The British Royal Family just broke a major tradition.
At the beginning of the month, the Royal Family said goodbye to one of their beloved relatives, Katharine of Kent. Now, the family has laid her to rest in their first Catholic funeral service they have held in centuries.
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Katharine, the Duchess of Kent, passed away at the age of 92, and her funeral was held at the Westminster Cathedral in London, according to Catholic News Agency. While Katharine was brought up in the Anglican Church, she became a member of the Catholic Church in 1994. She previously described the change part of a “long-pondered personal decision” and saw Catholicism as a clear path to faith.
The Catholic News Agency reported that King Charles’ presence at the funeral was a historic moment, marking the first time that a reigning member of the British Royal Family was formally in attendance of a Catholic funeral within the United Kingdom since the time of the Reformation. While Charles was present, his wife, Camilla, did not attend the service as she was “recovering from acute sinusitis,” according to the BBC. She announced before the service that she would not be there, but that her “…thoughts and prayers will be with the Duke of Kent and all the family.”
The BBC also noted that Pope Leo XIV sent a message for the funeral, discussing Katharine’s
“dedication to official duties, patronage of charities and devoted care for vulnerable people.” The pope also gave his condolences to the family.
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Following the service, the casket of the duchess was moved to the Royal Family’s burial spot at Frogmore, which is located on the grounds of the Windsor Estate.
Abby Trivett is a writer and editor for Charisma Media and has a passion for sharing the gospel through the written word. She holds two degrees from Regent University, a B.A. in Communication with a concentration in Journalism and a Master of Arts in Journalism. She is the author of the upcoming book, The Power of Suddenly: Discover How God Can Change Everything in a Moment.
