Katharine Worsley, the Duchess of Kent, died on Thursday at the age of 92. Her title was deceptive because she was a Yorkshirewoman, born at Hovingham Hall in the North Riding of Yorkshire in 1933. Can you see that there is a cricket match in progress in front of the grand country house?
She married into the House of Windsor in 1961. Her husband was Prince Edward, The Duke of Kent. Princess Anne was one of the bridesmaids and Noel Coward was one of the guests. Unusually, this fabulous royal wedding took place in York Minster and not down in London.
Now, I should say at this point that I am not a great royal watcher. My idea of hell would be being locked in a room with royal TV dramas like "The Crown" being played continuously on a large screen. Normally, I am just not interested and somewhat resentful of royal privilege. However, The Duchess of Kent had a special secret that made her quite admirable in my view. Let me share it with you.
For thirteen years, she paid weekly in cognito visits to Wansbeck Primary School on the Longhill council estate in north Hull. There she was known simply as Miss Kent and she taught music. Not just in a one off lesson for the media to record but thirteen long years of unpaid service. She was always passionate about music and wished to transmit that passion to disadvantaged children. She didn't just talk about it - she put her words into action.
In "The Hull Daily Mail", the headteacher at Wansbeck Primary School, said in tribute: "We are saddened to hear the news of the passing of The Duchess of Kent. ‘Miss Kent’ (as she was known to our school community) was an inspiration to the children when she taught music here over many years. She was a dedicated teacher who taught music with passion and showed the most amazing commitment to our school. Her kindness, compassion and talent for teaching lives on in the children she impacted during her time here."
"I love those children, I loved being there, and I love east Hull," the duchess once said. "I wouldn’t have stayed there for thirteen years if I hadn’t."
Visitors to this blog who like tennis, will remember that The Duchess of Kent was for many years closely associated with the annual Wimbledon tennis tournament:-
With Venus Williams in 2001
I genuinely believe that the majority of the royal family wish to use their privilege for good.
ReplyDeleteThe duchess' investment in the children will be a wonderful but sadly unquantifiable legacy
I presume you do not include Prince Andrew on your brownie point chart Kylie.
DeleteI had heard that the Duchess of Kent had died, but I had no idea what her connection was to the royal family. So, I looked her up and learned something new. I think the 13 years that she worked with those children shows her true character.
ReplyDeleteI love the fact that her service in that school was not loudly trumpeted.
DeleteI remember when she married the Duke of Kent, I was 16 and I thought it very romantic! I think her brother John Worsley had a farm near Uxbridge, Ontario, close to where I used to live.
ReplyDeleteUxbridge is in Middlesex Shammy! Not far from Heathrow Airport.
DeleteI never heard of her before but it sounds like she was a nice woman.
ReplyDeleteWell I hate to say this Ellen but she had never heard of you either and you also sound like a nice woman.
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