Service held for British duchess, marked historic by attendance of the king and high-ranking royals
Westminster Cathedral, a landmark of British architecture and faith, played host to a historic event on a September day in 2023. The funeral of Katharine, Duchess of Kent, brought together the monarchy, the Catholic Church, and the nation in a poignant celebration of a life well-lived.
Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster, led the Duchess of Kent's funeral Mass at the cathedral. The service was attended by King Charles III, Prince of Wales, and numerous members of the royal family. The event marked the first royal event in Westminster Cathedral since its opening in 1903.
Katharine Lucy Mary Worsley, born into an Anglican baronet's family in Yorkshire, married Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, in 1961. Her spiritual journey, which began in the Church of England, took a turn in 1994 when she converted to Catholicism. This decision, while significant, did not hinder her acceptance within the royal family. She remained a 'fully accepted part of the royal family.'
In his homily, Auxiliary Bishop James Curry of Westminster praised the duchess's compassion, empathy, forgiveness, and reconciliation. Cardinal Vincent Nichols, in his address, spoke about the importance of the event for the relationship between the monarchy and Catholicism. He noted that celebrity converts help attract attention and prestige to the Catholic Church.
The duchess's conversion was not an isolated incident in the royal family. Other Catholics within the royal ranks include Princess Michael of Kent and the Duchess of Kent's son, Lord Nicholas Windsor. Lord Nicholas, an honorary vice president of the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham, is a prominent critic of abortion.
The funeral included prayers for the pope and deceased friends and relatives. Pope Leo sent a message pledging 'prayerful closeness' to the king and family members, praising the duchess's 'legacy of Christian goodness.' This gesture underscored the growing relationship between the British monarchy and the Catholic Church.
However, Catholics remain barred from royal succession in Britain due to a 1701 Act of Settlement. This historic barrier was not breached by the Duchess of Kent, who held no claim to the throne. The 2013 Succession to the Crown Act abolished the ban on serving royals marrying Catholics, but the Act of Settlement remains in place.
Queen Camilla, who expressed her 'thoughts and prayers' for the Duchess of Kent, was unable to attend the funeral due to health problems. Nevertheless, her absence did not diminish the significance of the occasion. The first formal attendance of a British monarch at a Catholic Mass in Britain was considered one of the most significant moments in recent Catholic history.
The funeral of the Duchess of Kent serves as a testament to the evolving relationship between the British monarchy and the Catholic Church. As the nation mourns the loss of a beloved member of the royal family, it also reflects on the progress made in the relationship between two institutions deeply rooted in British history and tradition.
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