Katharine, Duchess of Kent: The Interesting & Relatable Late Royal

On Thursday, Katharine, Duchess of Kent, died. She was 92. Reportedly, she passed away peacefully at Kensington Palace. Obviously, those who knew her remember her quiet dignity and compassionate nature. But if you don’t know much about the member of the royal family, it might interest you to know that she seemed remarkably relatable.

Just ‘A Yorkshire Lass’

Katharine, born in North Yorkshire in 1933, often called herself a “Yorkshire lass.” Consequently, her 1961 marriage broke royal tradition. She married Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, and they chose York Minster for their wedding, not a London church.

Interestingly, she kept secrets quite well, and the Duchess nurtured a quiet passion for teaching. For 13 years, she worked as a primary school teacher in Hull. Did you know that? At the time, she went under the name of “Mrs. Kent.”

Kindness seemed ingrained in her personality, and the wife of the relative of Queen Elizabeth co-founded the charity Future Talent. The organization supports young musicians from low-income families. Then in the 1990s, she shocked a lot of people. What did she do? Check it out below.

Converting To Catholicism

In 1994, Katharine made a historic personal decision. She converted to Catholicism. Therefore, she became the first senior royal to do so in centuries. It shocked pretty much everyone, as the monarchy had long been split from the papal church.

If you don’t know, King Henry VIII separated from the Roman Catholic Church mainly because the Pope wouldn’t approve his request for an annulment from his wife, Catherine of Aragon.

Ultimately, the disagreement led to the creation of the Church of England, with the King at its head. However, the decision by Katharine, Duchess of Kent, didn’t affect her husband’s royal status. Later, her faith guided her work with pilgrimages and Catholic leaders.

Relatable & Tragic Events

Over the years, fans of sport became used to seeing the Duchess at Wimbledon. In fact, she presented the ladies’ singles trophy for many years. In 1993, she comforted a crying finalist, Jana Novotná. She told her, “I know you can do it.”

However, she also faced personal pain. She experienced a medical abortion after contracting rubella. Later, she suffered a stillbirth in 1977. Reportedly, the tragedies led to a period of severe depression. Still, ever the empath, she later said the experiences deepened her feelings for other people.

Stepping Away

Finally, in the late 1990s, she stepped back from public duties. She even relinquished her HRH title in 2002. Thereafter, she focused on a private life of teaching and charity.

King Charles III declared a period of mourning, and her funeral will reflect her Catholic faith. Ultimately, people will remember her as a humble and courageous woman.

Do you agree that Katharine, Duchess of Kent seemed to be one of the most interesting and relatable figures in the monarchy so far? Let us know what you think in the comments below, and remember to come back here often for all your Royal Family news and updates.