Queen Camilla was unable to attend the funeral of the Duchess of Kent on Tuesday due to illness, as King Charles and other family members extended their final farewells to the late British royal.
Pope Leo XIV offered a personal tribute to the Duchess of Kent, who converted to Catholicism in 1994, acknowledging her “legacy of Christian goodness” in a message conveyed during the funeral ceremony.
It was the first Catholic requiem mass held for a royal family member in modern British history.
Just hours before the ceremony and before US President Donald Trump’s arrival in the UK for a state visit, Buckingham Palace announced that the Queen would not be attending the service, according to a report by AFP.
“With great regret, Her Majesty The Queen has withdrawn from attendance at this afternoon’s Requiem Mass for The Duchess of Kent as she is recovering from acute sinusitis,” a Buckingham Palace spokesperson was quoted in the report.
Queen Camilla, 78, is expected to join King Charles III for a packed schedule of royal engagements during Trump’s state visit on Wednesday and Thursday.
Prince William and his wife, Catherine, the Princess of Wales, also attended Westminster Cathedral to pay their respects.
The king’s brother, Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, and his ex-wife Sarah, the Duchess of York, were also present.
About the Duchess of Kent
Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent, passed away on September 5, aged 92. She was famous for her association with the Wimbledon tennis tournament and for secretly teaching music at a primary school.
She was a pianist, organist, and singer, born into an aristocratic family in Yorkshire, northern England.
She married Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, in 1961. He is a first cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth II and, at 89, still a working member of the royal family.
Camilla is reportedly hoping to recover fully from her illness ahead of Trump’s visit. She is scheduled to receive Trump alongside the King at Windsor Castle on Wednesday.