The late Duchess of Kent was mourned by three generations of her family at a private vigil last night as the nation prepares to lay her to rest at her funeral this afternoon.
The Duchess died ‘peacefully’ at Kensington Palace on September 4, surrounded by her loved ones – after a period of ill health – and last night her coffin was carried in a royal hearse to Westminster Cathedral.
It was accompanied by a lone Piper from The Royal Dragoon Guards, of which she had been Deputy Colonel-in-Chief since its inception in 1992.
This afternoon, senior royals including King Charles and Queen Camilla will attend a Requiem Mass at the cathedral.
It will be the first Catholic funeral for a member of the Royal Family in recent history.
Among those mourning the late royal on Monday were her three children – George Windsor, Earl of St Andrews, Lady Helen Taylor and Lord Nicholas Taylor – as well as her ten grandchildren.
All dressed in black, the relatives appeared emotional as they paid tribute to the life led by Katharine – or Mrs Kent as she preferred to be called.
Pictured left to right: 1. Columbus Taylor, 2. Lady Amelia Windsor, 3. Lady Marina Windsor, 4. Leopold Windsor, 5. Albert Windsor, 6. Louis Arthur Nicholas Felix Windsor, 7. Eloise Taylor, 8. Cassius Taylor, 9. Estella Taylor, 10. Timothy Taylor, 11. Sylvana Tomaselli and 12. George Windsor Earl of St Andrews
Pictured: The Duke of Kent walked arm-in-arm with his daughter Lady Helen Taylor for the vigil on Monday
Lady Amelia Windsor (pictured) looked sombre as she arrived at Westminster Cathedral yesterday – ahead of her grandmother’s funeral
1. COLUMBUS TAYLOR
Columbus, 31, is the eldest son of Lady Helen Taylor and her husband Timothy Taylor.
Much like his father, Columbus works in the art world and according to LinkedIn is a sales director at his dad’s company as of July. Previously, he had also worked as a sales consultant at Galleria Lorcan O’Neill Roma.
However, he largely keeps out of the spotlight and not much is known about his personal life.
2. LADY AMELIA WINDSOR
Lady Amelia is one of the Duchess of Kent’s 10 grandchildren.
The model, 30, shared a tribute for her late grandmother on Instagram a day after her death, posting a glamorous black and white photo of the duchess with a single red heart.
Amelia was born in Cambridge in 1995, the second daughter of George Windsor, Earl of St Andrews, the son of the Duke of Kent, and Sylvana Tomaselli, a Canadian-born academic and historian.
A grieving Duke of Kent bowed his head as his late wife’s coffin, borne by soldiers of The Royal Dragoon Guards, entered Westminster Cathedral
The Duke of Kent looks on while Lady Helen Taylor bows her head as the Duchess of Kent’s coffin is carried into Westminster Cathedral
Lord Nicholas Windsor (far right) is pictured travelling in a mini van with the Duchess of Kent’s grandchildren
The Duchess of Kent’s grandchildren (pictured Lady Estella Taylor centre) were seen travelling in the back of a mini van for the vigil
The royal made her debut into society after leaving St Mary’s at the age of 18 at the Bal des Debutantes in 2013, alongside Italian aristocrat Donna Melusine Ruspoli and Indian royal Princess Akshita Bhanj Deo,
Following this, Amelia took a gap year to explore India and Thailand, before returning to the UK and studying French and Italian at the University of Edinburgh.
A Tatler cover girl, Lady Amelia, who is 43rd in line to the throne, was famously dubbed ‘the most beautiful member of the royal family’ by the magazine in 2016.
She has been signed with Storm Model Management since 2016, joining an illustrious roaster of clients including Kate Moss, Cara Delevingne and Lady Kitty Spencer.
Amelia, who lives in Notting Hill with her sister, has also been making a name for herself with designer collaborations, including collections with SALOME and Pretty Ballerina.
Since January 2021, she has been the patron of the Cross River Gorilla Project, a wildlife initiative aiming to protect Critically Endangered Cross River gorillas from extinction.
3. LADY MARINA WINDSOR
The Duchess of Kent’s granddaughter Lady Marina Windsor, 32, is the eldest daughter of George Windsor and Sylvana Tomaselli.
The philanthropic executive, who is the third cousin of Prince William and Prince Harry, recently shared the news that she is engaged.
