Britain’s royal family is mourning the loss of its oldest member, the Duchess of Kent.
Katharine, Duchess of Kent, died Thursday at the age of 92 at Kensington Palace, her longtime home, Buckingham Palace confirmed on Friday per ABC News.
She joined the royal family in the early 1960s after marrying Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, a first cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth II. The couple had three children together George, Earl of St Andrews; Lady Helen Taylor; and Lord Nicholas Windsor.
Katharine, Duchess of Kent, was born Katharine Lucy Mary Worsley on February 22, 1933, in Hovingham, Yorkshire. She was educated at Queen Margaret’s School, York, and Runton Hill School in Norfolk before training as a teacher.
For decades, the Duchess was a regular presence at major royal events, including Trooping the Colour and appearances on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.
She was perhaps best known for her role at Wimbledon, where she presented trophies to the champions of the prestigious tennis tournament. According to the BBC, she also ended the tradition of players bowing or curtsying when receiving their awards. One of her most memorable moments came in 1993, when she was seen consoling a heartbroken Jana Novotna after the Czech player lost in the final—a gesture that became one of her defining images.
1997, she converted to Roman Catholicism, becoming the first senior royal to do so openly since the 18th century.
Beyond her royal role, Katharine was deeply committed to education and music. She worked extensively with charities, particularly those supporting young musicians and disadvantaged communities. After retiring from public royal duties in 2002, she continued her charitable work privately, often away from the spotlight.
