Katharine, Duchess of Kent, holds the title of the oldest living member of the British royal family since the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
Despite her royal status, Katharine made a bold decision in 2002 to step back from her official duties, embracing a completely different path.
Now 91, Katharine is married to Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, who is a grandson of King George V and a first cousin to the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Their romance culminated in a memorable wedding at York Minster in June 1961, where Princess Anne served as one of the bridesmaids.
Edward and Katharine had three children: George, Earl of St Andrews; Lady Helen Taylor; and Lord Nicholas Windsor. However, their family life was marked by profound tragedy.
In 1975, Katharine underwent an abortion after contracting rubella during pregnancy, and just two years later, she experienced the loss of a stillborn son, Patrick.
The devastating events led Katharine to take a step back from her royal responsibilities. In 1977, she openly discussed the emotional toll, revealing that the experiences triggered severe depression.
"It had the most devastating effect on me," she told the Telegraph. "I had no idea how devastating such a thing could be to any woman. It made me extremely understanding of others who suffer a stillbirth."
The Duchess made headlines in 1994 when she was joined the Catholic Church. It was a personal decision, and she confirmed she had received the approval of the Queen.
In an interview with the BBC, Katharine explained: "I do love guidelines and the Catholic Church offers you guidelines. I have always wanted that in my life. I like to know what's expected of me. I like being told: You shall go to church on Sunday and if you don't you're in for it!"
In 2002, Katharine sought the Queen's approval to step back from her royal responsibilities, opting to reduce her public engagements significantly.
She chose to forgo the title "Her Royal Highness" and has since been informally addressed as Katharine Kent or Katharine, Duchess of Kent. However, in official records such as the Court Circular, her formal title, HRH The Duchess of Kent, is still maintained.
A gifted musician, Katharine later embarked on a career as a music teacher, taking a position at Wansbeck Primary School in Kingston upon Hull.
She kept her royal identity discreet, with the Duchess noting that "only the head knew who I was," ensuring her role was primarily about sharing her passion for music rather than her royal background.
Speaking to the Telegraph in 2022, she added: "There was no publicity about it at all - it just seemed to work."
Although Katharine, Duchess of Kent, has largely stepped away from public life, she has continued to attend significant royal events over the years.
These appearances include the 2011 wedding of Prince William and Princess Kate, the concert and Service of Thanksgiving at St. Paul's Cathedral during the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations in 2012, and the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018.
However, she was notably absent from the Queen's funeral in 2022 and the coronation of King Charles III in 2023.
