The final farewell: Heartbreaking photo of emotional Duke of Kent saying goodbye to his wife of 64 years leaves royal fans in tears

A ‘heartbreaking’ photo of the Duke of Kent saying goodbye to his wife of 64 years at the Duchess of Kent’s funeral has left royal fans in tears. 

On Tuesday, September 16, Katharine  – who preferred to be called Mrs Kent – was laid to rest at Westminster Cathedral, surrounded by Royal Family members including King Charles III, the Prince and Princess of Wales, and Princess Anne.

Prince Edward, 89, put on a dignified and sombre display as he walked behind her coffin, which was carried by a royal hearse.

But one photograph left royal fans ‘heartbroken’ as it poignantly captured the grief on the Duke’s face while watching his wife’s casket being carried by pallbearers.

The image was shared on X, formerly Twitter, by a royal fan who used the broken heart and sobbing face emoji with the caption: ‘Married for 64 years.’

There was an outpouring of sympathy for the Duke, with many people sending their deepest condolences to the Royal Family and expressing how sorrowful the photo made them feel.

‘Well if that doesn’t pull on your heartstrings… People often say “get a man who looks at you like…” This may be the most bittersweet example of that,’ one person wrote.

Another added: ‘Oh bless him. What an extremely difficult day’, while a third said: ‘Such a sad face, you just want to hug him.’

‘Such a heartbreaking picture. I truly hope he will be well looked after by his family during this difficult time,’ a fan lamented.

‘Oh, this is heartbreaking. It made me cry. Poor thing,’ another sobbed.

The Duke was also joined in mourning by his and the Duchess’ three children – George Windsor, Earl of St Andrews, Lady Helen Taylor and Lord Nicholas Taylor – as well as their ten grandchildren. 

 The Duchess died ‘peacefully’ at Kensington Palace on September 4, surrounded by her loved ones; after a period of ill health, and last night her coffin was carried in a royal hearse to Westminster Cathedral. 

Prince Edward and the Duchess first crossed paths in 1956 when he was stationed at Catterick Garrisons near her family home.

Five years later in March 1961, the couple announced their engagement and officially tied the knot in June. 

At their wedding, she wore the Kent Diamond and Pearl Fringe Tiara and a dress designed by John Cavanagh.

Although the Duke and Duchess of Kent could have married at Westminster Abbey, Katharine was adamant that she wanted to have the ceremony in her home country – and even reportedly referred to herself as a ‘Yorkshire lass’. As such, the bride and groom settled on York Minister – which had not hosted a royal wedding for more than 600 years at the time.

In 1956, the Duchess, Katharine, first crossed paths with Prince Edward when he was stationed at Catterick Garrisons near her family home. The Duke pictured at her funeral today

Royals fans were left ‘heartbroken’ after seeing a photo of the Duke of Kent grieving his late wife at her funeral

Katharine was the first woman without a title to marry into the Royal Family for more than a century. The couple went on to have their three children George Windsor, Earl of St Andrew, 63, Lady Helen Taylor, 61, and Lord Nicholas Windsor, 55.

At today’s funeral, the King led royal arrivals including Prince William and Kate and his brother Prince Andrew = as they paid their respects to the Duchess of Kent after her death aged 92.

But Buckingham Palace announced just two hours before the private family service began that Queen Camilla had pulled out as she recovers from acute sinusitis.

Among the others attending were Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and Prince Andrew with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson.

Andrew, who no longer carries out official duties for the monarchy after stepping down six years ago amid the furore over his friendship with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, exited his car first and joined Sarah as they walked in together.

The Duke of Kent’s brother, Prince Michael of Kent, also arrived, appearing frail and walking slowly using a stick as he made his way into the church for the funeral. He was accompanied by his wife Princess Michael of Kent, who was also using a stick.

Edward held onto his daughter Helen as they Westminster Cathedral following the service this afternoon

Pictured: King Charles was among the royals, alongside Prince William and the Princess of Wales 

With them was their daughter Lady Gabriella Windsor, and they led a large contingent of royals all dressed in black in mourning, including Lord Frederick Windsor and Lady Sophie Windsor, with some of the party arriving together by bus.

Lady Helen Windsor, wearing a hat with tulle detail, joined her father, the Duke of Kent, followed by her brothers the Earl of St Andrews and Lord Nicholas Windsor. 

The King arrived with his top aide, principal private secretary Sir Clive Alderton, and smiled after arriving before the doors of the cathedral were closed behind him.

William had a white handkerchief tucked in his top pocket, while Kate wore a black hat with a large bow at the back and netting detail at the front, and pearl earrings, with her hair down at the back, as well as a necklace belonging to the late Queen. 

Former Formula One world champion Sir Jackie Stewart and actresses Rula Lenska and Dame Maureen Lipman were among the other mourners in attendance.

The service was conducted by Cardinal Vincent Nichols, leader of the Roman Catholic church in England and Wales.

Personal elements of the ceremony included the participation of three of the Duchess’s grandchildren – Lady Marina-Charlotte Windsor, Eloise Taylor and Albert Windsor – who read the Prayer of the Faithful.

The requiem mass, a Catholic funeral, is the first to be held for a member of the monarchy in modern British history and featured a Scottish bagpipe lament performed during Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral at Windsor Castle in 2022.

A piper from The Royal Dragoon Guards played the lament – Sleep, Dearie, Sleep – while processing from the Chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mary, past the Duchess’s coffin in the Nave and down the cathedral’s central aisle.

The late Queen’s funeral service in St George’s Chapel ended with a piper playing the same tune.

The choir and organist of Westminster Cathedral provided choral music, composed by Maurice Durufle.

The music included Mozart’s Ave verum corpus, selected by the Duchess as her favourite piece when she was on Desert Island Discs in 1990.