Katharine, Duchess of Kent, has died at the age of 92, Buckingham Palace announced, and one of her granddaughters, model Lady Amelia Windsor, posted a brief social-media tribute.
Lady Amelia, 30, shared a glamorous black-and-white photograph of the Duchess in her youth accompanied only by a red heart emoji. Buckingham Palace said the Duchess died at Kensington Palace on Thursday night, surrounded by members of her family. She is survived by her husband, Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, and their three children.
A cousin of Queen Elizabeth II, Katharine was one of the most recognised figures of her generation of royals, noted for her fashion, public appearances and long-standing charity work. She became the oldest living member of the British royal family following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022.
The Duchess was a familiar presence at major public events, including Wimbledon, where she drew national attention in 1993 when she consoled Czech player Jana Novotná on Centre Court after Novotná's defeat to Steffi Graf. That moment was widely reported at the time and helped shape public perceptions of the Duchess as both stylish and compassionate.
Royal aides and commentators have described Katharine as determined to carve her own path within public life, balancing traditional duties with philanthropic commitments. Over the decades she supported a range of charities and maintained a steady public role that extended beyond ceremonial appearances.
Lady Amelia Windsor is one of ten grandchildren of the Duchess. Her brief social-media message followed a pattern of immediate family responses to the passing of senior royals: short personal acknowledgments posted to public accounts rather than longer public statements.
Buckingham Palace issued the announcement on the Duchess's death and the palace statement will guide arrangements and official responses, as is customary. Further details about mourning and funeral arrangements were expected to be released by the Royal Household in due course.
The Duchess's death marks the passing of a figure who had served as a visible link between the mid-20th-century royal milieu and the modern royal family, remembered in public accounts for both her sartorial presence and her charitable work.