A grieving Duke of Kent bowed his head as his late wife’s coffin was carried into Westminster Cathedral.
Heartbroken Prince Edward, 89, who is now the oldest living member of the Royal Family, had been married to the Duchess of Kent for 64 years.
He paid the touching gesture as Katharine’s wicker coffin was borne by soldiers of The Royal Dragoon Guards.
Prince Edward was earlier supported by his daughter, Lady Helen Taylor, who walked arm-in-arm with her father as they arrived at Westminster Cathedral.
The widower was greeted by the Dean of Westminster Cathedral Father Slawomir Witon, and watched from the cathedral steps as the soldiers slowly carried the coffin.
The Duchess of Kent was carried out of Kensington Palace for the final time tonight ahead of her funeral tomorrow.
In a sign of the respect and admiration she had earned from the Royal Family over many decades of service, her coffin was transported in the Royal Hearse, designed by Queen Elizabeth II.
It was proceeded on departure from the royal residence that had been her home, by a lone Piper from The Royal Dragoon Guards, of which she had been Deputy Colonel-in-Chief since its inception in 1992.
Katharine – or Mrs Kent as she preferred to be called in her no-nonsense, down-to-earth Yorkshire way – died on September 4 at the age of 92 after a period of ill-health.
She was the oldest living member of the Royal Family at the time.
The wife of the Duke of Kent, cousin of Queen Elizabeth and grandson of King George V was universally admired for her beauty and elegance.
However she was equally renowned for her compassion and dignity, seeking permission from the late Queen to convert to Catholicism and give up full-time royal duties following a series of personal tragedies to work as a music teacher in a Hull primary school.
She also founded a charity, Future Talent, to support some of the country’s brightest but under-supported musical prodigies.
Her coffin has rested in the private chapel at Kensington Palace since her passing to allow members of the family to pay their respects privately.
Today is the start of her final journey, when it leaves the west London palace for the short journey to Westminster Cathedral for what will the first Royal Catholic funeral in modern history.
Although names will not be confirmed until the day, a full turn-out of the Royal Family is expected.
The coffin exited the palace at 4.45pm to begin the 15-minute journey to Westminster Cathedral, the heart of the Catholic faith in London.
Buckingham Palace tonight revealed that the Duchess’ wicker coffin was constructed from English willow, in Bridgewater, Somerset.
It will be draped with the Royal Standard used for ‘Other Members of the Royal Family’, and will bear a wreath.
The distinctive claret-coloured Royal Hearse – also known as the State Hearse – was last seen in use in 2022 when Queen Elizabeth died.
It was built by Jaguar Land Rover in consultation with the Royal Household and the Queen herself.
It features expansive rear windows and a glass roof – apparently personally requested by Her Late Majesty – which offers a full view of any coffin contained inside.
The coffin is being taken to Westminster Cathedral for a private Vigil for the Deceased and Rite of Reception, as well as Vespers for the Dead – an evening prayer service – attended by Her Royal Highness’ immediate family.
The Bearer Party receiving the coffin at the place of worship will also be formed by Duchess’ beloved The Royal Dragoon Guards.
The Cross and a Book of The Gospels will be placed on the coffin, which will rest overnight in the Chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mary, before Requiem Mass, a Catholic funeral service, tomorrow afternoon.
Having travelled the three miles from Kensington Palace, the Royal Hearse arrived shortly before 5pm, the sun shining brightly as the Union flag flew at half mast.
Her coffin, covered in the royal standard, differentiated from other senior royals by its white border, was accompanied by members of her immediate family.
Service personnel from the Royal Dragoon Guards, a regiment the duchess supported as deputy Colonel-in-Chief since its inception in 1992, formed the bearer party.
Earlier, a lone piper from the same regiment led the Duchess of Kent’s coffin as she left Kensington Palace for the final time.
The musician played as it travelled the short distance from the royal residence to the main road, before the Royal Hearse made its way to Westminster Cathedral via police convoy.
Close friends and family started arriving at the cathedral some 20 minutes before the arrival of the coffin.
A minibus transported over a dozen guests dressed in black, while Prince and Princess Michael of Kent arrived first in a separate vehicle, followed by Princess Alexandra.
As the bearer party carefully retrieved the coffin from the hearse, the Duchess’ immediate family formed a line at the top of the cathedral’s steps for the rite of reception.
The Catholic funeral tradition provides a chance for the Duchess’s body to be formally welcomed into the church where the funeral service will taking place.
The Duke of Kent, holding a walking stick, greeted Father Slawomir Witoń, the dean of Westminster Cathedral, before watching his wife’s coffin being carried inside.
The Requiem Mass will be held tomorrow, falling 12 days after Katharine died peacefully at home, surrounded by her family.
It will be attended by the King, Queen and other senior royals, marking the first Catholic funeral service held for a member of the royal family in modern British history.
The funeral rites on Monday evening included a Vigil for the Deceased, Rite of Reception, which usually involves the coffin being sprinkled with holy water, and evening prayers known as Vespers will be taken by Bishop James Curry, Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster and Titular Bishop of Ramsbury.
The sombre event is usually marked by prayers, music, hymns and tributes.
The King and Queen, as well as members of the Royal Family, will join The Duke of Kent and members of the Duchess’ family at the service.
Meanwhile Prince and Princess Michael of Kent arrived at Westminster Abbey in a minibus with other family members. The Prince, 83, is the Duke of Kent’s brother.
The Duke of Kent’s sister, Princess Alexandra, 88, also arrived by taxi and in a wheelchair.
The Duke of Kent is now the oldest living member of the Royal Family following the death of his wife.
During tomorrow’s funeral, a piper from The Royal Dragoon Guards will play a Lament, ‘Sleep, Dearie, Sleep’, while processing from the Chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mary, past the coffin in the Nave and down the Centre Aisle of the Cathedral.
The same Lament was played during Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in 2022.
The Choir and Organist of Westminster Cathedral will also provide choral music, composed by Maurice Duruflé, during the Requiem Mass.
This will include ‘Ave verum corpus’, by Mozart, which was selected by The Duchess as her favourite piece, during Her Royal Highness’s episode of Desert Island Discs in December 1990.
The wreath of British garden flowers placed on top of The Duchess’s coffin includes white roses, symbolising the white rose of Yorkshire, where HRH was born.
The wreath will also include sprays of rosemary for Remembrance; oak leaves for strength; seasonal September flowers symbolising farewell; achillea representing healing and strength; jasmine for amiability; and sprigs of yew from the gardens of Hovingham Hall, the Worsley family home, representing eternal life.
The flowers were chosen by The Duchess’s family.
While this will be the first Royal Catholic funeral in modern history, the Monarch has previously attended requiem masses in Britain.
Queen Victoria attended the Catholic funeral mass of Prince Imperial Louis-Napoleon at St Mary’s Church, Chislehurst in 1879.
King George V also attended the Requiem Mass for Empress Eugénie at St Michael’s Abbey, Farnborough in July 1920.
The Mass will be conducted by The Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Vincent Nichols.
The Dean of Windsor will join the Cathedral clergy during the Mass, before presiding, with the Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster, over the burial of The Duchess at in Windsor later that day.
Katharine, wife of the late Queen’s cousin the Duke of Kent, converted to Catholicism in 1992.
A devout follower of the Roman Catholic faith, the duchess became the first member of the royal family to convert to Catholicism in more than 300 years. Her husband did not convert, so he remained in the line of succession.
