There’s a touching tribute to the late Duchess of Kent in the news that Catherine’s Together at Christmas carol service will return for a fifth year.
As guests arrive at Westminster Abbey, they’ll be treated to the musical stylings of young musicians supported by Future Talent, a charity co-founded by Katharine, Duchess of Kent, after she stepped back from royal duties.
Future Talent works to provide musical education and opportunities for young people from low-income backgrounds. Whether through teaching programmes or monetary scholarships, the musicians are given the chance to flourish in a competitive field.
The Duchess of Kent, who passed away on 4 September at the age of 92, founded the charity with Nicholas Robinson in 2004. The royal had stepped back from public duties in 2002, after years of working as a music teacher at Wansbeck Primary School where she was known simply as Mrs. Kent by her students.
“When I first met Katharine in May 2004, I was stuck by her strong desire to help and encourage musically gifted children who didn’t have the financial resources or support to develop their talents,” Robinson wrote following the Duchess of Kent’s death.
“Her experience of working with [students at Wansbeck Primary School] made her impatient to want to do something to help all young people with musical potential to flourish and to remove any barriers to their progress.”
The late Duchess of Kent’s love of music was well-documented throughout her lifetime and spanned many genres. In a 2022 interview with The Sunday Telegraph, she said that she likes beatboxing and rap, naming Ice Cube and Eminem as two of her favourite rappers.
“I just love music,” she said. “Something that catches my ear on the radio – I don’t really listen to records. If it makes my feet tap, then I’m happy.”
When she passed away earlier this fall, William and Catherine also gave a special mention to the Duchess of Kent’s love for music, praising her for her tireless work supporting the causes close to her heart, “including through her love of music. She will be a much missed member of the family.”
While the Duchess of Kent did not attend many royal events after her retirement from public duties, one of the major celebrations she attended was the wedding of Prince William and Catherine in 2011.
The main theme of this year’s Together at Christmas carol service is love, whether “within families, through friendships, across communities, or even through powerful moments of connection with strangers,” according to a Kensington Palace media release.
Together at Christmas will take place on 5 December and air on ITV on Christmas Eve and repeat on Christmas morning.
