Buckingham Palace has announced that the funeral for Katharine, Duchess of Kent, will be held at Westminster Cathedral on 16 September, with a Requiem Mass in the Catholic tradition and the King and Queen among the senior royals expected to attend.
The duchess, who died on Thursday at the age of 92 at Kensington Palace, will be given a private family service at the cathedral before her coffin is taken to the Royal Burial Ground at Frogmore in Windsor. Buckingham Palace said the Requiem will mark the reception of the coffin into Westminster Cathedral and will be attended by close family.
The palace confirmed that the duchess’s coffin will remain in the chapel at Kensington Palace until the evening before the funeral, when it will be conveyed to Westminster Cathedral. The duchess was a practising Catholic, and the service will be a Requiem Mass — a Roman Catholic funeral rite. Buckingham Palace described the service as private, with the family to carry out subsequent burial arrangements at Frogmore.
Officials noted that the planned service is the first Catholic funeral for a member of the Royal Family in modern history. The duchess had long been associated with Catholic practice, and the choice of Westminster Cathedral reflects that faith. The palace’s statement made clear the arrangements would follow Catholic liturgy for the funeral.
Katharine, Duchess of Kent, was 92 at the time of her death and had been the oldest member of the Royal Family. She was widely praised in statements and media coverage for her long-standing charitable work and her personal interests, notably in music and tennis. Earlier in her life she worked as a primary school music teacher, and she maintained an active interest in musical education and cultural institutions.
The duchess is survived by her husband, Prince Edward, Duke of Kent. Buckingham Palace did not provide further public details of the private family mourning or say which other members of the royal family would attend the Requiem Mass, beyond noting that the King and Queen will be among the senior royals in attendance.
The announcement follows a period of tributes recognizing the duchess’s kindness and public service. After the private cathedral service, the coffin will be taken to Frogmore, the royal burial ground close to Windsor, where interment will take place in accordance with the family’s arrangements. The palace indicated that further details about any additional public commemorations or memorials would be released in due course.