Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the worldSign up to our free Morning Headlines emailSign up to our free Morning Headlines emailThe King, the Prince and Princess of Wales and other members of the royal family are attending a funeral service in London for the Duchess of Kent.Mourners have filled Westminster Cathedral for the requiem mass, a Catholic funeral, the first to be held for a member of the royal family in modern British history.The disgraced Duke of York made a rare appearance outside Windsor with his ex-wife Sarah, Duchess of York.open image in galleryPrince Andrew was among the mourners in London (Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire)Andrew’s public career was effectively ended by his friendship with American financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as was the post of former UK ambassador to the US Lord Peter Mandelson.The Duke of Kent, using a walking stick, led other mourners into the cathedral after arriving by car. Younger family members arrived in buses. William had a white handkerchief tucked in his top pocket, while Kate wore a black hat with a large bow at the back and netting detail at the front, and pearl earrings with her hair down at the back. The King arrived without the Queen, who pulled out of the event on Tuesday morning, suffering from acute sinusitis.open image in galleryThe King arrives for the requiem mass at Westminster Cathedral (PA Wire)A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: “With great regret, Her Majesty The Queen has withdrawn from attendance at this afternoon’s requiem mass for the Duchess of Kent as she is recovering from acute sinusitis.”Her thoughts and prayers will be with the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 announcement raises questions over Camilla’s attendance at US President Donald Trump’s high-stakes and busy state visit, which begins in full at Windsor on Wednesday and is being hosted by the King.open image in galleryWilliam had a white handkerchief tucked in his top pocket, while Kate wore a black hat with a large bow at the back and netting detail at the front (Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire)The Queen is, however, hopeful that she will have recovered sufficiently to be able to attend all royal elements of the trip as planned, with highlights including a lavish state banquet.Other mourners included the Princess Royal and Sir Tim Laurence, the Duchess of Edinburgh and the close family of the Duke and Duchess of Kent.Former Formula One world champion Sir Jackie Stewart and actresses Rula Lenska and Dame Maureen Lipman were also among the mourners at the cathedral for the funeral, conducted by Cardinal Vincent Nichols, leader of the Roman Catholic church in England and Wales. Katharine, the wife of the late Queen Elizabeth II’s cousin the Duke of Kent, died peacefully at home, surrounded by her family, on the evening of September 4, aged 92.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.
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Duchess of Kent funeral: Prince Andrew makes rare public appearance alongside royals
