\n
\n <\/a><\/p>\n
By Eduardo Berdejo<\/a>\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n ACI Prensa Staff, Sep 15, 2025 \/ The first Catholic funeral of a member of the British royal family since the Anglican Reformation will take place at Westminster Cathedral on Sept. 16, that of the duchess of Kent, who converted to Catholicism in 1994.<\/p>\n The duchess of Kent \u2014 born Katharine Lucy Mary Worsley \u2014 died on Sept. 4 at Kensington Palace at the age of 92. She was raised as an Anglican and in 1961 was married in that communion to Prince Edward, duke of Kent and grandson of King George V.<\/p>\n Her conversion to Catholicism began in the wake of personal loss and suffering.<\/p>\n In 1975, while pregnant with her fourth child, the duchess fell ill with measles and, following medical advice, had an abortion for medical reasons. In 1977, she became pregnant again and in a speech to the British Congress of Obstetrics, declared that human life was a gift from God and of unique value, as every birth is a miracle. She also paid tribute to those who fight to protect life and family.<\/p>\n However, she lost the baby at 36 weeks, an experience she described as \u201cdevastating<\/a>\u201d and viewed as punishment for the abortion performed two years earlier.<\/p>\n The duchess continued to practice Anglicanism and made the first of several visits to the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham with the then-Anglican archbishop of Canterbury.<\/p>\n In 1992, the general synod of the Church of England approved the ordination of female priests. This led to the conversion of several Anglicans to Catholicism. The duchess of Kent would enter the Catholic Church in January 1994.<\/p>\n The duchess of Kent\u2019s conversion was historic, as no member of British royalty had been received into the Catholic Church since the late 17th century, at least publicly. In 1685, King Charles II converted to Catholicism on his deathbed, although he had an Anglican funeral.<\/p>\n The duchess herself described her conversion as a \u201clong-considered personal decision\u201d and that she was drawn to the consolation and clarity of the Catholic faith. \u201cI love guidance, and the Catholic Church offers it to you,\u201d she once told the BBC. \u201cI\u2019ve always wanted that in my life. I like to know what\u2019s expected of me.\u201d In 2001, her son, Nicholas Windsor, also joined the Catholic Church.<\/p>\n Upon learning of the duchess\u2019 death, Cardinal Vincent Nichols of Westminster recalled <\/a>\u201cwith fondness her presence in our community, especially her participation in the pilgrimage to Lourdes, as well as her lifetime of public service.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n 06:00 am<\/p>\n![\"Her](\"https:\/\/www.catholicnewsagency.com\/images\/the-duchess-of-kent-with-koala.jpeg?w=600\")
![\"Eduardo](\"https:\/\/www.catholicnewsagency.com\/storage\/authors\/cfySIWmHETH0dvxEPHBRl072iQPtIzt8UpVhV83M.png?w=96&h=96\"\/)