The Princess of Wales paid a subtle yet poignant tribute to the late Queen as she attended the Duchess of Kent’s funeral today.
Kate, 43, wore a pearl necklace and matching earrings that once belonged to Her Majesty as she remembered the Duchess, who became the oldest living member of the Royal Family when Queen Elizabeth II died in 2022.
The Duchess died aged 92 while surrounded by family at Kensington Palace earlier this month.
Today, Kate donned all-black mourning attire, pearl drop earrings and a fascinator hat for the sombre occasion.
As well as rewearing a Roland Mouret dress, previously worn at Prince Philip‘s funeral in 2021, she chose to complete her look with a statement item from the late monarch’s jewellery collection, which has a special meaning.
The royal mother-of-three wore Her Majesty’s choker necklace – worn multiple times during her 70-year reign, and which was also seen on Diana, Princess of Wales.
The necklace, described as a Japanese choker, features four rows of pearls and a curved central diamond clasp.
It is said to have been commissioned by the Queen using pearls which were a gift from the Japanese government after her first state visit to the nation in 1975.
The royal mother-of-three wore Her Majesty’s choker necklace – worn multiple times during her 70-year reign , and which was also seen on Diana, Princess of Wales.
The Princess of Wales paid a poignant tribute to the late Queen as she attended the Duchess of Kent’s funeral today, alongside her husband William
The late Queen was pictured wearing the set during an engagement in Bangladesh in 1983, having loaned the set a year earlier to Diana to wear during a state visit from Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands.
Kate was seen wearing the necklace to the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh’s 70th wedding anniversary dinner in 2017.
She today joined senior royals including King Charles and her husband Prince William to pay tribute to the late royal, the Duchess of Kent.
Among the other royals attending were Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and Prince Andrew with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson.
Andrew, who no longer carries out official duties for the monarchy after stepping down six years ago amid the furore over his friendship with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, exited his car first and joined Sarah as they walked in together.
The King arrived with his top aide, principal private secretary Sir Clive Alderton, and smiled after arriving before the doors of the cathedral were closed behind him.
William had a white handkerchief tucked in his top pocket, while Kate wore a black hat with a large bow at the back and netting detail at the front, and pearl earrings, with her hair down at the back, as well as a necklace belonging to the late Queen.
Former Formula One world champion Sir Jackie Stewart and actresses Rula Lenska and Dame Maureen Lipman were among the other mourners in attendance.
Following the announcement of the Duchess of Kent’s death, the Prince and Princess of Wales made a loving tribute , saying that she would be ‘much missed’
The Princess of Wales looked as elegant as ever
Kate wore a black hat with a large bow at the back and netting detail at the front, and pearl earrings, with her hair down at the back, as well as a necklace belonging to the late Queen
Britain’s future King and Queen, William and Kate, seen departing the service on what has been an emptionally charged day for the Royal Family
Kate supports her father-in-law King Charles in a tender moment, as Queen Camilla was forced to miss the funeral due to an illness
The Royal Family seen departing the church after the requiem mass, or a Catholic funeral – marking the first time in modern British history that it has been held for a member of the monarchy
Lady Amelia Windsor, the granddaughter of the Duchess of Kent, was solemn as she left the church
Queen Elizabeth was photographed wearing them multiple times during her 70-year reign and they were also worn by Diana, Princess of Wales on some occasions (pictured in 1983)
The requiem mass, a Catholic funeral, is the first to be held for a member of the monarchy in modern British history and featured a Scottish bagpipe lament performed during Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral at Windsor Castle in 2022.
A piper from The Royal Dragoon Guards played the lament – Sleep, Dearie, Sleep – while processing from the Chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mary, past the Duchess’s coffin in the Nave and down the cathedral’s central aisle. The late Queen’s funeral service in St George’s Chapel ended with a piper playing the same tune.
Following the announcement of the Duchess of Kent’s death, the Prince and Princess of Wales made a loving tribute, saying that she would be ‘much missed’.
The future King and Queen described how she had ‘worked tirelessly’ in her life to help others.
In a statement signed ‘W & C’, the Prince and Princess of Wales said: ‘Our thoughts today are with The Duke of Kent and his family, particularly George, Helen and Nicholas.
