Katharine, Duchess of Kent, holds the excellence of being the oldest residing member of the British royal household following the demise of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Born Katharine Worsley, she made a big choice in 2002 when she requested permission from the Queen to step down from her royal duties.
This led her to tackle an surprising function that remained largely secret for a few years. Here is a better have a look at her life, departure from royal duties, and the shocking job she selected afterward.
Katharine was born in 1933 to Sir William Worsley, the 4th Baronet of Hovingham, and his spouse, Woman Mary. In 1956, she met Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, a grandson of George V, and first cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth II. On the time, Edward was stationed with the Armed Forces in Catterick Garrison, Yorkshire.
The 2 had been engaged 5 years later, and their marriage adopted in June 1961 at York Minster. Their wedding ceremony was important for a number of causes. It was the primary royal wedding ceremony held at York Minster since Edward III married Philippa of Hainault in 1328, and it marked the second time in fashionable historical past {that a} British prince married an untitled lady. Katharine, then referred to as Katharine Worsley, was the one daughter of a rich landowner.
The couple went on to have three kids: George, Earl of St Andrews; Woman Helen Taylor; and Lord Nicholas Windsor. Nevertheless, their household life was marked by tragedy.
In 1975, Katharine suffered a miscarriage after contracting rubella throughout being pregnant, and simply two years later, she gave beginning to a stillborn son named Patrick.
Katharine overtly spoke in regards to the toll these tragedies took on her psychological well being. In 1977, she shared her expertise with despair after the stillbirth of her son. “It had essentially the most devastating impact on me,” she informed The Telegraph. “I had no concept how devastating such a factor may very well be to any lady. It made me extraordinarily understanding of others who are suffering a stillbirth.”
These private struggles led Katharine to take a while away from royal duties, and it was throughout this era that she started specializing in her psychological well-being and spirituality. She later turned a dedicated member of the Catholic Church, a call she made in 1994, which gained consideration when she confirmed that the Queen had given her approval.
Katharine defined in a BBC interview that the construction and self-discipline of Catholicism appealed to her. “I do love tips, and the Catholic Church presents you tips,” she mentioned. “I’ve at all times wished that in my life. I prefer to know what’s anticipated of me. I like being informed: You shall go to church on Sunday, and should you do not, you are in for it!”
In 2002, Katharine, now in her 60s, made the daring choice to step down from her royal duties. She requested Queen Elizabeth II for permission to scale back her public royal engagements and, because of this, stopped utilizing the type “Her Royal Highness.”
As an alternative, she turned recognized informally as Katharine Kent or Katharine, Duchess of Kent. Nevertheless, her formal title within the Courtroom Round remained HRH The Duchess of Kent.
Her choice to step again was welcomed by the Queen, and Katharine’s new life away from the royal highlight allowed her to tackle a brand new, shocking function. She turned a music trainer at Wansbeck Main College in Kingston upon Hull. Katharine’s background as a proficient musician, mixed along with her want for privateness, led her to pursue this path.
Katharine’s new life as a trainer remained largely below the radar for a few years. She stored her royal connections a secret from her college students and their households. “Solely the top knew who I used to be,” she as soon as mentioned. In a 2022 interview with The Telegraph, Katharine shared that there was “no publicity about it in any respect – it simply appeared to work.”
Katharine did proceed to make occasional appearances at main royal occasions. She attended the 2011 wedding ceremony of Prince William and Kate Middleton, the Diamond Jubilee celebrations in 2012, and the 2018 wedding ceremony of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Nevertheless, she didn’t attend the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022, nor did she take part within the coronation of King Charles III in 2023.
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