TOhe saw 92 years old and went out on Thursday September 4, in the evening, in his residence in Kensington Palace, Katharine, Duchess of Kent, there Favorite cousin of Elizabeth II. Surrounded by her closer relatives, she went on tiptoe, just like she had lived. The Duchess did not like advertising and preferred to live a very reserved life, dedicated to public service. Yet his was one of the most recognized faces among the Windsor.
Katharine, Duchess of Kent and a symbol of Wimbledon
Forever associated with tennis and in particular with the English tournament of Wimbledon, Before Kate Middleton was in fact her, the Duchess of Kent, who handed over the trophies to the winners. In particular, the photo that in 1993 portrayed her intent on console the champion Jana Novotna, just defeated in the final, quickly made the tour of the world, demonstrating all the sensitivity and compassion that this royal was capable so different from his contemporaries. A Duchess of other times that however did not disdain to demonstrate his humanity and his closeness to his neighbor, almost to Diana.
The condolence of King Charles III
Upon the death of the sovereign, in September 2022, the Duchess had become The oldest of the Royala maternal figure to whom everyone turned to ask for advice. And the condolence of King Charles II is expressedI know in the announcement of Buckingham Palace: “The King, the Queen and all members of the royal family come together with the Duke of Kent, the children and grandchildren in their loss»Start in the release released today, “and in remembering with affection the devotion of the Duchess towards all the organizations with which he worked, his passion for music and empathy towards young people“.
Kent’s Duchess congratulates Venus Williams in Wimbledon, July 2001 (Getty Images)
A life dedicated to others
The daughter of an English and married baronet in 1961 with Prince Edoardo, Duke of Kent and first degree cousin of Elizabeth II, Katharine had three children – George, count of St Andrews, Lady Helen and Lord Nicholas. In many years of life Royal, he did Of the public service a real passion, supported by the cousin Elizabeth of whom he was a faithful confidant. And although for 23 years he was no longer officially committed to court, he had continued his favorite activities with passion, from beneficial commitment to teaching and education.
Katharine, Duchess of Kent, with her husband Edoardo and Kate Middleton in Wimbledon, July 2021 (Karwai Tang/Wireimage)
The Duchess with the passion for Eminem rap
Katharine told everyone not to call her Duchess, inviting them to refer to her simply as an anonymous Mrs Kenta lady Kent any. He did not even use the title of Real height And since 2002, the year in which he retired to private life, he passed more than ten years by teaching music in an elementary school in northern England. Unlike the royal of its generation, it was nonconformist also in musical tastes: so much classical music, of course, but three years ago, in a rare interview with Sunday Telegraphhe also confessed his passion for rap of artists such as Eminem and Ice Cube.
The Duchess of Kent with Nelson Mandela, April 1997 (IPA)
King Charles III in mourning for the disappearance of the trusted cousin
The date of the last greeting has not yet been announced, but in the Buckingham Palace offices it is working feverly to the preparations. Without hiding a certain concern. In 1994, in fact, Katharine, Duchess of Kent, converted to Catholicism, the first Royal to do itthen dragging a son and also some grandson. His is therefore preparing to be the first Catholic funeral of a member of the royal family in the modern history of the British monarchy, traditionally Anglican. Katharine, a shy and reserved Duchess, was a pioneer in this too.