Katharine, Duchess of Kent facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Katharine |
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Katharine (holding a koala) in 1988
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| Born | Katharine Lucy Mary Worsley 22 February 1933 Hovingham Hall, North Yorkshire, England |
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| Father | Sir William Worsley, 4th Baronet |
| Mother | Joyce Brunner |
| Religion | Roman Catholic prev. Anglican |
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Katharine, Duchess of Kent (born Katharine Lucy Mary Worsley on 22 February 1933) is a member of the British royal family. She is married to Prince Edward, Duke of Kent. Prince Edward is a grandson of King George V.
The Duchess of Kent became a Catholic in 1994. She was the first royal family member to change her religion publicly since 1701. The Duchess loves music and has sung in different choirs.
On 8 September 2022, she became the oldest living member of the British royal family. This happened after Queen Elizabeth II passed away.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Katharine Lucy Mary Worsley was born at Hovingham Hall in Yorkshire. She was the fourth child and only daughter of Sir William Worsley, 4th Baronet. Her mother was Joyce Morgan Brunner.
Katharine did not go to school until she was 10 years old. She studied at Queen Margaret's School, York, and Runton Hill School in North Norfolk. At school, she learned to play the piano, organ, and violin. She still plays these instruments today.
In her last year at Runton Hill, she was chosen as the music secretary. In this role, she helped organize school concerts in Norwich. After school, she worked in a children's home in York. She also worked at a nursery school in London. She later studied music at a finishing school in Oxford.
Marriage and Family
Katharine Worsley met Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, when he was serving in the military. Prince Edward is the eldest son of Prince George, Duke of Kent, and Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark.
On 8 June 1961, Katharine and Prince Edward got married at York Minster. This was the first royal wedding there in 633 years. Princess Anne was one of the bridesmaids. Many royal family members from different countries attended the wedding.
The couple has three children:
- George, Earl of St Andrews, born in 1962.
- Lady Helen Taylor, born in 1964.
- Lord Nicholas Windsor, born in 1970.
The Duchess has spoken about a sad time when she lost a baby. She said it helped her understand others who have gone through similar experiences.
The Duchess and her husband took part in many royal duties for the Queen. This included attending the independence celebrations for Uganda. They also attended the coronation of the King of Tonga.
Becoming a Catholic
The Duchess of Kent officially became a Roman Catholic in 1994. This was her own choice. Queen Elizabeth II approved her decision.
She explained in an interview that she likes having clear rules in her life. She felt the Catholic Church offered these rules.
An old law from 1701 said that if a royal family member married a Catholic, they would lose their right to the throne. However, this law did not apply to someone who was already married and then became Catholic. So, the Duke of Kent did not lose his place in the line of succession to the British throne.
Since then, their younger son, Lord Nicholas, and two of their grandchildren have also become Catholics.
Later Years and Music
In 1978, the Duchess was in the hospital for a few weeks. Reports said she had coeliac disease and Epstein–Barr virus. These can cause symptoms like tiredness.
In 1999, the Duchess wanted to bring a 12-year-old boy to the Royal Box at a tennis match. The club did not allow children in the Royal Box, unless they were royal family members. She was offered other seats.
In 2002, the Duchess decided to use the title "Katharine Kent" or "Katharine, Duchess of Kent" more often. She also decided to do fewer royal duties. Even so, she still attends important events. She attended the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton in 2011. She also attended the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018.
In 1989, Katharine was a guest on a radio show called Desert Island Discs. She chose a piece of music by Mozart as her favorite song.
In 1996, the Duchess started working as a music teacher at a primary school in Kingston upon Hull. She also gave piano lessons. She was the president of the Royal Northern College of Music. She was also a director for the National Foundation for Youth Music.
In 2004, she spoke about being a music teacher. She said teaching children is very rewarding and a privilege. In 2005, she said she liked rap music and the singer Dido.
She is a supporter of a charity called Making Music. This group helps amateur music groups. Katharine also helped start Future Talent. This charity helps young children from low-income families pursue music. She was a Patron of BBC Young Musician in 2004 and 2006.
In May 2016, she hosted a concert for young children at Buckingham Palace. This was for her Future Talent charity. In August 2016, the Duchess became an ambassador for Samaritans. She also supports UNICEF. In 2022, the Duchess shared her love for gangsta rap artists like Eminem and Ice Cube.
Titles and Honours
Titles and Styles
Since her marriage, Katharine has been known as "Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Kent".
Honours and Awards
1961: Received the Royal Family Order of Elizabeth II.
1977: Became a Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO).
Freedom of the City
- 1989: Given the title of Freeman of the City of York.
Honorary Military Roles
United Kingdom
She held several honorary roles in the British Army, including:
- Honorary Colonel, Yorkshire Volunteers
- Honorary Major-General, Controller Commandant, Women's Royal Army Corps
- Colonel-in-Chief, of The Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire
Civilian Roles
- Chancellor of the University of Leeds (1966–1999).
Issue
| Name | Birth | Marriage | Children | |
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| George Windsor, Earl of St Andrews | 26 June 1962 | 9 January 1988 | Sylvana Tomaselli | Edward Windsor, Lord Downpatrick Lady Marina Windsor Lady Amelia Windsor |
| Lady Helen Taylor | 28 April 1964 | 18 July 1992 | Timothy Taylor | Columbus Taylor Cassius Taylor Eloise Taylor Estella Taylor |
| Lord Nicholas Windsor | 25 July 1970 | 4 November 2006 | Paola Doimi de Lupis de Frankopan | Albert Windsor Leopold Windsor Louis Windsor |
See also
In Spanish: Catalina de Kent para niños
- List of people diagnosed with coeliac disease
