Duchess of Kent dies at 92; cousin to Queen Elizabeth II brought ‘human touch’ to royal role

LONDON AP The Duchess of Kent who famously broke royal protocol to hug a Wimbledon runner-up and stepped away from family duties to teach music in a general school has died Buckingham Palace revealed Friday She was Born Katharine Lucy Mary Worsley the duchess was married to Prince Edward Duke of Kent the cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth II She died Thursday at her home in Kensington Palace Jana Novotna is consoled by Katherine Duchess of Kent after the Ladies Singles final at Wimbledon in Denis Paquin Associated Press Archives The royal presented trophies at Wimbledon for various years and was known for consoling runners-up majority notably when she embraced a tearful Jana Novotna after the Czech tennis contestant s defeat by Steffi Graf in The duchess who preferred to be known as Mrs Kent stepped back from royal life to teach music for more than a decade at a populace school in northeast England The pianist organist and singer founded the charity Future Talent to break down restrictions for young musicians and provide them with instruments She brought compassion dignity and a human touch to everything she did mentioned Prime Minister Keir Starmer who extended his condolences When it was discovered she had been giving her time and working anonymously as a music guide at a school in Hull it seemed typical of her unassuming nature She was the first royal to convert to Catholicism in over three centuries and volunteered for the suicide-prevention group Samaritans Related Articles Fashion designer Giorgio Armani dead at Graham Greene a trailblazing Indigenous actor best known for Dances with Wolves dies at Founding member of acclaimed San Jose rock band dies at Randy Moffitt former SF Giants reliever and brother of Billie Jean King dies at Duke Cunningham war hero turned corrupt California congressman dies at King Charles III and the rest of the royal family disclosed in a declaration that they mourned the loss and fondly remembered the Duchess s lifelong devotion to all the organizations with which she was associated her passion for music and her empathy for young people The flag was lowered to half-staff at Buckingham Palace at noon to pay respect to the duchess The duchess was born Feb as the only daughter to aristocrat Col Sir William Worsley a baronet and Lady Worsley of Hovingham Hall near York She married Edward King George V s grandson in a lavish ceremony She leaves Edward and three children George Earl of St Andrews Lady Helen Windsor and Lord Nicholas Windsor