Queen Camilla has been forced to withdraw from the Duchess of Kent’s funeral this afternoon at Westminster Cathedral after suffering from acute sinusitis, Buckingham Palace has confirmed. The 77-year-old Queen, who was expected to join King Charles III in leading the Royal Family at the historic Catholic service, made the last-minute decision on medical advice.
The Palace released a statement just hours before the 2pm service, expressing the Queen’s deep regret at missing the first Catholic funeral for a British royal in modern history. “With great regret, Her Majesty The Queen has withdrawn from attendance at this afternoon’s Requiem Mass for The Duchess of Kent as she is recovering from acute sinusitis,” a Buckingham Palace spokesperson confirmed.
The Queen’s absence marks a significant blow to the King, who will now lead proceedings without his wife’s support at this unprecedented ceremony. Palace sources indicated that Her Majesty’s “thoughts and prayers will be with The Duke of Kent and all the family” during the service.
Historic Catholic Service Proceeds Despite Queen’s Absence
King Charles III will still attend the groundbreaking service at Westminster Cathedral, marking what historians describe as a watershed moment for religious tolerance within the monarchy. The funeral represents the first Catholic funeral service held for a member of the Royal Family since Westminster Cathedral’s construction in 1903, and indeed the first such ceremony in over 400 years.
The Prince and Princess of Wales have confirmed their attendance at the Requiem Mass, joining other senior royals in supporting the Duke of Kent, 89, as he bids farewell to his wife of 64 years. Katharine, Duchess of Kent, died peacefully at Kensington Palace on 4 September at the age of 92, surrounded by her family.
Cardinal Vincent Nichols, the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster, will conduct the service alongside Bishop James Curry, Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster, and the Dean of Windsor. The ceremony holds particular significance as the Duchess became the first senior royal to publicly convert to Catholicism since the Act of Settlement 1701, when she was received into the Church by Cardinal Basil Hume in January 1994.
Queen’s Recurring Health Struggles
This latest health setback follows a pattern of sinusitis-related complications that have plagued Queen Camilla for years. Medical experts note that acute sinusitis, characterised by inflammation of the tissue lining the sinuses, can cause severe discomfort including fever, headaches, and intense pain behind the eyes.
The Queen has battled the condition repeatedly throughout her royal life. In 2012, she was forced to cancel multiple engagements after developing what Palace officials described as “severe middle ear infection” alongside sinusitis. More dramatically, friends revealed she was bedridden with the condition just days before her 2005 wedding to then-Prince Charles, with close confidante Lucia Santa Cruz telling Vanity Fair: “She was really ill, stressed. She literally couldn’t get out of bed.”
Dr Mas Takashima, an ENT specialist, explained to medical publications that recurring sinusitis can be particularly challenging for older patients. “Patients with a weakened immune system are more prone to getting recurrent acute sinusitis,” he noted, adding that anatomical factors or previous complications can contribute to chronic issues.
Prince Harry’s Notable Absence
Whilst the King, Queen, and most senior royals gather at Westminster Cathedral, one prominent figure will be conspicuously absent. Prince Harry has returned to California following his four-day UK visit last week, choosing not to extend his stay for the funeral despite the Duchess’s close relationship with his late mother, Princess Diana.
The Duke of Sussex, who celebrated his 41st birthday yesterday in Montecito with wife Meghan Markle and their children, privately sent his condolences to the Kent family following the Duchess’s death earlier this month. His absence marks another missed opportunity for reconciliation with his brother Prince William, who will attend alongside Princess Kate.
The Duchess of Kent had maintained a special bond with Diana, once describing herself as “part-mentor, part-older sister” to the Princess of Wales. Speaking to The Telegraph in 1997, she recalled: “I understood the difficulties as well as the advantages, and we kept in touch through thick and thin.”
A Life of Service and Faith
The funeral service honours a remarkable woman who transformed from aristocrat to royal duchess to anonymous music teacher. Born Katharine Worsley in Yorkshire in 1933, she married Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, in a grand ceremony at York Minster in 1961, becoming the first untitled person to marry a royal duke in over a century.
Her conversion to Catholicism in 1994 sent shockwaves through the establishment, though Queen Elizabeth II supported what she viewed as a personal matter of faith. I do love guidelines and the Catholic Church offers you guidelines,” the Duchess explained to the BBC about her decision. “I like to know what’s expected of me.”
The Duchess leaves behind three children: George, Earl of St Andrews, 63, Lady Helen Taylor, 61, and Lord Nicholas Windsor, 55, plus ten grandchildren including model Lady Amelia Windsor. Two of her children followed her into the Catholic faith, with Lord Nicholas converting in 2001.
Breaking Centuries of Tradition
Today’s service at Westminster Cathedral represents what royal historian Robert Lacey calls “an unprecedented gesture of religious openness” from the British monarchy. King Charles’s attendance demonstrates his commitment to interfaith dialogue, following his inclusive approach at his 2022 coronation where Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, and Jewish leaders participated.
The last Catholic funeral for a British royal occurred before the Act of Settlement barred Catholics from the throne. Cardinal Nichols said he recalled “with fondness” the Duchess’s participation in Catholic pilgrimages to Lourdes, where she helped care for sick and elderly pilgrims despite her royal status.
Following the Requiem Mass, the Duchess’s coffin will be transported by hearse to the Royal Burial Ground at Frogmore, Windsor, where she will be laid to rest near other members of the extended Royal Family. Flags at royal residences are flying at half-mast throughout the day.
Final Public Appearance
The Duchess made her final public appearance just last October at Kensington Palace, watching the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards honour the Duke of Kent’s 89th birthday. She had largely withdrawn from royal duties in 2002, choosing instead to teach music anonymously at a Hull primary school where pupils knew her simply as “Mrs Kent.”
“Only the head knew who I was,” she revealed in a rare 2022 interview. “The parents didn’t know, and the pupils didn’t know. No one ever noticed.”
Her dedication to education and music led her to co-found the charity Future Talent, supporting musically gifted children from disadvantaged backgrounds. She also volunteered for the Samaritans, underwent training to counsel those contemplating suicide, and supported numerous other charitable causes throughout her life.
As the Royal Family gathers this afternoon without Queen Camilla, they commemorate not just a duchess but a woman who bridged religious divides, served others with humility, and chose faith and service over privilege. Her Catholic funeral, the first of its kind in modern British history, stands as testament to her groundbreaking life and the monarchy’s evolving relationship with religious diversity.
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Image Credit:
Queen Camilla in Aotearoa 2019 — photo by Penny Bradfield / The Duchess of Cornwall’s Office, CC BY-SA 4.0.
