King Charles is having a busy September, and the month has just started. The King is set to host US President Donald Trump for a state banquet mid-month, and he is also reportedly meeting with his youngest son, Prince Harry, to repair their relationship in the next few days. All of this while undergoing cancer treatment. But now, the King and the royal family have received very sad news that will change things going forward.
Katherine, the Duchess of Kent, has died at the age of 92. She was the oldest member of the Royal Family, married to Prince Edward, the Duke of Kent, a first cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth II.
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According to Buckingham Palace’s statement, she “passed away peacefully last night at Kensington Palace, surrounded by her family.” The statement also read, “The King and Queen and all members of The Royal Family join The Duke of Kent, his children and grandchildren in mourning their loss and remembering fondly The Duchess’s life-long devotion to all the organisations with which she was associated, her passion for music and her empathy for young people.”
Meanwhile, the Prince and Princess of Wales wrote on Kensington Palace’s official social media accounts: “Our thoughts today are with The Duke of Kent and his family, particularly George, Helen and Nicholas. The Duchess worked tirelessly to help others and supported many causes, including through her love of music. She will be a much missed member of the family.”
The King, who is currently at Balmoral in Scotland for the royal family’s annual summer vacation, was informed of the Duchess’s death on Thursday night. What follows for the royal family is now a period of royal mourning, which is set to stretch until her funeral. During that period, the royal family will wear dark clothes and troops on public duties will be wearing black armbands.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was among those who reacted to the death, extending his “sincere condolences to His Majesty The King and the royal family. He also emphasized that the Duchess of Kent brought “compassion, dignity and a human touch to everything she did.”
This comes amid renewed concerns about the King’s health, with the King recently joking, “That’s the terrible thing I’m discovering. Bits don’t work so well when you get past 70,” during a recent visit to officially open the Midland Metropolitan University Hospital in Smethwick.
Good spirits aside, recent reports indicate King Charles’ cancer is incurable, although it is considered manageable. Writer and associate editor of the Daily Telegraph, Camilla Tominey, recently said. “The talk now is that he may die ‘with’ cancer, but not ‘of’ cancer following a rigorous treatment program.”
There’s never a good time for bad news, but with RadarOnline reporting that the King’s health has worsened recently. “He is now shuffling around with a cane – and hitting the bottle, and in particular whisky, to numb the pain and despair he feels,” this might be a particularly awful time for them, with reports that “his health has deteriorated significantly in recent months.”
Duchess Katherine of Kent was 92 years old.
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