As the royal family gathered to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day, one notable absence drew attention—Duchess Katharine of Kent was nowhere to be seen.
King Charles and Prince William led the solemn commemorations at Westminster Abbey by laying wreaths, accompanied by other senior royals, in a moving tribute to those who served.
The four-day event was the culmination of national celebrations to remember the Allied victory in World War II, and the turnout from the royal family was notably strong.
Queen Camilla stood beside the King, along with Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, who made one of her rare public appearances amid her ongoing cancer treatment.
Joining them were the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Princess Anne and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, all paying their respects in full ceremonial form.
Also present were the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and the Duke of Kent, showing a united front of working royals during the historic occasion.
But as cameras scanned the crowd, royal watchers quickly noticed the missing face—92-year-old Katharine, Duchess of Kent, wife of the Duke of Kent, was absent yet again.
According to The Daily Express, this marks over a decade since Katharine has participated in any official public royal engagement, sparking renewed curiosity about her retreat from public life.
The last time she was seen attending a royal event was back in 2013, during the Trooping the Colour celebrations, a key date in the royal calendar.
Though she has made rare appearances at family functions—including Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s 2018 wedding—she has avoided official state events entirely.
Notably, she was not seen at Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral in 2022, nor at King Charles’s Coronation in 2023, two of the most important events in recent royal history.
Her absence has raised questions about her health and lifestyle, although it is widely known that she stepped back from royal duties decades ago to lead a quieter life.
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The Duchess made headlines in the past for her love of teaching and her decision to work incognito as a music teacher in London following her royal withdrawal.
Despite her absence from the spotlight, she remains the oldest living member of the British royal family and continues to reside at Wren House in Kensington Palace.
In a rare public moment last year, the Duchess was seen alongside her husband when he was honored by three pipers from the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards on his 89th birthday.
This simple ceremony took place outside their residence, and though she wasn’t front and center, it marked the last known photograph of her.
Insiders say her absence is by choice and that she prefers a private life away from royal obligations, having never fully embraced the spotlight.
While some may view her continued absence as unusual, others see it as a testament to a woman who charted her own course within the firm.
As the royals continue to carry the torch at major national events, Duchess Katharine’s absence serves as a quiet reminder of a once-prominent royal who chose peace over pomp.
Whether or not she will appear again at any future royal milestone remains to be seen, but her name continues to spark interest each time the royals step out in full.