The Duchess of Kent’s granddaughter Lady Marina Windsor, 32, is the eldest daughter of George Windsor and Sylvana Tomaselli
Among those mourning the late royal were her three children – George Windsor, Earl of St Andrews, Lady Helen Taylor and Lord Nicholas Taylor – as well as her ten grandkids. Pictured: Lady Helen Taylor and the Duke of Kent
Her coffin was carried in a royal hearse, designed by Queen Elizabeth, from her home in Kensington to Westminster Cathedral for a private vigil with her immediate family
And yesterday it was made clear that the late royal, who passed away aged 92 on September 4 after a period of ill-health, will be dearly missed and cherished by her loved ones, who attended a vigil in her honour
To mark the occasion, she posted a series of sweet snaps of herself and now-fiancé Nico Macauley, also 32, on Instagram with the caption ‘very happy’.
Lady Marina and Nico, an account executive with Zscaler, hadn’t been seen out together much before their engagement, leaving some royal fans surprised by the news.
The royal, who was 25th in line to the British throne before being excluded in 2008 after she was confirmed as a Roman Catholic, was recently spotted at a lavish soirée in Kew Gardens attended by the King and Queen, though her beau was nowhere in sight.
In June, however, all was confirmed with three images showing Lady Marina’s gorgeous engagement ring.
The silver ring featured what appeared to be a smooth circular onyx gemstone sealed in the centre of the jewel.
Pictured left to right: Leopold Windsor, Albert Windsor and one of the youngest members of the family, Louis Arthur Nicholas Felix Windsor
4. LEOPOLD WINDSOR
Leopold Windsor, who turned 16 last week, is the youngest son of Lord Nicholas Windsor, who is the youngest child of the Duke and Duchess of Kent.
5. ALBERT WINDSOR
Albert Louis Philip Edward Windsor is the eldest child of Lord Nicholas Windsor and wife Paola.
The 17-year-old was the first royal to be named ‘Albert’ since the Queen Elizabeth’s father, who was born in 1895.
He was also the first royal baby to be baptised as a Catholic since 1688. The ceremony took place in the Queen’s Chapel in St. James’ Palace.
6. LOUIS ARTHUR NICHOLAS WINDSOR
One of the youngest members of the family, Louis Arthur Nicholas Felix Windsor was born on May 27 in 2014, at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London.
He is Lord Nicholas Windsor’s third child – and the tenth grandchild of the Duke and Duchess of Kent.
The 11-year-old, much like his siblings, was baptised with Catholic rites in the Queen’s Chapel at St James’s Palace in London.
Along with his siblings, he too has been seen on the Buckingham Palace balcony for Trooping the Colour.
7. ELOISE TAYLOR
Eloise Olivia Katherine Taylor, 22, another granddaughter of the late Duchess of Kent, is the child of Lady Helen Taylor.
Helen is the only daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Kent.
Earlier this year, Helen and Eloise, who is 43rd in line to the throne, were pictured together in the Royal Box at Wimbledon.
Prince Michael of Kent arrives at Westminster Cathedral in central London
Pictured: The bearer party carry the coffin of Katharine, Duchess of Kent into Westminster Cathedral ahead of her funeral
The hearse carrying the Duchess of Kent passes through Wellington Arch ahead of her funeral tomorrow
Her younger sister is Estella Olga Elizabeth Taylor, who was born a year after Eloise.
It was after Lady Helen’s husband, Timothy Taylor, battled cancer that the couple announced they were expecting their third child.
Timothy was forced to undergo weekly sessions of chemotherapy at London’s Royal Marsden Hospital after being diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease, but had been in remission for almost two years when Lady Helen fell pregnant for a third time.
8. CASSIUS TAYLOR
At 45th-in-line to the throne, Cassius Taylor, 28, has had a little more freedom than some of his royal relatives.
These days, however, he is less likely to appear in group shots on the Buckingham Palace balcony and more likely to appear wearing shades on social media – often at the opening of some artistic venture or other – or DJ-ing at a party.
This makes sense as Cassius is the son of Lady Helen Taylor, and art-dealer Timothy Taylor – and like the children and grandchildren of Princess Margaret, is a signed-up member of the Royal Family’s creative wing.
