King Charles used to be joined by means of his non-public secretary, Sir Clive Alderton, whilst attending the funeral of Katharine, Duchess of Kent, on Tuesday. Hours sooner than the monarch arrived, Buckingham Palace showed that Queen Camilla were pressured to drag out, owing to in poor health well being. An legitimate remark launched on her behalf learn: “With nice feel sorry about, Her Majesty The Queen has withdrawn from attendance at this afternoon’s Requiem Mass for The Duchess of Kent as she is convalescing from acute sinusitis. Her ideas and prayers will probably be with The Duke of Kent and all of the circle of relatives.”
With the Queen Consort resting at Windsor, Sir Clive Alderton used to be pictured along the King as he chatted with the Dean of Westminster Cathedral, Father Slawomir Witon. A depended on adviser to each Charles and Camilla, Clive started running for the royal couple in 2006, only one 12 months when they tied the knot in a civil rite at Windsor Guildhall.
Who’s Sir Clive Alderton?
Recognised as His Majesty’s maximum senior aide, the placement of Non-public Secretary has been described by means of the Royal Circle of relatives as “the channel of conversation between the Head of State and the Govt”. Regularly pictured along the King all the way through royal engagements, Clive used to be final noticed supporting the monarch in July, whilst attending a Adolescence Alternative Summit held at St James’s Palace.
The Duchess of Kent’s funeral
Attended by means of senior royals, together with the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Duchess’s husband, Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, used to be observed arriving along his daughter, Woman Helen Taylor. Making historical past as the primary Catholic funeral staged for a member of the royal circle of relatives in trendy occasions, the unheard of deviation from royal custom stems from Katharine’s choice to transform to Catholicism in 1994.
Hours sooner than the funeral, the royal circle of relatives’s legitimate Instagram account launched a heartwarming tribute to the overdue Duchess, recalling her marriage to Queen Elizabeth II’s cousin, in addition to her many charitable endeavours. It learn: “Proudly of Yorkshire heritage, Her Royal Highness turned into a running Member of The Royal Circle of relatives following her marriage, and in 1977 she used to be created a Dame Grand Go of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO).
“For the final 3 many years of her existence, The Duchess taken with her hobby for song, stepping apart as a running Member of The Royal Circle of relatives in 2002 to concentrate on her non-public and charitable paintings on this sector.”
As a part of the funeral, visitors are anticipated to listen to a unique message from Pope Leo XIV, whose phrases will probably be learn aloud to the congregation by means of Archbishop Miguel Maury Buendia, Apostolic Nuncio to Nice Britain. They are going to additionally partake in hymns and prayers as a part of the Order of Carrier.
The Pope’s message reads: “I used to be saddened to be informed of the loss of life of Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Kent, and I ship heartfelt condolences, along with the peace of mind of my prayerful closeness, to Your Majesty, the Individuals of the Royal Circle of relatives, and particularly to her husband, The Duke of Kent, and their youngsters and grandchildren presently of sorrow.
“Entrusting her noble soul to the mercy of our Heavenly Father, I readily affiliate myself with all the ones providing thanksgiving to Almighty God for The Duchess’s legacy of Christian goodness, observed in her a few years of determination to legitimate tasks, patronage of charities, and trustworthy maintain inclined other folks in society. To all who mourn her loss, within the certain hope of the Resurrection, I willingly impart my apostolic blessing as a pledge of comfort and peace within the Risen Lord.”