Duchess of Kent

The only daughter of Sir William and Lady Worsley, she was born at the Family Seat, Hovington Hall in Yorkshire, where her father was the Lord Lieutenant. After studying in Yorkshire and Norfolk, she studied music at Miss Hubler’s Finishing School in Oxford.

In 1961, Katharine Worsley married the Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, a first cousin of Queen Elizabeth II, with Royal Guests from around Europe gathering for their Wedding at York Minster.

The Duke and Duchess of Kent had three children; the Earl of St Andrews, Lady Helen Taylor, and Lord Nicholas Windsor and ten grandchildren.

The Duchess of Kent became a full-time royal after her wedding, carrying out official duties to support the Queen and Royal Family for over 40 years, including when the Duke focused on his Army career. For many years, the Duchess was the presenter of trophies at Wimbledon, famously consoling Jana Novotna after her loss in 1993.

In 1994, the Duchess converted to Catholicism, the first member of the Royal family to publicly do so since 1701, and in 2002, she reduced her public role, instead becoming a music teacher, and preferring to be known as Katharine, Duchess of Kent (the style given to the widowed or divorced wife of a Duke), though her official title remains HRH the Duchess of Kent.

The Duke and Duchess spent their final years between a house on the grounds of Kensington Palace and a house in Oxfordshire, remaining out of the public eye but appearing for some concerts and royal events over the years.

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Happy Birthday to Katharine, Duchess of Kent! The only daughter of Sir William and Lady Worsley, she was born at the Family Seat, Hovington Hall in Yorkshire. After studying in Yorkshire and Norfolk, she studied music at Miss Hubler’s Finishing School in Oxford. In 1961, Katharine married the Duke of York, a first cousin of the Queen, at York Minster. The couple have three children and ten grandchildren. The Duchess has been a full-time royal since her wedding, carrying out official duties to support the Queen. She was also known as the presenter of trophies at Wimbledon. However, since 2002, she has reduced her public role, and rarely attends royal events. Instead, she gives music lessons in London, and prefers to be known as Katharine, Duchess of Kent (the style given to the widowed or divorced wife of a Duke), though her official title remains HRH the Duchess of Kent. In 1994, she converted to Catholicism, the first member of the Royal family to publicly do so since 1701. The Duke and Duchess live between a house on the grounds of Kensington Palace and a house in Oxfordshire. Last year, the Duchess attended the Ryedale Show and the Queen’s Christmas Lunch. We wish HRH a very Happy Birthday!