<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Members of the British royal family have gathered in London to farewell the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/katharine-duchess-of-kent-dies-aged-92/9282a995-f87a-4231-b5ad-a2c52d603e82" rel="" target="" title="Katharine, the Duchess of Kent, who died earlier this month, at the age of 92"><span>Katharine, the Duchess of Kent, who died earlier this month, at the age of 92</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/king-charles-iii" rel="" target="" title="King Charles"><span>King Charles</span></a><span> led the extended family, who arrived at Westminster Cathedral on Tuesday (Tuesday night AEST) for the first Catholic funeral service held for a member of the royal family in modern British history.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Queen Camilla pulled out of the service at the last minute due to illness, as she recovers from acute sinusitis ahead of the US state visit later this week.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/robert-redford-dead-actor-director-activist-dies-aged-89/9427ebcd-1d60-46e9-98be-99ae9a1d375a"><strong><span>Hollywood heartthrob Robert Redford dies, aged 89</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>As a result, the monarch arrived with his private secretary Sir Clive Alderton by his side instead.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But, the arrival that captured perhaps the most surprise was His Majesty's younger brother, Prince Andrew.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Duke of York - who is rarely seen at public royal gatherings anymore following his fall from grace over accusations of sexual assault by the late Virginia Giuffre, which he denies and his friendship with convicted child sex offender - arrived with his former wife Sarah Ferguson.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/duchess-of-kent-funeral-british-royal-family-gather-westminster-abbey-farewell-oldest-member/3b80ebfb-7071-43e8-867f-1d2641079bc9" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/human-rights-experts-join-rising-chorus-that-accuses-israel-of-genocide-in-gaza/6eddafda-3877-47ca-b8ae-cf5d70142481"><strong><span>UN-commissioned report finds Israel is committing genocide</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Duchess of York walked into the cathedral beside her ex-husband and they both spoke with the clergy as they made their way to their seats.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Also joining in the private family event was Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh along with the Prince and Princess of Wales.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>They all arrived shortly before King Charles and widow the Duke of Kent.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span></span></strong><span>Prince Edward, the 89-year-old Duke of Kent is Queen Elizabeth II's first cousin and married to Katharine, Duchess of Kent in 1961.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>They had three children together - Lady Helen Taylor, Lord Nicholas Windsor and George Windsor, the Earl of St Andrews.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>They lived at Kensington Palace, which is where she died on September 4, surrounded by her family.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>While the royal family is famously Protestant, the Duchess converted to Catholicism in 1994, making her Requiem Mass an historic one.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>As a result, Pope Leo XIV sent a message to King Charles and the Duchess' family, which was read out during the service by Archbishop Miguel Maury Buendia, Apostolic Nuncio to Great Britain.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I was saddened to learn of the death of Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Kent, and I send heartfelt condolences, together with the assurance of my prayerful closeness, to Your Majesty, the Members of the Royal Family, and especially to her husband, The Duke of Kent, and their children and grandchildren at this time of sorrow," the pontiff wrote.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Entrusting her noble soul to the mercy of our Heavenly Father, I readily associate myself with all those offering thanksgiving to Almighty God for The Duchess's legacy of Christian goodness, seen in her many years of dedication to official duties, patronage of charities, and devoted care for vulnerable people in society.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"To all who mourn her loss, in the sure hope of the Resurrection, I willingly impart my apostolic blessing as a pledge of consolation and peace in the Risen Lord."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Her Royal Highness will be laid to rest at the Royal Burial Ground at Frogmore, Windsor.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><strong><span>Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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