This afternoon, members of the British royal family have gathered at the Westminster Cathedral in London to pay their last respects to Katharine, Duchess of Kent. The Duchess passed away on September 4 at the age of 92.
Mourners paying tribute to the late Duchess included King Charles, the Duchess of Edinburgh, and the Earl of Snowdon. Noticeably absent was Queen Camilla, who is recovering from acute sinusitis. The Queen was traveling down from Scotland to rest at Windsor Castle, returning from summer holiday at Balmoral ahead of the U.S. State Visit welcoming President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump this week.
The Duchess of Kent will be buried in the Royal Burial Ground at Frogmore in Windsor. This is where several extended members of the royal family are buried including the former King Edward VIII and his wife Wallis Simpson.
Here, a look at some of the most poignant photos from the day’s services.
King Charles
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King Charles walks into Westminster Cathedral ahead of the Requiem Mass service for the Duchess of Kent. Previous monarchs have attended requiem masses in Britain, but this is the first royal funeral at Westminster Cathedral since its opening in 1903.
The Duke of Kent
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Prince Edward arrives at the funeral for his wife with his daughter, Lady Helen Taylor, and other members of his family. The Duke, 89, has scaled back his public engagements in recent years. Edward and Katharine were married for 64 years.
The Prince and Princess of Wales
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The Prince and Princess of Wales were some of the last guests to arrive before the Duke of Kent and his family. For the funeral, Kate chose pearl earrings and Queen Elizabeth’s four-strand pearl choker. The pearl choker was originally gifted to the Queen from Japan in the 1970s.
Princess Anne and Sir Timothy Laurence
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Princess Anne, who has a busy schedule of royal engagements this week, arrived with her husband shortly before services began.
The Duchess of Edinburgh
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Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, arriving solo for the service; her husband Prince Edward is currently representing the King abroad.
The Duke and Duchess of York
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Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson also came to pay their respects to the Duchess of Kent.
Lady Sarah Chatto
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Lady Sarah Chatto, the only daughter of Princess Margaret, made a rare public appearance to pay her respects at the funeral.
Samuel Chatto
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Samuel Chatto is the the elder son of Lady Sarah Chatto and Daniel Chatto. A grandson of Princess Margaret, he is also 30th in line to the British throne.
Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester and Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester
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The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester arrive for the funeral, which is the first Catholic service to be held for a member of the royal family in modern British history.
Lady Gabriella Windsor
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Lady Gabriella Windsor assists her father, Prince Michael of Kent, into the cathedral.
Prince and Princess Michael of Kent
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The Duchess of Kent was married to Prince Edward, the Duke of Kent. Prince Michael is his younger brother.
David Armstrong-Jones, 2nd Earl of Snowdon and Lady Margarita Armstrong-Jones
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David Armstrong-Jones, Princess Margaret’s son, walks up to Westminster Cathedral with his daughter, Lady Margarita Armstrong-Jones.
Lady Marina Charlotte Windsor
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The middle child of George Windsor and Sylvana Tomaselli, Marina has largely stayed out of the spotlight over the years. But she was close to her grandmother, writing on Instagram last week, “Rest in peace my amazing and beloved Amama, we will miss and love you so much always.”
Lady Amelia Windsor
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Perhaps the best known of the Duke and Duchess of Kent’s grandchildren, Lady Amelia comes to pay her final respects for her late grandmother.
Lady Helen Taylor
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One of four children, Lady Helen is the only daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Kent.
Lady Eloise Taylor and Lady Estella Taylor
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Daughters of Lady Helen and Timothy Taylor, the sisters are also granddaughters of the Duchess of Kent.
Timothy Vesterberg and Flora Vesterberg
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Flora Vesterberg (née Ogilvy) is a granddaughter of Princess Alexandra, a first cousin of Queen Elizabeth. Princess Alexandra, 88, is the sister of Prince Edward of Kent. The Duchess was her sister-in-law.
Penelope Knatchbull, Countess Mountbatten of Burma
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Penelope Knatchbull, the Countess Mountbatten of Burma and close confidant of Prince Philip, arrives in a black pillbox hat and pearls.
Lady Rose Gilman
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Lady Rose Gilman, the daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, arrives. Their youngest daughter rarely makes appearances with the royal family.
Lady Susan Hussey
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Lady Hussey, a former lady in waiting to Queen Elizabeth, arrives for the requiem mass.
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