The Duchess of Kent’s coffin has left Kensington Palace this evening, beginning two days of solemn ceremonies that will conclude with a historic Catholic funeral tomorrow.
A Royal Hearse carried Katharine’s coffin to Westminster Cathedral, where a private Vigil for the Deceased is taking place with a Rite of Reception and Vespers for the Dead.
These traditional prayers mark the coffin’s arrival and are being attended by members of the Duchess’s immediate family.
Before departing Kensington Palace, the hearse was led by a piper from The Royal Dragoon Guards, the regiment for which Katharine served as Deputy Colonel-in-Chief since its formation in 1992.
Duchess of Kent's coffin leaves Kensington Palace ahead of funeral at Westminster Cathedral
|GB NEWS
On arrival at the cathedral, a Bearer Party drawn from the same regiment received the coffin with full ceremonial honours.
The Duchess’s coffin will rest overnight in the Chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mary inside Westminster Cathedral.
On Tuesday afternoon, September 16, King Charles and Queen Camilla will join Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and members of Katharine's family for the Requiem Mass.
The service will be conducted by the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, with participation from Bishop James Curry, Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster, and the Dean of Windsor.
The Duchess of Kent died at Kensington Palace on September 4, surrounded by her family
| GETTYThe Requiem Mass, a Catholic funeral rite, is itself historic.
King Charles, as Supreme Governor of the Church of England, will attend the Catholic ceremony — a striking first in modern royal history and a reflection of the Duchess’s deep faith.
Following the Mass, Katharine’s coffin will be taken by hearse to the Royal Burial Ground at Frogmore, Windsor, where she will be laid to rest.
The burial ground is the final resting place of many senior members of the Royal Family.
The Duchess of Kent was the oldest living member of the Royal Family after the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022
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The Duchess of Kent, who converted to Catholicism in 1994, devoted decades of her life to public service and charitable work.
Tomorrow’s Requiem Mass will honour both her faith and her contribution to national life, bringing together the Royal Family, the Catholic Church and the public in a moment of quiet reflection and respect.
This two-day farewell, beginning with tonight’s vigil and ending with her interment at Frogmore, will stand as a moment of history as well as remembrance.