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Royal News

The Royal Family attend the funeral of the Duchess of Kent – with Queen Camilla missing

The coffin of the Duchess of Kent is carried into Westminster Cathedral

The Royal Family have turned out in force for the funeral of the Duchess of Kent.

King Charles was the last mourner to arrive at Westminster Cathedral to remember the Duchess, who died on September 4 at the age of 92.

Queen Camilla missed the funeral after developing acute sinusitis.

Once The King had entered the Cathedral, the Royal Standard was raised above it.

The Prince and Princess of Wales arrived just before The King as friends and family gathered to pay tribute to Katharine.

Princess Anne and her husband, Sir Tim Laurence, are at the funeral as is the Duchess of Edinburgh. The Duke of Edinburgh is currently visiting Papua New Guinea on behalf of The King.

As this is a family event, the Duke of York was invited. He arrived with his former wife, Sarah, Duchess of York.

The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester were among the first royal guests to arrive. The sister and brother of the Duke of Kent, Princess Alexandra and Prince Michael, were also there with their families.

The immediate family of the Duchess of Kent took their seats just before The King arrived. The Duke of Kent, 89, walked slowly but steadily up the steps of the Cathedral with his daughter, Lady Helen Taylor, at his side.

His sons, the Earl of St. Andrews and Lord Nicholas Windsor, gathered around him as they were welcomed to the Cathedral on this most difficult of days for them.

It was just hours since they had left after a private Rite of Reception and Vespers service on September 15 during which the coffin of the Duchess of Kent was carried into the Cathedral by a Bearer Party from the Royal Dragoon Guards, of which she was Deputy Colonel-in-Chief.

Her coffin was covered in the Royal Standard and on top was a large wreath of pink and white flowers.

Following the funeral, a private burial will take place at Frogmore.

About author

Lydia Starbuck is Editor in Chief at Royal Central and the main producer and presenter of the Royal Central Podcast and Royal Central Extra.Lydia is also a pen name of June Woolerton who is a journalist and writer with over twenty years experience in TV, radio, print and online. Her latest book, A History of British Royal Jubilees, is out now. Her new book, The Mysterious Death of Katherine Parr, will be published in March 2024.June is an award winning reporter, producer and editor. She's appeared on outlets including BBC 5 Live, BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Local Radio and has also helped set up a commercial radio station.June is also an accomplished writer with a wide range of material published online and in print. She is the author of two novels, published as e-books. She is also a marriage registrar and ceremony celebrant.