The funeral of Katharine, the Duchess of Kent, will take place on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, at 2 p.m. at Westminster Cathedral in London, a poignant and historic event for the British royal family. Buckingham Palace has shared official details about the service, which marks several significant departures from royal tradition.
The Duchess, who passed away on September 4 at the age of 92, will be honored with a Catholic service at Westminster Cathedral. The funeral will be deeply personal, following Katharine’s own wishes to be laid to rest in a location that has held great significance to her. The day before, on Monday, September 15, the coffin will be brought to the cathedral for a Rite of Reception and Vespers, where family and close friends will gather. The Requiem Mass will take place the following day, followed by the procession to the Royal Burial Ground at Frogmore in Windsor.
The royal family, including King Charles and Queen Camilla, will join the Duke of Kent and other close relatives and friends of the Duchess at the service. Although the ceremony will be private and not broadcast, it will be attended by representatives from the Duchess’ charities and her regimental affiliations. Additionally, flags at all official royal residences will be flown at half-mast in her memory.
Katharine’s funeral will make history in several ways: it will be the first royal funeral held at Westminster Cathedral since its completion in 1903, and the first Catholic royal funeral in modern British history. In 1994, Katharine made the personal decision to convert to Catholicism, becoming the first member of the royal family to do so in over 300 years, since the reign of King James II in 1685. This step broke from centuries of royal tradition but was fully supported by Queen Elizabeth II. Katharine’s conversion, particularly amid personal struggles with her health, brought her peace and spiritual guidance.
Katharine was married to Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, Queen Elizabeth’s cousin, in 1961. Together, they had three children: George, Earl of St. Andrews, Lady Helen Windsor, and Lord Nicholas Windsor. Throughout her life, Katharine was known for her charity work and dedication to music education. After stepping away from public life in the late 1990s, she chose to live a more private life while continuing to support her family’s activities.
This remarkable service will not only honor Katharine’s life but also reflect her deep connection to her Catholic faith, making it an exceptional and deeply moving farewell for a woman who, while quietly stepping back from the public eye, remained a significant figure in the royal family’s history.
As this chapter of royal history closes, the Duchess of Kent’s funeral will undoubtedly leave a lasting legacy of devotion, faith, and familial love.
