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Duchess of Kent Passes Away

(49 Posts)
ferry23 Fri 05-Sept-25 12:15:35

Just been announced, she was 92. I can remember watching her wedding from York Minster all those years ago.

Always seemed like a very lovely lady who went through tremedous turmoil after a still born trauma, and found much comfort in music.

theworriedwell Mon 08-Sept-25 23:41:20

Anniebach

She suffered such heartache, miscarriage and still birth in late 70’s, she has been so honest about her severe depression, done as usual with dignity

It wasn't a miscarriage, she caught German measles and was advised to have an abortion. I think that followed by the stillbirth was hard for her to recover from.

theworriedwell Mon 08-Sept-25 23:38:29

ixion

I always followed news about her- she struck me as quietly dignified, ploughing her own furrow and gaining much respect along the way, seeking no public recognition for her community works.

What did deeply sadden me, however, was the sight of her attending the Duke and Duchess of Sussex' wedding effectively on her own, escorted by -maybe- ?a member of Royal Household.
There were so many members of the Royal Family present, surely one of those could have accompanied her?

My mother would have made jolly sure that no ageing or frail member of the family would turn up to a family occasion without a suitable escort and would have co-opted any junior member of the family to do the honours.

^It's your job to look after Great Aunty Alice for the day.^

Were none of her children there?

Chardy Sat 06-Sept-25 20:08:22

Sorry. It was made in 2023, so not an obituary

Chardy Sat 06-Sept-25 19:59:12

There's a lovely one hour obituary on Channel 5 at the moment. It will be on +1 at 8.10pm

Anniebach Sat 06-Sept-25 14:21:36

She suffered such heartache, miscarriage and still birth in late 70’s, she has been so honest about her severe depression, done as usual with dignity

Visgir1 Sat 06-Sept-25 13:58:47

I have just read her Obituary in The Times, what a lovely lady.
I knew nothing about her. I was surprised to read that her and the Duke have been "Semi - detached" since the late 60's. She carried that off with dignity.
RIP

LovesBach Sat 06-Sept-25 09:52:06

M0nica

What greater accolade could she have? No one has a bad word to say about herl.

Yes - isn't that the most wonderful epitaph? A woman who lived a life of quiet dignity, doing so much that was good.

Grantanow Sat 06-Sept-25 09:28:52

RIP. One who wore her Royal title with dignity and service but put to one side to do further service.

M0nica Sat 06-Sept-25 07:47:53

What greater accolade could she have? No one has a bad word to say about herl.

Chocolatelovinggran Sat 06-Sept-25 07:40:38

As a lifelong Republican, I agree absolutely that both the Duke and Duchess of Kent represented the best of the royal tradition.

REKA Sat 06-Sept-25 00:07:41

I always knew her from the years she presented the women's trophy at Wimbledon. The year she hugged the crying Jana Novotna is a lasting memory.

Cabbie21 Fri 05-Sept-25 23:57:36

Lovely lady, and indeed a Yorkshire lass. I watched her wedding on TV, sang in the choir at her installation as Chancellor of the University of Leeds, and received my degree from her.
I admired the way she inspired many children and young people by teaching music, her first love.

Grammaretto Fri 05-Sept-25 22:41:24

I can remember her wedding too.
She was beautiful, dignified and a Commoner I think which the press liked to dwell on.
Wasn't she a Yorkshire lass?

Primrose53 Fri 05-Sept-25 22:02:13

DamaskRose

EkwaNimitee

A lovely lady whom I’ve always admired. An example to everyone on how to live a good and useful life.

Just this. I will never forget her comforting Jana Navotna at Wimbledon. RIP Katharine, Duchess of Kent.

That’s how I remember her. It was absolutely natural and very emotional.

sundowngirl Fri 05-Sept-25 19:00:04

GrannyGravy13

MayBee70

Didn’t she teach at a school at one time? She came across as the loveliest of people. RIP

She taught singing/music in a school in Hull

The pupils had no idea who she was. They just knew her as Mrs Kent
Lovely lady sadly missed.

Calendargirl Fri 05-Sept-25 17:50:09

Dignified, elegant, gracious.

DamaskRose Fri 05-Sept-25 17:47:34

EkwaNimitee

A lovely lady whom I’ve always admired. An example to everyone on how to live a good and useful life.

Just this. I will never forget her comforting Jana Navotna at Wimbledon. RIP Katharine, Duchess of Kent.

EkwaNimitee Fri 05-Sept-25 17:39:31

A lovely lady whom I’ve always admired. An example to everyone on how to live a good and useful life.

Allira Fri 05-Sept-25 17:37:28

ixion

I always followed news about her- she struck me as quietly dignified, ploughing her own furrow and gaining much respect along the way, seeking no public recognition for her community works.

What did deeply sadden me, however, was the sight of her attending the Duke and Duchess of Sussex' wedding effectively on her own, escorted by -maybe- ?a member of Royal Household.
There were so many members of the Royal Family present, surely one of those could have accompanied her?

My mother would have made jolly sure that no ageing or frail member of the family would turn up to a family occasion without a suitable escort and would have co-opted any junior member of the family to do the honours.

^It's your job to look after Great Aunty Alice for the day.^

I think the young man, bring young and strong, was probably assisting the Duchess as she was by then frail and, I think, using a wheelchair. He was more a carer than her escort. Perhaps she chose him 🙂

She still looked lovely!

Casdon Fri 05-Sept-25 17:27:51

RIP Duchess of Kent. By coincidence, I’ve been looking at Art Deco tiaras in the last few days, and she wore a beautiful diamond bandeau one given to her by Princess Marina on her wedding day.

Bukkie Fri 05-Sept-25 17:20:16

She worked at the school I worked in for 10 years. She was just one of us.

Anniebach Fri 05-Sept-25 17:01:56

Perhaps she chose her escort

ixion Fri 05-Sept-25 16:48:46

I always followed news about her- she struck me as quietly dignified, ploughing her own furrow and gaining much respect along the way, seeking no public recognition for her community works.

What did deeply sadden me, however, was the sight of her attending the Duke and Duchess of Sussex' wedding effectively on her own, escorted by -maybe- ?a member of Royal Household.
There were so many members of the Royal Family present, surely one of those could have accompanied her?

My mother would have made jolly sure that no ageing or frail member of the family would turn up to a family occasion without a suitable escort and would have co-opted any junior member of the family to do the honours.

It's your job to look after Great Aunty Alice for the day.

Crossstitchfan Fri 05-Sept-25 16:05:28

When the Duke and Duchess got engaged, I was a child. I noticed her then for the first time and remember thinking she was the most beautiful lady I had ever seen. She went through life doing her best, quietly and gracefully. She stayed married, not many of the others managed that.
A lot of the Royals today could learn from her example of how to be truly Royal. RIP lovely lady.

LovesBach Fri 05-Sept-25 15:55:03

I saw the wedding on TV as a child, and some of the news footage at the time. She appeared to be a gentle and kind woman, deeply religious, and after recovering from a personal tragedy she spent years working with children.