A message from Pope Leo XIV will be read out at the Duchess of Kent’s funeral later today, it has been confirmed. The message is a touching nod to the Duchess, who was a devoted Roman Catholic.
The Duchess of Kent’s funeral service is taking place at Westminster Cathedral in London on Tuesday afternoon. Marking the first Catholic funeral held for a member of the Royal Family since the Reformation, the King and Prince and Princess of Wales will attend the service in what has been hailed as a key moment for ecumenical relations.
The Duchess sadly passed away at the age of 92 at Kensington Palace on September 4.
The Pope’s message began: “I was saddened to learn of the death of Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Kent, and I send heartfelt condolences, together with the assurance of my prayerful closeness, to Your Majesty, the Members of the Royal Family, and especially to her husband, The Duke of Kent, and their children and grandchildren at this time of sorrow.
“Entrusting her noble soul to the mercy of our Heavenly Father, I readily associate myself with all those offering thanksgiving to Almighty God for The Duchess’s legacy of Christian goodness seen in her many years of dedication to official duties, patronage of charities, and devoted care for vulnerable people in society.
“To all who mourn her loss, in the sure hope of the Resurrection, I willingly impart my apostolic blessing as a pledge of consolation and peace in the Risen Lord.”
Last night, her wicker coffin arrived at the Cathedral, having moved from her home at Kensington Palace. It remained there overnight. Soldiers from The Royal Dragoon Guards have played an important role during her Catholic funeral, which traditionally runs over two days, with a piper leading the funeral cortege and other soldiers carrying the coffin into the cathedral when it arrived on Monday evening.
The Duchess became the first member of the Royal Family to convert to Catholicism in more than 300 years. Her husband did not convert, so he remained in the line of succession.
It was her wish to have her funeral at Westminster Cathedral, marking the first royal funeral at the cathedral since its construction in 1903.
After the service, the coffin will be taken by hearse to the Royal Burial Ground at Frogmore, Windsor – the Duchess’ final resting place.
The Royal Burial Ground has been a resting place for members of the Royal Family since the consecration of the ground in 1928, and is a short distance from Windsor Castle.
As it is a private cemetery, which is just south of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert’s Mausoleum, family members of the Duchess will be able to visit her resting place in peace.