Duchess of Kent, Longest-Living Member of the British Royal Family, Dies at Age 92

The Duchess of Kent, who was known for breaking royal traditions by hugging a tennis player after a tough match and for stepping away from her royal responsibilities to teach music class at a public school, has died at the age of 92. The UK Royal Buckingham Palace shared the sad news on Thursday.

Katharine, Duchess of Kent, born on February 22, 1933, in the United Kingdom, Katharine Worsley became part of the royal family upon her marriage to Prince Edward, Duke of Kent – a first cousin of Queen Elizabeth II and grandson of King George V. Her children are Lady Helen Taylor, Lord Nicholas Windsor, George Windsor, Earl of St Andrews.

For many years, she was a familiar face at the Wimbledon tennis tournament, where she presented trophies. She gained special recognition for comforting players who lost, especially during a memorable moment in 1993 when she hugged Jana Novotna, a Czech player, after her defeat in the finals.

In addition to her royal duties, the duchess chose to step back from royal life to focus on teaching music for over ten years at a public school in northeastern England. She was a talented pianist, organist and singer, and she also started a charity called Future Talent, aimed at helping young musicians by providing them with instruments and opportunities to pursue their passions.

She was the first member of the royal family to become Catholic in over 300 years and was involved with the suicide-prevention organization, Samaritans. King Charles III and the rest of the royal family shared their sadness over her passing, remembering her lifelong commitment to the charities she supported, her love for music, and her kindness towards young people.

To honor the duchess, the flag at Buckingham Palace was lowered to half-mast at noon.