Members of the Royal Family assembled at Westminster Cathedral today to bid farewell to Katharine, Duchess of Kent, who passed away peacefully at home on September 4 at the age of 92.

The only notable absence was Queen Camilla, who was forced to withdraw due to illness.

Queen Camilla’s Absence

The Queen had been scheduled to attend alongside King Charles and other family members but stepped back “with great regret” as she continues to recover from acute sinusitis. A Buckingham Palace spokesperson confirmed: “Her thoughts and prayers will be with The Duke of Kent and all the family.”

The Duke of Kent was informed and expressed his full understanding, sending his best wishes to the Queen. Camilla, who traveled from Scotland earlier in the day, is now resting at Windsor but is expected to resume royal duties tomorrow for Donald Trump’s second state visit. She and the King are set to formally welcome Donald and Melania Trump to Windsor Castle and review a military procession.

Family United in Grief

After the Requiem Mass, the Duke of York was seen speaking with King Charles on the cathedral steps, close to the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Duchess of Edinburgh, and the Princess Royal. Andrew and Charles shared a brief smile as other royals departed in vehicles, signaling a rare moment of warmth amid recent tensions in the family.

A Historic Catholic Funeral

Katharine’s service marked a significant moment in royal history. As a Catholic convert since 1994, she was the first royal in over 300 years to embrace the faith, and her wish was to have her funeral at Westminster Cathedral. This became the first royal funeral held there since the cathedral’s construction in 1903.

It was also the first Roman Catholic funeral for a royal in England in nearly five centuries, the last being Queen Mary I in 1558.

A Service Rich in Personal Touches

The funeral included heartfelt tributes. Pope Leo XIV sent a message in her honor, read aloud by Archbishop Miguel Maury Buendia, the Apostolic Nuncio to Great Britain. Three of Katharine’s grandchildren – Lady Marina-Charlotte Windsor, Eloise Taylor, and Albert Windsor – participated by reading the Prayer of the Faithful.

A wreath of British garden flowers chosen by her family adorned the coffin, featuring white roses for her Yorkshire heritage and sprigs of yew from Hovingham Hall, her childhood home, symbolizing eternal life. Her coffin, made of English willow and draped with the royal standard edged in white ermine, acknowledged her status as the spouse of a prince.

On the eve of the funeral, the coffin was received during a solemn Rite of Reception and Vespers attended by close family, and it remained overnight in the Lady Chapel.

The Royal Dragoon Guards, for whom Katharine served as deputy Colonel-in-Chief, played a central role. A piper led the cortege while fellow soldiers carried the coffin into the cathedral.

A Family in Transition

The ceremony comes at a turbulent moment for the Royal Family. Just recently, King Charles and Prince Harry reunited for the first time in more than a year, following a long-standing rift. Harry’s visit included a private moment at his late grandmother’s grave on the third anniversary of her passing, as well as an appearance at the WellChild charity awards.