The British royal family is gathering in London this week for a funeral that is, by all accounts, truly historic. On Tuesday, September 16, 2025, Katharine, Duchess of Kent, will be laid to rest at Westminster Cathedral, marking the first Catholic funeral for a member of the royal family in modern British history, according to HELLO! and PEOPLE magazine. The occasion is both solemn and groundbreaking, drawing together not only the family she leaves behind but also the attention of royal watchers and historians across the globe.
Katharine, who died peacefully at home on September 4, 2025, at the age of 92, was married to Prince Edward, Duke of Kent—Queen Elizabeth’s cousin. The couple’s marriage and her subsequent conversion to Catholicism in 1994 at age 61 made headlines at the time, as she became the first royal to convert to Catholicism in over 300 years. According to HELLO!, the last royal to do so was King Charles II, who converted on his deathbed in 1685, though he received an Anglican funeral. That makes the Duchess’s service at Westminster Cathedral all the more remarkable—and, some might say, a sign of changing times for the monarchy.
The funeral events began on Monday, September 15, when the Duchess’s coffin, made from English willow in Bridgewater, Somerset, was transported by hearse from Kensington Palace to Westminster Cathedral for a private vigil attended by her immediate family. The coffin was draped with the Royal Standard for Other Members of the Royal Family and adorned with a wreath of British garden flowers, including white roses (symbolizing the white rose of Yorkshire, her birthplace), rosemary for remembrance, oak leaves for strength, seasonal September blooms for farewell, achillea for healing and strength, jasmine for amiability, and sprigs of yew from Hovingham Hall gardens—the Worsley family home, as detailed by HELLO!.
Inside the cathedral, a Cross and a Book of The Gospels were placed on the coffin in the Chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mary following the Rite of Reception and Vespers. The atmosphere was further enriched by music—an integral part of the Duchess’s life. A Piper from the Royal Dragoon Guards, a regiment the Duchess served as Deputy Colonel-in-Chief, performed the Lament "Sleep, Dearie, Sleep," a piece also played at Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in 2022. The Choir and Organist of Westminster Cathedral provided choral music, including works by Maurice Duruflé and Mozart’s "Ave verum corpus," which the Duchess had chosen as her favorite during a 1990 appearance on Desert Island Discs, according to HELLO!.
Members of the royal family began arriving at Westminster Cathedral for the private vigil on Monday evening. The Duke of Kent, stepping out in public for the first time since his wife’s passing, was accompanied by their children—Lady Helen Taylor, George, Earl of St Andrews, and Lord Nicholas Windsor—as well as their grandchildren, including Lady Amelia Windsor. The Duke’s siblings, Prince Michael of Kent and Princess Alexandra, also attended, showing a united front during this period of mourning. Lady Gabriella Windsor was seen supporting her father, Prince Michael, as they exited the service.
Notably absent from the proceedings is Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex. Despite being in Europe just last week for engagements in the U.K. and Ukraine—including a visit to Kyiv on September 12—Prince Harry has returned home to California. As reported by PEOPLE and HELLO!, he will not attend the Duchess’s funeral, choosing instead to celebrate his 41st birthday on September 15 with Meghan Markle and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. Meghan marked the occasion with a heartfelt Instagram tribute, posting an unearthed snap of Harry from 2015, captioned simply, "Oh hi, Birthday Boy." The couple also appeared in a trailer for an upcoming ABC documentary, The Happiest Story on Earth: 70 Years of Disneyland, set to air later this month.
Although Prince Harry will not be present at the funeral, PEOPLE reports that he privately sent his condolences to the Duchess of Kent’s family. The Duchess, for her part, maintained ties with the younger generation of royals, even attending Harry and Meghan’s wedding in May 2018. Her legacy, in many ways, bridges the old and new—both in her personal journey and in her relationships within the family.
The absence of the Duke of Sussex at such a significant family event has not gone unnoticed. However, his recent reunion with King Charles, following a 19-month separation, suggests ongoing efforts to mend family ties. According to HELLO!, the two met for a private tea at Clarence House, a meeting that, while brief, was a "significant and welcome step" for both father and son. A source close to Harry was quoted as saying, "He would like a relationship with his father. There's no doubt about that."
The funeral itself stands as a momentous event for the monarchy—not only because of its religious significance but also due to the presence of King Charles, the head of the Church of England, at a Catholic service. This unprecedented step underscores the evolving nature of the royal family and its willingness to embrace diversity within its ranks. Alongside King Charles, Queen Camilla and other senior royals are expected to attend, paying their respects to a woman who, despite stepping back from official duties in 1996 and relinquishing the title of "Her Royal Highness" in 2002, continued to make her mark on royal life and charitable causes.
Katharine, Duchess of Kent, is survived by her husband, the Duke of Kent, their three children, and ten grandchildren. Her passing is felt deeply within the family and among those who admired her quiet strength, compassion, and devotion to both faith and family. The carefully chosen flowers, the music she loved, and the gathering of relatives all speak to a life well-lived and a legacy that will endure.
As the royal family and the nation bid farewell to the Duchess of Kent, the ceremony at Westminster Cathedral will be remembered not just for its historic firsts, but for its spirit of unity, remembrance, and quiet transformation within one of the world’s oldest institutions.