The Duchess of Kent's coffin was taken from Kensington Palace on Monday afternoon and driven to Westminster Cathedral for a private vigil and reception ahead of a Requiem Mass scheduled for the following day.
The coffin, draped in the Royal Standard, left Kensington Palace at 4:45 p.m. and made the roughly 15-minute journey to the cathedral under police escort. It was transported in the claret-coloured Royal Hearse, a vehicle built by Jaguar Land Rover in consultation with the Royal Household and designed at the request of the late Queen Elizabeth II. A lone piper from The Royal Dragoon Guards, of which the duchess had served as Deputy Colonel-in-Chief since 1992, walked ahead of the hearse as it departed the royal residence.
The coffin was received at Westminster Cathedral for a private Vigil for the Deceased and Rite of Reception, followed by Vespers for the Dead attended by immediate family. A bearer party formed by The Royal Dragoon Guards was due to receive the coffin at the cathedral. The coffin is to rest overnight in the Chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mary before the Requiem Mass, a Catholic funeral service, on Tuesday afternoon.
The Duchess of Kent, Katharine — who preferred to be called Mrs. Kent — died on Sept. 4 at the age of 92 after a period of ill health. She was the oldest living member of the royal family at the time of her death. Her husband, the Duke of Kent, is a cousin of Queen Elizabeth II and a grandson of King George V. The duke became the oldest living member of the royal family following his wife's death.
A full turnout of the royal family was expected at the Requiem Mass, though official guest lists were not being confirmed until the day of the service. The King and Queen were reported to be among those who would join the Duke of Kent and other relatives at the cathedral.
The duchess had lived at Kensington Palace for many years, and her coffin had rested in the palace’s private chapel since her death to allow family members to pay private respects. Known for her silvery bob and a reputation for compassion and dignity, Katharine stepped back from full-time royal duties after a series of personal tragedies and, with permission from the late Queen, converted to Catholicism. She later worked as a music teacher in a Hull primary school and founded the charity Future Talent to support young musical prodigies.
Members of the extended Kent family were seen arriving in central London ahead of the services. Prince and Princess Michael of Kent travelled together with other relatives, and Princess Alexandra, who uses a wheelchair, also arrived separately.
The use of Westminster Cathedral for the duchess’s funeral marks a rare, high-profile Roman Catholic service for a senior member of the royal family in modern times. The Royal Hearse’s glass roof and expansive rear windows, features reportedly requested by the late Queen, offered a clear view of the coffin during the short procession from the palace.
The Requiem Mass at Westminster Cathedral will be followed by further private family committal arrangements. Organisers said the immediate family’s wishes would guide the proceedings and that the cathedral vigil and Mass were intended to reflect the duchess’s faith and long-standing ties to music and charitable work.