He has become something of a darling of the London art scene, in fact, and has turned his first tattoo into a whimsical art exhibition.
Lady Frederick Windsor (second left) and Lord Frederick Windsor (right) pictured at Westminster Cathedral
Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Kent is seen being taken from Kensington Palace to Westminster Cathedral
Family members watch on as the coffin of the Duchess of Kent arrives at Westminster Cathedral
The coffin of the Duchess of Kent is carried for a private vigil on the eve of the Requiem Mass to be held for her in Westminster Cathedral
The Duchess’ coffin will rest overnight in the Chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mary ahead of her funeral on 16 September
Prince Edward and Lady Helen Taylor converse with Fr Slawomir Witoń, the Dean of Westminster Cathedral
Like other more distant members of the royal family, Cassius, who was born in 1996, has been allowed to grow up away from the spotlight. As a child, he would make rare public appearances, including the balcony of Buckingham Palace for Trooping the Colour.
He was educated at Wellington College in Berkshire, which costs £35,775-a-year, before heading to Goldsmiths, where he got a degree in art management.
After graduating, he worked for his father’s London gallery before joining the PR agency Purple, where he dabbled in the events business, organising glitzy receptions at Somerset House. He eventually left Purple PR and set up his own events company, named ‘Telltale.’
The royal has since curated his own show, which took at the Painting Rooms of Flitcroft Street in Soho. He also shares a glimpse into his artsy life on Instagram, where snaps show him DJing with friends or hanging out with his glamourous friends.
9. ESTELLA TAYLOR
Twenty-year old Estella, Helen and Timothy’s daughter, largely keeps out of the spotlight.
However, it is clear that in the few public appearances she has made, that Estella is already a budding style aficionado like her cousins.
In July, she was spotted at Wimbledon, looking effortlessly elegant in a striped button-up dress – accessorised with a fun Anya Hindmarch tote bag.
Much like her relatives, she has also delighted royal fans with her cheeky appearances on the Buckingham Palace balcony when she was a child.
10. TIMOTHY TAYLOR
Supporting his wife Helen, and their children, Timothy, 62, was also pictured yesterday.
The art dealer, who wed the Duchess’s daughter in 1992, has a gallery which is said to represent some 20 artists, with spaces across London and New York.
A piper leads the Royal Hearse carrying the coffin of the Duchess of Kent ahead of the short journey from Kensington Palace to Westminster Cathedral
Her coffin was draped in the Royal Standard and transported in the Royal Hearse, which was designed by Queen Elizabeth II
Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Kent is seen being taken from Kensington Palace to Westminster Cathedral
The coffin left Kensington Palace at 4.45pm to make the 15-minute journey to Westminster Cathedral, flanked by a police escort
The couple met while working in the Big Apple.
In the late 90s, Timothy was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease, a cancer of the lymph nodes.
He was forced to undergo weekly sessions of chemotherapy at London’s Royal Marsden Hospital.
11. SYLVANA TOMASELLI (GEORGE WINDSOR’S WIFE)
George Windsor’s wife Sylvana Tomaselli, 68, is a historian from Canada.
The academic, who has lectured at Cambridge and written about French and British political theory, is also one of the founders of the European Centre for the Philosophy of Gender in Germany.
Before meeting George, she has married to another man, but they divorced in 1981. In 1988, she wed the Duchess’s son in Scotland.
12. GEORGE WINDSOR
Known for his penchant to stay out of the spotlight, the Duchess of Kent’s oldest son George, 63, is a British philanthropist and diplomat.
His title as Earl of St Andrews actually belongs to his father, the duke, so he holds it by courtesy rather than in his own right.
George was born on June 26, 1962, at the Coppins, the Buckinghamshire family home to Prince Edward and his wife, Katherine, Duchess of Kent, who had married in 1961.
At the time of his birth, George was tenth in the line of succession to the British throne. Today, he is 42nd.
He was christened in the music room at Buckingham Palace on September 14, 1962.
The Earl wore the christening robe of Honiton lace worn by Queen Victoria’s children, as well as the earl’s late grandfather George and his father Edward. (Since 2008, a replica has been used).
His godparents were Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, his great aunt Princess Alexandra, Oliver Worsley, and Lady Lily Serena Lumley.
Guests included The Queen, the Queen Mother, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, and the Princess Royal.
