Royal Family members gather for funeral of Duchess of Kent

Catherine was photographed placing her hand on His Majesty’s shoulder, kissing him on both cheeks and curtsying during a sweet moment at the sombre event honouring the life of Duchess Katharine, who was the wife of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent.

Royals stood shoulder to shoulder at the service, which included a special message from the Pope hailing the Duchess’s “devoted care for vulnerable people in society”.

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Charles, 76, was the final mourner into Westminster Cathedral for a 90-minute requiem mass for the 92-year-old Duchess, who died earlier this month.

Minutes earlier, the disgraced Prince Andrew, Duke of York had arrived with ex-wife Sarah Ferguson — to a sharp intake of breath from hundreds gathered outside, per The Sun.

After the service, Andrew — potentially facing a new Jeffrey Epstein probe — lingered in the steps of the cathedral standing next to an uncomfortable-looking Prince of Wales. William briefly chatted with his uncle before turning away and grabbing the attention of wife Kate and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh.

And as Andrew dashed off to his car, he was seen standing awkwardly for a few moments waiting for Fergie to catch him up.

Meanwhile, the Duke of Kent, who had been married to Katharine, Duchess of Kent for 64 years, looked emotional and grief-stricken as the coffin was placed in the back of the state hearse.

Almost 50 royals attended the service, believed to be the first royal funeral to be held in a Catholic Church for around 300 years. The Duchess of Kent became a Catholic in 1994.

Queen Camilla was not among the mourners as she was suffering from acute sinusitis. But she is expected to be well enough to attend US President Donald Trump’s State visit today.

Speaking after the service, the Archbishop of Westminster Cardinal Vincent Nichols, who conducted the funeral mass, hailed the Duchess of Kent for “public service without seeking attention”.

He also praised her “kindness and sensitivity”. Asked for his own recollections of the Duchess, he mentioned the moment in 1993 when she hugged losing Wimbledon finalist Jana Novotna.

Cardinal Nicholls said: “She was brimful of kindness and empathy.

“Think of the moment at the Wimbledon final when her heart just went out to that poor girl who’d lost and that’s an image that I think captures her kindness and her sensitivity.”

A special message written by Pope Leo XIV to King Charles was read by a Vatican City diplomat.

He said: “I was saddened to learn of the death of Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, and I send heartfelt condolences, together with the assurance of my prayerful closeness, to Your Majesty, the members of the Royal Family, and especially to her husband, the Duke of Kent, and their children and grandchildren at this time of sorrow.

“Entrusting her noble soul to the mercy of our Heavenly Father, I readily associate myself with all those offering thanksgiving to Almighty God for the duchess’s legacy of Christian goodness, seen in her many years of dedication to official duties, patronage of charities, and devoted care for vulnerable people in society.

“To all who mourn her loss, in the sure hope of the resurrection, I willingly impart my apostolic blessing as a pledge of consolation and peace in the risen Lord.”

The Royal Family were said to be “deeply touched” by the Pope’s words.

During the ceremony, Bishop James Curry read a homily in which he said: “Katharine experienced, as every heart does, upset, disappointment, and heartache.

“Yet she also knew the joy of living. She experienced and gave compassion, empathy, forgiveness and reconciliation.

“She also had a mischievous sense of humour and so many of you today will cherish memories of your encounters with her.”

After the funeral at Westminster, the coffin was taken to the royal burial ground in Frogmore, on the Windsor estate.

This story originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission