Queen Camilla To Miss Duchess of Kent's Funeral Due to Illness
Queen Camilla has pulled out of attending the funeral of Katharine, Duchess of Kent, due to acute sinusitis. Buckingham Palace said it was "with great regret" that the Queen is unable to join the King and other royals at the Requiem Mass at Westminster Cathedral, adding, "Her thoughts and prayers will be with The Duke of Kent and all the family." Despite her illness, the Queen still hopes to take part in President Donald Trump’s upcoming state visit, which begins on Wednesday in Windsor.
The Duchess of Kent, who passed away earlier this month at 92, was known for her charity work, her love of music, and for famously consoling tennis star Jana Novotna at Wimbledon in 1993. She converted to Catholicism in 1994—the first royal to do so in over 300 years—and her funeral marks a historic moment as the first Catholic service for a senior royal in modern times. A message from Pope Leo will be read during the service, and music chosen by the Duchess herself, including Mozart’s Ave Verum Corpus, will be performed.
Cardinal Vincent Nichols described her as “a very down to earth person” who quietly volunteered with a homeless charity. The Duchess died peacefully at home on 4th September. After the funeral, her coffin will be taken to the royal burial ground at Frogmore. Senior royals including the Prince and Princess of Wales will attend the service, having earlier shared that “she will be a much missed member of the family.”
