Turbulent life of oldest living royal who turned her back on Firm for secret job
She was once the Royal Family's most glamorous member who threw herself into public duties.
But now the Duchess of Kent, currently the Firm's oldest living member, leads a very different life indeed after giving up her HRH status in order to take on an ordinary job. When she married the late Queen's cousin Edward, the Duke of Kent, in 1961 she became a well-known face at royal events but as she entered her older years, her life has become very different. And as she celebrates her 91st birthday today, here we look at her turbulent life...
Early life
The Duchess was born Katharine Lucy Mary Worsley on February 22, 1933, in Yorkshire to Sir William Worsley and his wife Joyce - the youngest of their four children. She grew up in Hovingham Hall near York and during her school years developed a love of music, learning how to play the piano, organ and violin.
The Duke and Duchess of Kent at Prince William and Kate's wedding in 2011 (PA)She tried to enter the Royal Academy of Music but failed and instead worked in nurseries in York and London. In 1956, she first crossed paths with the Duke of Kent, who at the time was in the Armed Forces and stationed at Catterick Garrison in Yorkshire - and romance eventually blossomed.
Glitzy royal wedding
Five years after their first meeting, the couple announced their engagement and they married in the wedding of the year in June 1961 at York Minster. The venue was a break in tradition from Westminster Abbey but Katharine was keen to marry there describing herself as a "Yorkshire lass".
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The bride wore a showstopping dress alongside the distinctive Kent Diamond and Pearl Fringe Tiara. The groom's best man was his brother, Prince Michael of Kent, while Princess Anne acted as one of the bridesmaids.
The couple on their wedding day in 1961 (Getty)
The Duchess of Kent during an engagement in Manchester in 1970 (Mirrorpix)After tying the knot, the couple then had three children together - George, Earl of St Andrews, Lady Helen Taylor and Lord Nicholas Windsor. The Kents then threw themselves into public life - representing the late Queen at both home and abroad.
Tragic loss
However, in the 1970s, the Duchess suffered two devastating losses and later spoke out about how it affected her mental health.
In 1975 she had an abortion after contracting rubella while pregnant, which can harm the unborn child. Two years later she gave birth to a stillborn son called Patrick. It prompted her to withdraw from public life for a short time and in 1997, she movingly spoke about how the loss sparked severe depression.
The Duchess comforts Jana Novotna at Wimbledon in 1993 (Daily Mirror)She told the Telegraph: "It had the most devastating effect on me. 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."
After a spell in hospital for treatment, the Duchess returned to royal duties and during the 1980s and 90s, she became well-known for presenting the trophies to the winners at Wimbledon - a job now done by the Princess of Wales. In 1993, she memorably hugged a sobbing Jana Novotna, who was beaten in the ladies' singles final by Steffi Graf.
Religion row
A year later, the Duchess raised eyebrows when she became a member of the Catholic Church after receiving the approval of the late Queen.
Her decision was significant as at the time, the Act of Settlement of 1701 removed anyone who married a Catholic from the line of succession. However, her husband, the Duke of Kent, was not removed, as his wife only converted to the church after they wed.
And in an interview with the BBC, the Duchess explained her decision, saying: "I do love guidelines and the Catholic Church offers you guidelines. I have always wanted that in my life. 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!"
Title rescinded and secret life
In 2002, Katharine decided to step back completely from royal duties, telling the late Queen she would no longer use her HRH title - but rather than retire, the Duchess took up a low-key job.
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She became a music teacher at Wansbeck Primary School in Hull where she was simply known as Mrs Kent. She told The Telegraph in 2022: "Only the head knew who I was. The parents didn’t know and the pupils didn’t know. No one ever noticed. There was no publicity about it at all - it just seemed to work." In the same interview, she professed her love for music and even admitted listening to the likes of boyband Blue and rappers Eminem and Ice Cube.
Her public appearances are now few and far between - she attended Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding in 2018 but was not at the late Queen's funeral in 2022 or King Charles' Coronation last year.
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