The Duchess of Kent dies aged 92, Buckingham Palace proclaims

She will likely be remembered as a well-recognized determine on the Wimbledon tennis championships, the place she handed over trophies – and consoled those that had misplaced, famously together with a tearful Jana Novotna in 1993.

King Charles, who’s in Balmoral in Scotland, was knowledgeable of her demise late on Thursday, and there will likely be a interval of royal mourning till the duchess’s funeral, with darkish garments and troops on public duties sporting black armbands.

“The King and Queen and all members of the Royal Family join the Duke of Kent, his children and grandchildren in mourning their loss and remembering fondly the duchess’s life-long devotion to all the organisations with which she was associated, her passion for music and her empathy for young people,” mentioned an announcement, which had additionally been hooked up to the gates outdoors Buckingham Palace.

Prince Harry despatched his condolences privately to the duchess’s household.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer paid tribute to how the Duchess of Kent introduced “compassion, dignity and a human touch to everything she did”.

The duchess was an ideal music lover – supporting music charities and instructing music in a Hull major college, the place pupils knew nothing of her royal identification, and the place she was referred to as “Mrs Kent”.

The date of her funeral has not been introduced, however it’s more likely to be a Catholic service consistent with the religion of the duchess.

It’s not confirmed which members of the Royal Family will attend the funeral, in what will be a busy time for the royals, with a state go to by President Trump approaching. Prince Harry can be on account of be within the UK subsequent week for charity occasions.