Queen Camilla pulls out of Duchess of Kent's funeral

King Charles and other senior royals have joined friends and family to remember Katharine, the Duchess of Kent, whose funeral is being held at Westminster Cathedral.

But Queen Camilla sent her "deep regrets" at having to miss the service because she was recovering from acute sinusitis.

The Prince and Princess of Wales, among those who have paid warm tributes to the widely-respected, music-loving duchess, have joined mourners at the Requiem Mass, alongside the Duke of Kent and their three children.

This is the first Catholic funeral for a member of the Royal Family in modern times - and a message from Pope Leo was read out during the service.

The Pope's message praised the duchess for her "dedication to official duties, patronage of charities and devoted care for vulnerable people" and sent his "heartfelt condolences, together with the assurance of my prayerful closeness" to the King, the Duke of Kent and their family.

Queen Camilla's absence because of ill health was announced by the palace ahead of the funeral.

"Her thoughts and prayers will be with the Duke of Kent and all the family," said a statement from Buckingham Palace.

But the palace said that despite this painful inflammation of the sinuses, the Queen still plans to take part in the state visit of President Trump, who will be in Windsor on Wednesday.

Crowds gathered outside the Byzantine-style church in Westminster on Tuesday afternoon as the family and friends of the duchess arrived for the funeral, which was a private service.

Princess Anne and her husband Sir Tim Laurence and Prince Andrew with his former wife Sarah Ferguson were among the royals attending. Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh was at the funeral, but her husband Prince Edward is on an overseas visit.

There were also famous faces such as actresses Maureen Lipman and Rula Lenska and champion racing driver Sir Jackie Stewart.

Readings at the service were given by the children and grandchildren of the duchess.

The coffin of the duchess rested in front of the cathedral's altar during the Requiem Mass, draped in the royal standard and with white roses among the flowers, in honour of the duchess' Yorkshire roots.

The duchess was the oldest member of the Royal Family when she died earlier this month at the age of 92. She was married to the first cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth II.

There will also be music by JS Bach and from the requiem by French composer Maurice Durufle.

The duchess will also be remembered as a familiar figure at the Wimbledon tennis championships, where she handed over trophies - and consoled those who had lost, including a tearful Jana Novotna in 1993.

After the funeral at Westminster Cathedral, the coffin will be taken to the royal burial ground in Frogmore, on the Windsor estate.

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