‘The Duchess worked tirelessly to help others and supported many causes, including through her love of music. She will be a much missed member of the family’.
One of the most glamorous royals of her generation, the Duchess was admired for her determination to forge her own path and life-long dedication to charity work.
The Duchess was also an elegant fixture at Wimbledon. She captured the hearts of the nation when she consoled Czech star Jana Novotna as she broke down in tears on Centre Court after losing to reigning champion Steffi Graf in 1993.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the Duchess of Kent brought ‘compassion, dignity and a human touch to everything she did’, as he paid tribute following her death.
Kate looked deep in thought during the sad occasion
The coffin of the Duchess of Kent being carried out after the Requiem Mass, a mass of the Catholic church
Kate leaned in for a word with Prince William, as the pair joined several senior royals at the historic funeral in London
From left to right: The Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, King Charles III, Prince William, Catherine, Princess of Wales and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh outside Westminster Abbey after the Requiem Mass for The Duchess of Kent
Pictured: William and Kate at the Requiem Mass service for Katharine, Duchess of Kent
Kate leaving Westminster Cathedral as the Royal Family came together to lay the Duchess of Kent to rest
The 43-year-old princess appears to be lost in thought after the memorial service concluded
In a seemingly tense moment, Kate turned around to speak to Prince Andrew as her husband, Prince William watched on
The couple, all sporting black, made an appearance for the Requiem Mass service together this afternoon
The Duke of Kent, 89, was visibly emotional after he laid his wife of 64 years to rest at the Duchess of Kent’s funeral service at Westminster Cathedral in London today
The coffin of the Duchess of Kent is carried out of Westminster Cathedral, as her widower Prince Edward watched over it
Kate, 43, remembered the Duchess, who became the oldest living member of the Royal Family when Queen Elizabeth II died in 2022, alongside other members of the Royal Family today
William and Kate, pictured, greeted others as they arrived for the Requiem Mass for The Duchess of Kent
Pictured today: A general view of the Requiem Mass service for the Duchess of Kent this afternoon
Following the announcement, the Prince and Princess of Wales made a loving tribute , saying that she would be ‘much missed’
Catherine, Princess of Wales joined other royals as she attends the funeral of The Duchess of Kent
King Charles put on a sombre display as he arrived for the Requiem Mass service for the Duchess of Kent
Lady Amelia Windsor and Lady Marina Windsor arrived at Westminster Cathedral ahead of the funeral
The duchess, who had been unwell for some time, died at Wren House, her marital home in Kensington Palace, surrounded by close family.
The duchess attended events marking the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012 and was present for the then-Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s 2011 wedding, and the Sussexes’ nuptials in 2018 where she wore comfortable white trainers paired with a floral Erdem maxi dress and walked arm in arm with a staff member from the royal household for support.
In recent years, her health grew increasingly poor and she did not attend Queen Elizabeth’s funeral or the King’s coronation.
The Duchess’s life-long passion for music and making it accessible to all saw her co-found the Future Talent charity.
In a statement they said: ‘Everyone at Future Talent is deeply saddened to hear the news of the death of Katharine – our Co-Founder and the visionary behind our charity.’
Nicholas Robinson OBE, Co-Founder of Future Talent and a friend of the Duchess for more than two decades, told the Daily Mail today of her courage and compassion.
‘I’ve lost a very dear friend,’ he said.
‘She was once described as Katharine, the compassionate duchess. And that word, compassionate…it just sums her up.
‘She was such a kind, genuine and understanding person. It was all about other people. Genuinely selfless. She was also a shy person, so nothing she did was for glory. She was just so wonderful.’
Mr Robinson first met Katharine 21 years ago when he was headmaster of King’s College Choir School in Cambridge, which was attended by two of her grand-daughters, Lady Marina and Lady Amelia.
Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson are pictured arriving at Westminster Abbey ahead of the funeral
Prince Michael of Kent, Lord Frederick Windsor, Lady Gabriella Windsor, King Charles III with Sophie Winkleman leave after the Requiem Mass service for the Duchess of Kent, who was laid to rest today
The grief-stricken Duke of Kent looks at the coffin of the Duchess of Kent following the requiem mass today
The Duke of Kent and Lady Helen Taylor follow behind the Duchess of Kent’s coffin today
The Princess of Wales and the Duchess of Edinburgh after today’s funeral in London
(From L to R) Albert Windsor, Leopold Windsor, Louis Arthur Nicholas Felix Windsor and George Windsor Earl of St Andrews at the Duchess of Kent’s funeral
The Duchess of Kent’s grandchildren, Lady Eloise Taylor and Lady Estella Taylor, are seen arriving at the late royal’s funeral
They started chatting about her passion for music and desire to help children, which resulted in them starting a charity together, Future Talent, which supports talented young musicians without access to the right support and mentoring.
He recalled: ‘She had the vision and the passion. She wanted to help young people and combat the lack of opportunity and financial and practical support, but she didn’t know how to go about it. So I promised I would help her.
‘She was such a hands-on founder and trustee, so hardworking. In those early years – and bear in mind she was 71 at the time – she was at our office in London three days a week, writing letters, ringing people, planning.
‘It was such a huge part of her life and at the time there weren’t many members of the Royal Family who had set up their own charity. But I could see her passion and enthusiasm and the way her eyes lit up when she talked about it.
‘She felt there should be no child in this country who had musical talent who couldn’t develop that talent because they didn’t have the right means, support and access. We help through mentoring, paying tuition bills, providing them with the right advice on teaching and musical instruments. It’s like joining a family, and that was driven by her. Children are there to be listened to, encouraged, supported and heard.’
Talking of her 13 years working anonymously in a Hull primary school, Mr Robinson recalled how she would travel up and down by train to Yorkshire every Friday to teach.
‘You could see the children’s eyes light up with her. They drank in her enthusiasm. They loved what she was doing with them. Pop songs…she loved all kinds of music,’ he recalled.
He believes while the duchess had an inner sense of empathy, she was also shaped by her personal tragedies, which led her withdrawing from official royal duties and converting to Catholicism.
‘Given her tragic experiences personally, it gave her a deeper empathy and understanding in being able to connect with people,’ he said.
The Duke of York and Sarah Ferguson pictured arriving at the Requiem Mass service this afternoon
‘She was a trailblazer in her way, but just doing it in the background so quietly and effortlessly. The famous story of how she comforted Navotna at Wimbledon, you got a glimpse there of the real person behind the scenes.
‘I think people will remember her with enormous affection and admiration, and love. The fact that we have this wonderful charity and all these remarkable musicians as a result of her vision means her legacy won’t be forgotten.
‘You must remember that the [late] Queen gave her permission to convert to become a Catholic [which was unusual]. I think she greatly admired her.’
The Duchess gave up full-time royal duties and her HRH title to pursue a life away from the spotlight in 2002.
She subsequently spent more than a decade anonymously teaching music in a Hull primary school, where she was simply known as Katharine, or plain ‘Mrs Kent’.
Married to Prince Edward, the Duke of Kent, cousin to Queen Elizabeth, the couple have three children: George, Earl of St Andrews, Lady Helen Taylor, and Lord Nicholas Windsor.
The Duchess was born Katharine Lucy Mary Worsley in Yorkshire – a county she always retained a passionate association with – on February 22 1933.
Her adored father was Sir William Worsley, 4th Baronet and Lord Lieutenant of the North Riding of Yorkshire, while her mother, Joyce Morgan Brunner, was the daughter of Sir John Brunner – the founder of Brunner Mond, which was to become ICI (Imperial Chemical Industries).
She grew up at the ancestral family seat of Hovingham Hall in North Yorkshire, where her family has lived since the early 18th Century, and received no formal education until the age of 10.
She then went on to study at Queen Margaret’s School, York, and Runton Hill School in North Norfolk, where she developed a life-long passion for music, learning the piano, organ and violin. Her daughter, Lady Helen Taylor, has said her mother was a pianist of almost concert standard.
They married at York Minster on June 8 1961, the first royal wedding to be held there for 633 years, with the bride sporting the spectacular Kent Diamond and Pearl Fringe Tiara.
The best man was Edward’s brother, Prince Michael of Kent, while Princess Anne was one of the bridesmaids.
