the Duchess of Kent’s death, reports have claimed that the Duke of Kent‘s son has reportedly split from his wife of 19 years.
Katharine, Duchess of Kent, died on September 4 at the age of 92. Her Catholic funeral service took place this week at Westminster Cathedral. Her husband, Prince Edward, Duke of Kent – Queen Elizabeth II’s cousin – attended with their children.
Senior members of the royal family, including King Charles and the Prince and Princess of Wales, attended too.
Duke of Kent’s son ‘splits from wife’
According to the Daily Mail, Lord Nicholas Windsor – the Duke and Duchess of Kent’s younger son – has separated from his wife, Paola, Lady Nicholas Windsor.
Lord Nicholas, King Charles’ godson, married Paola, 56, in 2006. They tied the knot in November of that year in the Vatican City, following a civil ceremony in October 2006 in a London register office.
It’s very sad, but the couple have been separated for some time.
This was the first time a member of the royal family married in the Vatican City. They have three sons together.
A source has told the publication: “It’s very sad, but the couple have been separated for some time. They no longer attend family events together. Both are very conservative and dislike divorce, so apparently they will never actually get divorced.”
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson declined to comment to the Mail. Royal Insider has contacted reps for comment.
Duchess of Kent’s death and funeral
It seems Lord Nicholas, 55, has been dealing with this news as well as the death of his mother, the Duchess of Kent.
Buckingham Palace announced the duchess’ death on September 5.
A statement read: “It is with deep sorrow that Buckingham Palace announces the death of Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Kent.
“Her Royal Highness passed away peacefully last night at Kensington Palace, surrounded by her family.”
It added: “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.”
Catholic funeral service
The Duchess of Kent’s funeral took place at Westminster Cathedral on September 16.
As the duchess was Catholic, a Requiem Mass took place. In 1994, she became the first member of the royal family to convert to Catholicism for more than 300 years.
On Monday evening, her coffin left her home at Kensington Palace for the cathedral where a private vigil took place. Immediate members of her family attended the vigil, ahead of the Requiem Mass the following day.
After the service on Tuesday, the Duchess of Kent’s coffin was taken to the Royal Burial Ground at Frogmore, Windsor.
The duchess stepped down from royal duties in 2002, becoming a music teacher for many years. She and the Duke of Kent married in 1961 and went on to have three children.