Duke of Kent returns to Westminster Cathedral for close friend's funeral

The Duke of Kent and Lord Guthrie both shared a profound connection to the armed forces
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The Duke of Kent was among the mourners attending Field Marshal Lord Guthrie at his funeral requiem mass at Westminster Cathedral.
Last month, the 90-year-old cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth had led proceedings at the Catholic place of worship for the emotional farewell to his wife, Katherine, the Duchess of Kent.
During Wednesday’s service, the Duke of Kent was joined by Andrew Parker Bowles, the former husband of Queen Camilla, for the solemn mass.
Former British tennis player Debbie Jevans, and former cabinet minister and GB News star Michael Portillo were also present at the service alongside family and military figures.
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The duke, who celebrated his 90th birthday on October 9, wore formal black attire as he took his place amongst the congregation.
They were gathering to see off Charles Ronald Llewelyn Guthrie, who died aged 86 on 18 September.
Lord Guthrie’s career included serving as Chief of the General Staff between 1994 and 1997, before assuming the position of Chief of the Defence Staff until 2001.
His military service extended through various prestigious appointments. Between 2001 and 2010, he held the position of Colonel Commandant of the Special Air Service, whilst serving as Colonel of The Life Guards from 1998 until 2019.
Duke of Kent attended a funeral mass at Westminster Cathedral for his friend, Field Marshal Lord Guthrie
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Lord Guthrie also fulfilled ceremonial duties as Gold Stick in Waiting to Queen Elizabeth II from 1999 to 2019.
He wed Catherine Worrall in 1971, daughter of a Coldstream Guards colonel, and following her death in 2022, is survived by his two sons, David and Andrew.
The Duke of Kent knew Lord Guthrie through his own military service and long-held links to the armed forces.
He retired from the Army as a Lieutenant-Colonel in 1976 to undertake royal responsibilities full-time but maintains strong connections to the military.
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Last month, the duke attended the funeral of his wife at the same cathedral
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Wednesday’s requiem mass took place at the same Catholic cathedral where the duke had recently mourned his wife.
Katharine, who married the duke in 1961, died on September 4, aged 92, leaving her husband the oldest living member of the Royal Family.
Her funeral service was held on September 16 and was attended by senior members of the Royal Family, including King Charles and the Prince and Princess of Wales.
The duke was supported by the three children he shared with his late wife, and their 10 grandchildren, at the mass.
To mark the duke's 90th birthday earlier this month, King Charles published a previoulsy unseen image of them both from the 2023 coronation
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His recent milestone birthday was celebrated by the Royal Family, with King Charles sharing birthday greetings on social media alongside a previously unpublished image of the pair taken at Buckingham Palace following the 2023 coronation.
Charles also confirmed he had arranged a special celebration at Windsor Castle later this month to honour the royal’s ninetieth year.
The duke also marked the occasion with a private gathering at Ognisko Polskie in South Kensington, a historic Polish club where he serves as a patron.
Prince Michael of Kent joined his brother at the intimate birthday event, seen alongside him in photographs released by the British Poles organisation.
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