James Curry and other spiritual leaders of the church.
A true believer and a devout Catholic, Katharine’s funeral will be the first Catholic funeral service held for a member of the British royal family in modern history.
The royal hearse in which the Duchess of Kent was carried was last seen in use in September 2022, following the passing of Queen Elizabeth.
Katharine Officially Converted To Catholicism In 1994
The cross and a Book of the Gospels will be placed in the coffin. The casket rests overnight in the chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
White roses were laid on her coffin. They symbolize the white rose of Yorkshire, where the Duchess was born.
According to the Daily Mail, a wreath was lovingly created with meaningful flowers and nature’s items from the British garden. It consisted of “sprays of rosemary for Remembrance, oak leaves for strength, seasonal September flowers symbolizing farewell, achillea representing healing and strength, jasmine for amiability, and sprigs of yew from the gardens of Hovingham Hall, the Worsley family home, representing eternal life.” Katharine’s family chose the flowers.
The Choir and organist of Westminster Cathedral are set to provide choral music. Katherine was a lover and advocate of music education. Katharine’s favorite musical piece, “Ave verum corpus,” by Mozart, which the Duchess personally selected, will be played at her funeral.
Some of the Catholic funerals held for various members of the royal family in other areas throughout history were attended by members of the British royal family.
Queen Victoria attended the funeral of Louis Napoleon Bonaparte in a Catholic ceremony held in Chislehurst in July 1879.
King George V also attended the Requiem Mass for Empress Eugenie at St. Michael’s Abbey, Farnborough, in July 1920.
Katharine officially converted to Catholicism in the Roman Catholic Church in 1994 with the express approval of the Queen.
Tomorrow, the King and Queen and all associates of the royal family will join the Duke of Kent, his children, and his grandchildren in mourning the loss of Katharine, Duchess of Kent.
For any other soap opera and entertainment news, please visit Daily Soap Dish.
