The Duchess of Kent, Katharine who celebrated her 91st birthday on 22 February 2024, currently stands as the oldest living British royal. Despite being a part of the Royal Family for so long, the Duchess is rarely seen with the rest of the members in public. The Duchess decided to live a different life than other members of the family when she gave up her HRH title some twenty years ago.
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Before that, there was a time when this lesser-known Royal was a key part of Royal engagements and gatherings. Let’s take a look at her life here.
Who is Katharine, the Duchess of Kent?
Born on 22 February 1933, Katharine is the youngest child and only daughter of the late Sir William Worsley, according to the Royal Family’s website. She is married to Queen Elizabeth II’s cousin The Duke of Kent - who also suffers from the same health issue as the late Queen. The two tied the knot on June 8, 1961. Town & Country Magazine reports that Katharine met Prince Edward when he was stationed at Catterick Camp and the two have three children together - George, Earl of St Andrews, Lady Helen Taylor, and Lord Nicholas Windsor.
Katharine’s father was the fourth Baronet, captained the Yorkshire Cricket Club Team, and was President of the MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club). He was also the Lord Lieutenant of the North Riding of Yorkshire for 14 years. Educated at Queen Margaret's School near York and at Runton Hill School in Norfolk, Katharine demonstrated a talent for music from a very early age. She was taught to play the piano, organ and violin, which she still plays today.
Despite being a part of the British Royal Family, she converted to Catholicism in 1992. Katharine became the first British Royal to convert to Catholicism after the Act of Settlement 1701. She said at that time:
I do love guidelines and the Catholic Church offers you guidelines. I have always wanted that in my life. I like to know what’s expected of me.
After decades of serving as a working royal, Katharine gave up her Her Royal Highness (HRH) title in 2002. Speaking to the late Queen about her decision, Katharine claimed that she no longer wished to use her HRH title. She insisted people refer to her as Katharine Kent and not the Duchess of Kent.
Katharine’s secret life: Everything we know about it
Like other members of the Royal Family who stepped down from royal duties, she never really retired from working. The music enthusiast founded a charity, Future Talent, which aims to give every child an equal opportunity to excel in music in 2004. The few Royal engagements that she attends even now are music-related or concerning to her charity.
After quitting her duties, Katharine became a music teacher at Wansbeck Primary School. Reportedly, as a music teacher, her royal past remained unknown among pupils and parents. She shared:
I was just known as Mrs Kent. Only the head knew who I was. The parents didn’t know and the pupils didn’t know.
No one ever noticed. There was no publicity about it at all—it just seemed to work
According to Royal Central, Katharine also rented out a flat in London where she taught piano lessons. Her secret life began in the late 1990s following her withdrawal from public life in 1996. However, she became a full-time teacher after leaving the palace. She worked as a music teacher in Hull for ten years without making her identity known.
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Sources Used
Town & Country Magazine: Who Is Katharine, Duchess of Kent?
Royal Central: The Duchess of Kent’s secret double life revealed following her retirement from royal duties
