Prince Harry’s funeral dilemma as details about Katharine, Duchess of Kent’s memorial revealed by Buckingham Palace after royal’s death aged 92

The Duchess of Kent died on Thursday aged 92, prompting an outpouring of tributes for the late royal, who famously gave up her royal duties to become a music teacher.

Katharine was a Catholic and there will be a Requiem Mass for her funeral, which will be the first Catholic funeral for a member of the Royal Family in modern history.

The funeral will be a private family service, after which the coffin will be taken to the royal burial ground in Frogmore in Windsor.

It is understood King Charles and Queen Camilla, as well as most of the entire extended royal family will be in attendance.

The funeral will fall just days after Prince Harry’s visit to London this week for the annual WellChild gala, raising questions if the Duke of Sussex will extend his trip to UK for the funeral.

Harry will attend the WellChild gala in London on Monday and then travel to Nottingham on Tuesday to announce a major donation to Children in Need.

It is possible the Duchess of Sussex may also make a surprise visit to the United Kingdom to pay her respects to Katharine.

The Duke and Duchess of Kent were among the royals who attended Harry’s wedding to Meghan Markle in 2018 and were also the Sussexes’ neighbours at Kensington Palace.

Harry has been known to put aside his family feud at times of mourning, including attending the funeral of his Spencer uncle Robert Fellowes with Prince William last year.

Born Katharine Lucy Mary Worsley on 22 February 1933 at Hovingham Hall in North Yorkshire, she was the only daughter of Sir William Worsley, 4th Baronet, and Joyce Brunner.

She became a royal duchess in 1961 upon her marriage to the Duke of Kent – the cousin of Queen Elizabeth II and a grandson of King George V.

The Kents settled into a life of service and welcomed sons George, Earl of St Andrews, Lord Nicholas Windsor and daughter Lady Helen Taylor.

Tragically, Katharine had a miscarriage in 1975 owing to rubella and gave birth to a stillborn son, Patrick, in 1977.

Her most famous royal duty was as the longtime patron of the Wimbledon tennis tournament, including handing out the winners trophies. 

In 1993, Katharine Kent famously showed her softer side when she comforted Jana Novotna on the court as she burst into tears after losing out to Steffi Graf in the women’s final.

As Novotna wept openly during the runner-up ceremony, the Duchess reportedly leaned in and offered reassurance, saying: “I know you will win it one day, don’t worry.”

That small moment broke all royal convention and made the Duchess of Kent as synonymous with the tournament as pimms or strawberries and cream.

She is survived by her husband the Duke of Kent and their three children.