The Duchess of Kent

About The Duchess of Kent

For a number of years The Duchess of Kent taught music at a primary school in Hull. During this time, she soon recognised there were many children and young people of considerable talent who needed more financial support to fulfil their musical potential.

In 2004 she founded a charity, Future Talent, which aims to give every child an equal opportunity to excel in music. Future Talent seeks to do for musically talented children what teaching care and motivation did for Billy Elliot in dance.

Through tailor-made partnerships with primary schools, Future Talent is bringing music into the lives of all children, spotting talent, equipping talented children with instruments and tuition and, in exceptional cases, providing master tuition to enable them to make music their future. 

Whether children want to sing, play the violin or the electric guitar, Future Talent is giving them the chance to fulfil their potential through developing their musical talent. 

The Duchess of Kent is an ambassador for Aldeburgh Productions in Suffolk and was for 35 years, the President of the Royal Northern College of Music (Manchester). She was also a Trustee of the National Foundation for Youth Music (London).

The Duchess has travelled the world for UNICEF (United Nations International Children's Fund) and VSO (Voluntary Services Overseas), highlighting specific areas of deprivation. In 1999 she visited Cambodia, Macedonia and Nepal.

Her Royal Highness has been President of NCH Action For Children and President and Board Member of Macmillan Cancer Relief. She chaired the London Committee of the Manchester Christie (Cancer) Hospital Appeal for £25m.

The Duchess is Patron of the RUC Benevolent Fund in Northern Ireland.

The Duchess of Kent has been Visitor to the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts, Patron of Queensland Conservatorium, Brisbane, Australia, the Yehudi Menuin School (UK), the Ulster Conservatoire of Music and the Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool. 

She has been a volunteer for the Passage Night Shelter for the homeless, which was founded by Cardinal Basil Hume.

Biography

The Duchess of Kent is married to The Queen's cousin, The Duke of Kent, and is a keen musician and advocate for children and young people's welfare.

The Duchess was born on 22 February 1933, the youngest child and only daughter of the late Sir William Worsley. 

Her father, the fourth Baronet, captained the Yorkshire Cricket Club Team, was President of the MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club) and was for 14 years Lord Lieutenant of the North Riding of Yorkshire. 

She grew up at the family home, Hovingham Hall near York, where the Worsleys have lived since the early eighteenth century. 

Her mother, Joyce Morgan Brunner, was the daughter of Sir John Brunner - the founder of Brunner Mond, which was to become ICI (Imperial Chemical Industries). Her uncle married the grand-daughter of the famous 18th century actor, Sir Henry Irving.

Katharine was educated at Queen Margaret's School near York and at Runton Hill School in Norfolk. 

From an early age she demonstrated a talent for music. She was taught to play the piano, organ and violin, which she still plays today. 

She worked for some time in a children's home in York and taught at a kindergarten in London, before going on to Oxford to study music.

The Duchess first met Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, when he was stationed at Catterick near Richmond in 1956. Their engagement was announced in March 1961 and they were married in York Minster on 8 June that year. 

They have three children and ten grandchildren. The children are George, Earl of St. Andrews; Lady Helen Windsor; and Lord Nicholas Windsor. The Duke and Duchess's children do not carry out official royal duties.

The Duchess of Kent holds the Honorary Freedom of five of the ancient City companies: the Worshipful Companies of Clothworkers, Dyers, Glaziers, Musicians and the Coachmakers and Coach Harness Makers. 

The Duchess was created a Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO) in 1977. She was awarded the Honorary Freedom of the City of York in 1989.

In 1994 The Duchess was received into the Roman Catholic Church. 

For the last two decades, The Duchess has focused on her passion for music. In 2004, The Duchess founded the charity Future Talent with which she remains actively involved.

The Duchess retains her links with Yorkshire as the Deputy Colonel-in-Chief of The Royal Dragoon Guards and is also Deputy Colonel-in-Chief of the Adjutant General's Corps and The Royal Logistics Corps.