A military piper will lead the Duchess of Kent's coffin when it begins its journey to Westminster Cathedral on Monday evening. The solemn procession marks the start of Catholic funeral arrangements for the duchess, who died peacefully at home on September 4 aged 92.
The piper from The Royal Dragoon Guards will walk ahead of the coffin for the opening minutes of the journey from Kensington Palace to the cathedral. The duchess had supported the regiment as deputy Colonel-in-Chief since its inception in 1992.
Other service personnel from the same regiment will form the bearer party carrying the coffin into Westminster Cathedral. The coffin will rest overnight in the Chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mary, following Catholic tradition.
Historic Catholic funeral
Monday's private funeral rites will be attended by the duchess's immediate family and include a Vigil for the Deceased and Rite of Reception. The evening prayers known as Vespers will be conducted by Bishop James Curry, Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster.
Tuesday's requiem mass will make history as the first Catholic funeral service for a royal family member in modern British times. The King, Queen and other senior royals will attend the service at Westminster Cathedral in Victoria, central London.
Katharine, wife of the Duke of Kent who was the late Queen's cousin, became the first royal to convert to Catholicism for more than 300 years when she did so in 1994. Her funeral will also be the first royal service at Westminster Cathedral since the building's construction in 1903.
Royal attendance at Catholic services
The King will not be the first British monarch to attend a Catholic funeral service. Queen Elizabeth II attended the Catholic state funeral of King Baudouin of the Belgians in Brussels in August 1993.
Charles, when Prince of Wales, represented his mother at Pope John Paul II's funeral in 2005. His son William attended Pope Francis's funeral mass earlier this year.
Sources used: "PA Media" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
