Katharine, Duchess of Kent, had withdrawn from public life for the final two decades, stepping back from Royal responsibilities in 2002 to embrace a more private existence.
Despite her retreat from the Royal spotlight, she occasionally emerged for significant events.
Her final public Royal wedding appearance was at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s 2018 Windsor ceremony.
At the celebration, the duchess appeared cheerful, donning a lengthy patterned gown paired with white sneakers and topped with a fascinator.
Though the late Duchess seemed content at the ceremony seven years ago, she also looked notably fragile.
Her vulnerability was evident as Royal staff helped her from the vehicle and guided her to St George’s Chapel, with the Duchess clutching the aide’s arm throughout.
She last appeared publicly at a wedding years ago, and she has made only a few public appearances since then.
Her most recent public sighting was last year, when the duchess was photographed outside Wren House, her shared residence with Prince Edward, the Duke of Kent, on the Kensington Palace estate.
She was seen in a wheelchair, enjoying a performance by three pipers from the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards to celebrate the Duke’s 89th birthday. Prior to this, she was last seen at Wimbledon in the summer of 2018.
The Duchess’s passing has deeply saddened Royal enthusiasts, who have been quick to express their condolences.