By Catriona Rigney,Jennifer Newton,Russell Myers
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Queen Camilla will not be attending the Duchess of Kent’s funeral this afternoon, it has been announced by Buckingham Palace. Camilla, 78, was due to be at the requiem mass alongside King Charles and other members of the royal family this afternoon, but has pulled out of attending as she is recovering from acute sinusitis.
The Queen is said to hope to have recovered sufficiently to be able to attend all elements of US president Donald Trump’s busy state visit on Wednesday and Thursday.
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: “With great regret, Her Majesty The Queen has withdrawn from attendance at this afternoon’s Requiem Mass for The Duchess of Kent as she is recovering from acute sinusitis. Her thoughts and prayers will be with The Duke of Kent and all the family.”
The Duke of Kent has been informed, and is said to fully understand Camilla’s decision, and has sent his best wishes for a speedy recovery.
The Queen travelled down from Scotland this morning and is currently en route to Windsor to rest.
The Prince and Princess of Wales will attend the funeral, Kensington Palace confirmed earlier today.
The requiem mass, a Catholic funeral, is the first to be held for a member of the monarchy in modern British history.
Katharine, the wife of the late Queen’s cousin the Duke of Kent, died peacefully at home, surrounded by her family, on the evening of September 4 aged 92.
The Order of Service for her Requiem Mass was released on Tuesday morning showing that the Pope has sent a special message in honour of the duchess which will form part of the ceremony.
Pope Leo XIV’s words will be read to the congregation by Archbishop Miguel Maury Buendia, Apostolic Nuncio to Great Britain.
A devout follower of the Roman Catholic faith, the duchess became the first member of the royal family to convert to Catholicism for more than 300 years, doing so in 1994, and it was her wish to have her funeral at Westminster Cathedral.
