The Duchess of Kent, has died at the age of 92.
She was known as ‘Caring Kate’ for her charity work and Wimbledon appearances, where she famously consoled losing tennis players.
She was also a passionate musician, music teacher and advocate for children and young people’s welfare.
Married to Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, a grandson of King George V she became the first royal to convert to Catholicism since the passing of the Act of Succession in 1701
The Duchess was born on 22 February 1933, the youngest child and only daughter of the late Sir William Worsley.
Her father, the fourth Baronet, captained the Yorkshire Cricket Club team, was President of the MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club) and was for 14 years Lord Lieutenant of the North Riding of Yorkshire.
She grew up at Hovingham Hall near York, the Worsley family home since the early eighteenth century.
The Duchess considered herself a proud Yorkshirewoman throughout her life, and was awarded the Honorary Freedom of the City of York in 1989. She retained her links with the county as the Deputy Colonel-in-Chief of The Royal Dragoon Guards and was also Deputy Colonel-in-Chief of the Adjutant General’s Corps and The Royal Logistics Corps until her death in 2025.
Her mother, Joyce Morgan Brunner, was the daughter of Sir John Brunner – the founder of Brunner Mond, which became ICI (Imperial Chemical Industries). Her uncle married the grand-daughter of the famous 18th century actor, Sir Henry Irving.
Katharine was educated at Queen Margaret’s School near York and at Runton Hill School in Norfolk.
From an early age she demonstrated a talent for music. She was taught to play the piano, organ and violin, which she played throughout her life.
She worked for some time in a children’s home in York and taught at a nursery/pre-school in London, before going on to Oxford to study music.
The Duchess first met Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, when he was stationed at Catterick near Richmond in 1956. Their engagement was announced in March 1961 and they were married in York Minster on 8th June that year.
They had three children and ten grandchildren. The children are George, Earl of St. Andrews; Lady Helen Windsor; and Lord Nicholas Windsor. The Duke and Duchess’s children do not carry out official Royal duties