He was educated at Eton College before moving on to Downing College, Cambridge, where he earned an MA degree in History.
He married divorcée Sylvana Palma Tomaselli, 66, a historian and lecturer at the University of Cambridge at a Leith Registry Office on January 9, 1988. Dr Tomaselli is a lecturer in the history of political thought.
While the Canadian-born academic is only a royal through her marriage, Sylvana belongs to the Austrian branch of the ancient Tomaselli family.
Together, the couple have three children: Lord Edward Downpatrick, 34, Lady Marina-Charlotte Windsor, 30, and Lady Amelia Windsor, 28.
Yesterday, a grieving Duke of Kent bowed his head as his late wife’s coffin was carried into Westminster Cathedral.
Heartbroken Prince Edward, 89, who is now the oldest living member of the Royal Family, had been married to the Duchess of Kent for 64 years.
He paid the touching gesture as Katharine’s wicker coffin was borne by soldiers of The Royal Dragoon Guards.
Prince Edward was earlier supported by his daughter, Lady Helen Taylor, who walked arm-in-arm with her father as they arrived at Westminster Cathedral.
The widower was greeted by the Dean of Westminster Cathedral Father Slawomir Witon, and watched from the cathedral steps as the soldiers slowly carried the coffin.
The Duchess of Kent was carried out of Kensington Palace for the final time tonight ahead of her funeral tomorrow.
In a sign of the respect and admiration she had earned from the Royal Family over many decades of service, her coffin was transported in the Royal Hearse, designed by Queen Elizabeth II.
It was proceeded on departure from the royal residence that had been her home, by a lone Piper from The Royal Dragoon Guards, of which she had been Deputy Colonel-in-Chief since its inception in 1992.
The Duchess of Kent’s coffin, borne by soldiers of The Royal Dragoon Guards of which the duchess was Deputy Colonel-in-Chief, arrives at Westminster Cathedral
Family members were seen arriving at Westminster Cathedral in a minibus
Prince Michael of Kent arrives at Westminster Cathedral in central London
Katharine – or Mrs Kent as she preferred to be called in her no-nonsense, down-to-earth Yorkshire way – died on September 4 at the age of 92 after a period of ill-health.
She was the oldest living member of the Royal Family at the time.
The wife of the Duke of Kent, cousin of Queen Elizabeth and grandson of King George V was universally admired for her beauty and elegance.
However she was equally renowned for her compassion and dignity, seeking permission from the late Queen to convert to Catholicism and give up full-time royal duties following a series of personal tragedies to work as a music teacher in a Hull primary school.
She also founded a charity, Future Talent, to support some of the country’s brightest but under-supported musical prodigies.
Her coffin has rested in the private chapel at Kensington Palace since her passing to allow members of the family to pay their respects privately.
Today is the start of her final journey, when it leaves the west London palace for the short journey to Westminster Cathedral for what will the first Royal Catholic funeral in modern history.
Although names will not be confirmed until the day, a full turn-out of the Royal Family is expected.
The coffin exited the palace at 4.45pm to begin the 15-minute journey to Westminster Cathedral, the heart of the Catholic faith in London.
Buckingham Palace tonight revealed that the Duchess’ wicker coffin was constructed from English willow, in Bridgewater, Somerset.
It will be draped with the Royal Standard used for ‘Other Members of the Royal Family’, and will bear a wreath.
The distinctive claret-coloured Royal Hearse – also known as the State Hearse – was last seen in use in 2022 when Queen Elizabeth died.
It was built by Jaguar Land Rover in consultation with the Royal Household and the Queen herself.
It features expansive rear windows and a glass roof – apparently personally requested by Her Late Majesty – which offers a full view of any coffin contained inside.
The coffin is being taken to Westminster Cathedral for a private Vigil for the Deceased and Rite of Reception, as well as Vespers for the Dead – an evening prayer service – attended by Her Royal Highness’ immediate family.
The Bearer Party receiving the coffin at the place of worship will also be formed by Duchess’ beloved The Royal Dragoon Guards.
The Cross and a Book of The Gospels will be placed on the coffin, which will rest overnight in the Chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mary, before Requiem Mass, a Catholic funeral service, tomorrow afternoon.
