She may have shunned the spotlight, yet that did not stop the Duchess of Kent from being a trailblazer within British aristocracy.
Katharine, married to Queen Elizabeth II‘s cousin Prince Edward, was the oldest member of the Royal Family prior to her death last night aged 92.
The self-proclaimed ‘Yorkshire lass’ also had the accolade of being the first person without a title to marry into the Royal Family for more than a century.
But it was for her decision to convert to Catholicism – becoming the first royal in more than 300 years to do so – that would mark the duchess as an individual unafraid to challenge tradition.
Described at the time as ‘a long-pondered personal decision by the duchess’, Katharine was formally received into the Catholic church in January 1994.
Her conversion took place in a private service conducted by the then Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Basil Hume, with the prior approval of Queen Elizabeth II.
The Duchess of Kent would later go on to tell the BBC that she was attracted to Catholicism by the ‘guidelines’ provided by the faith.
She said: ‘I do love guidelines and the Catholic Church offers you guidelines. I have always wanted that in my life.
She may have shunned the spotlight, yet that did not stop the Duchess of Kent from being a trailblazer within British aristocracy
Described at the time as ‘a long-pondered personal decision by the duchess’, Katharine (pictured with Cardinal Basil Hume) was received into the Catholic church in January 1994
Her conversion took place in a private service conducted by the then Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Basil Hume, with the prior approval of Queen Elizabeth II
‘I like to know what’s expected of me. I like being told: ‘You shall go to church on Sunday and if you don’t you’re in for it!”
Some royal experts speculated her growing interest in Catholicism came off the back of personal tragedy, including suffering a miscarriage in 1975 after developing rubella and giving birth to a stillborn son, Patrick, in 1977.
The latter sent her into a severe depression, which she publicly spoke about in the years that followed.
‘It had the most devastating effect on me,’ she told The Telegraph in 1997, some 20 years after the event.
‘I had no idea how devastating such a thing could be to any woman. It has made me extremely understanding of others who suffer a stillbirth.’
Other insiders suggested however that the duchess’ conversion came from changes occurring within the Church of England at the time, including the ordination of women.
But a spokesman for the duchess said this was not the case.
In a statement, he said: ‘This is a long-pondered personal decision by the duchess and it has no connection with issues such as the ordination of women priests.’
The point at which Katharine converted could however be seen as significant – given there was a growing public rapprochement between the monarchy and Catholic church. Pictured: Queen Elizabeth II hosted Pope John Paul II in 1982
The point at which Katharine converted could however be seen as significant – given there was a growing public rapprochement between the monarchy and Catholic church.
In 1982, Queen Elizabeth II hosted Pope John Paul II during the first papal visit to Britain in more than 400 years – and the first at Buckingham Palace.
Meanwhile, in 1995 the Queen became the first monarch since the 17th century to attend a Catholic service when she was welcomed to Westminster Cathedral.
Cardinal Basil Hume also stressed at the time that the duchess’ decision was a private matter.
‘We must all respect a person’s conscience in these matters, and I know that the duchess recognises how much she owes to the Church of England for which she retains a genuine affection,’ he said.
Regardless of the reasons why the Duchess of Kent turned to Catholicism, her pioneering act initially sparked debate around the rules of succession in the UK.
The 1701 Act of Settlement decreed that only Protestants could take the English and Irish crowns, meaning heirs were banned from being or marrying a Roman Catholic.
At the time of her conversion, the Duke of Kent was 18th in line to the throne – but royal experts were swift to point out there would be no constitutional implications for him because Katharine was an Anglican when they married.
The Duchess of Kent – who was married to the late Queen’s cousin – has died aged 92. Pictured: The royal in 2011
However, their younger son, Lord Nicholas Windsor, grandson Lord Downpatrick, and granddaughter Lady Marina, were all removed from the succession after they converted to Catholicism in recent years.
Born in February 1933, Katharine was Sir William Worsley’s only daughter and youngest child and grew up in the stately Hovingham Hall, located outside York.
She first met her future husband when the then-Prince Edward was stationed at Catterick Garrison near her family home.
Five years later, in March 1961, the couple announced their engagement and were married that June at York Minster – which had not hosted a royal wedding for more than 600 years at the time.
Although the couple could have married at Westminster Abbey, Katharine was adamant that she wanted to have the ceremony in her home county – and often proudly referred to herself as a ‘Yorkshire lass’.
The Duchess was well-known for presenting trophies to winners at Wimbledon tennis championships alongside her husband, who was patron of the All England club.
In 1993, she famously consoled losing women’s singles finalist Jana Novotna, placing a hand on the crying Czech star’s shoulder after her defeat by Steffi Graf.
In 2002, Katharine officially withdrew from public life after spending more than 30 years serving the monarchy. Her husband continues to be a working member of the Royal Family.
Katharine Kent, who was for decades an elegant fixture at Wimbledon alongside her husband, the Duke of Kent, has passed away. Pictured: The couple in 1991
The Duchess of Kent presents the 1978 Wimbledon Ladies Singles trophy to Martina Navratilova. The Duke and Duchess were Wimbledon fixtures for many years
Katharine famously consoled Jana Novotna after the Czech star had lost the 2003 Wimbledon final to Steffi Graf
Late in life, she incredibly became a music teacher at Wansbeck Primary School, a state school in Hull, where the unsuspecting pupils knew her simply as Mrs Kent.
As a child, Katharine took up the piano, violin and organ – which kick-started a life-long passion for music.
Speaking in 2010, she said: ‘Music is the most important thing in my life. The be-all and end-all to everything.
‘No one in my family was particularly musical, but I was born with a love of music.’
Katharine is survived by her 89-year-old husband, the Duke of Kent, and their three children, George, Earl of St Andrews, Lady Helen Taylor and Lord Nicholas Windsor, as well as 10 grandchildren.