Having travelled the three miles from Kensington Palace, the Royal Hearse arrived shortly before 5pm, the sun shining brightly as the Union flag flew at half mast.
Her coffin, covered in the royal standard, differentiated from other senior royals by its white border, was accompanied by members of her immediate family.
Service personnel from the Royal Dragoon Guards, a regiment the duchess supported as deputy Colonel-in-Chief since its inception in 1992, formed the bearer party.
Earlier, a lone piper from the same regiment led the Duchess of Kent’s coffin as she left Kensington Palace for the final time.
The musician played as it travelled the short distance from the royal residence to the main road, before the Royal Hearse made its way to Westminster Cathedral via police convoy.
Close friends and family started arriving at the cathedral some 20 minutes before the arrival of the coffin.
A minibus transported over a dozen guests dressed in black, while Prince and Princess Michael of Kent arrived first in a separate vehicle, followed by Princess Alexandra.
As the bearer party carefully retrieved the coffin from the hearse, the Duchess’ immediate family formed a line at the top of the cathedral’s steps for the rite of reception.
The Duchess of Kent died on September 4 at the age of 92 (pictured ahead of a State Banquet in 1991)
The Catholic funeral tradition provides a chance for the Duchess’s body to be formally welcomed into the church where the funeral service will taking place.
The Duke of Kent, holding a walking stick, greeted Father Slawomir Witoń, the dean of Westminster Cathedral, before watching his wife’s coffin being carried inside.
The Requiem Mass will be held tomorrow, falling 12 days after Katharine died peacefully at home, surrounded by her family.
It will be attended by the King, Queen and other senior royals, marking the first Catholic funeral service held for a member of the royal family in modern British history.
The funeral rites on Monday evening included a Vigil for the Deceased, Rite of Reception, which usually involves the coffin being sprinkled with holy water, and evening prayers known as Vespers will be taken by Bishop James Curry, Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster and Titular Bishop of Ramsbury.
The sombre event is usually marked by prayers, music, hymns and tributes.
The King and Queen, as well as members of the Royal Family, will join The Duke of Kent and members of the Duchess’ family at the service.
Meanwhile Prince and Princess Michael of Kent arrived at Westminster Abbey in a minibus with other family members. The Prince, 83, is the Duke of Kent’s brother.
The Duke of Kent’s sister, Princess Alexandra, 88, also arrived by taxi and in a wheelchair.
The Duke of Kent is now the oldest living member of the Royal Family following the death of his wife.
During tomorrow’s funeral, a piper from The Royal Dragoon Guards will play a Lament, ‘Sleep, Dearie, Sleep’, while processing from the Chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mary, past the coffin in the Nave and down the Centre Aisle of the Cathedral.
The same Lament was played during Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in 2022.
The Choir and Organist of Westminster Cathedral will also provide choral music, composed by Maurice Duruflé, during the Requiem Mass.
This will include ‘Ave verum corpus’, by Mozart, which was selected by The Duchess as her favourite piece, during Her Royal Highness’s episode of Desert Island Discs in December 1990.
The wreath of British garden flowers placed on top of The Duchess’s coffin includes white roses, symbolising the white rose of Yorkshire, where HRH was born.
The wreath will also include sprays of rosemary for Remembrance; oak leaves for strength; seasonal September flowers symbolising farewell; achillea representing healing and strength; jasmine for amiability; and sprigs of yew from the gardens of Hovingham Hall, the Worsley family home, representing eternal life.
The flowers were chosen by The Duchess’s family.
While this will be the first Royal Catholic funeral in modern history, the Monarch has previously attended requiem masses in Britain.
Queen Victoria attended the Catholic funeral mass of Prince Imperial Louis-Napoleon at St Mary’s Church, Chislehurst in 1879.
King George V also attended the Requiem Mass for Empress Eugénie at St Michael’s Abbey, Farnborough in July 1920.
The Mass will be conducted by The Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Vincent Nichols.
The Dean of Windsor will join the Cathedral clergy during the Mass, before presiding, with the Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster, over the burial of The Duchess at in Windsor later that day.
Katharine, wife of the late Queen’s cousin the Duke of Kent, converted to Catholicism in 1992.
A devout follower of the Roman Catholic faith, the duchess became the first member of the royal family to convert to Catholicism in more than 300 years. Her husband did not convert, so he remained in the line of succession.
