Wedding of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, and Katharine Worsley

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1961 British wedding

The wedding of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, and Katharine Worsley took place on Thursday, 8 June 1961, at York Minster in York, England. Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, was the eldest son of Prince George, Duke of Kent, and Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark, while Katharine Worsley was the only daughter and fourth child of landowner Sir William Worsley, 4th Baronet.

Engagement[edit]

The Duke of Kent met Miss Katherine Worsley, daughter of Sir William Worsley, 4th Baronet, while he was based at Catterick Garrison near the bride’s family’s ancestral home, Hovingham Hall.[1]

The engagement of the Duke of Kent to Miss Katharine Worsley was announced on 8 March 1961 at Kensington Palace. The Duke presented Miss Worsley with an engagement ring made of an oval sapphire with round diamonds on either side.[citation needed]

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Wedding[edit]

West façade of York Minster

The couple were married by The Most Rev. and Rt Hon. Michael Ramsey, Archbishop of York, in York Minster, the “Westminster Abbey of the North,” according to the Book of Common Prayer.[2] This was the first royal wedding held in York Minster since Edward III married Philippa of Hainault in 1328.

Following the service, the couple and their guests returned to the bride’s family home, Hovingham Hall, for the wedding breakfast.[2][3] The newlyweds then departed for their honeymoon at Birkhall on the Balmoral estate.[4]

Music[edit]

The bride walked down the aisle to the hymn “O Praise Ye the Lord! Sing Praise in the Height” to the tune Laudate Dominum by Sir Hubert Parry. The newlywed couple recessed to Widor’s “Toccata” from Symphony for Organ No. 5.[2]

Attire[edit]

The bride’s wedding dress, designed by John Cavanagh on the recommendation of her future mother-in-law, was made of 237 yards of French-made diaphanous white silk gauze. It featured a tight bodice, stiff neckline, and a full skirt with a 15-foot double train.[5] She anchored her white tulle veil with a diamond bandeau tiara which belonged to the bridegroom’s late grandmother, Queen Mary.[6]

The Duke wore the uniform of his regiment, the Royal Scots Greys with the riband of the Royal Victorian Order.[4]

Attendants[edit]

The bridegroom was supported by his brother, Prince Michael.[2] The bride was attended by eight bridesmaids and three page boys:

  • The Princess Anne, daughter of The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh, thus a paternal first cousin once removed (maternal second cousin) of the groom
  • The Hon. Jane Spencer, daughter of Viscount and Viscountess Althorp
  • Sandra Butter, daughter of Major and Mrs David Butter
  • Joanna FitzRoy, daughter of Lord and Lady Edward FitzRoy
  • Willa Worsley, daughter of The Hon. Carolyn and Mr John Worsley, thus a niece of the bride
  • Diana Worsley, daughter of Mr and Mrs Edward Worsley, thus a paternal first cousin of the bride
  • Katherine Ashley-Cooper
  • Emily Briggs
  • William Worsley, son of Mr and Mrs Marcus Worsley, thus a nephew of the bride
  • Edward Beckett, son of Lady Elizabeth and The Hon. Christopher Beckett
  • Simon Hay, son of Lady Margaret and Sir Philip Hay

Notable guests in attendance included:[2][7]

Relatives of the groom[edit]

Relatives of the bride[edit]

  • Sir William and Lady Worsley, the bride’s parents
    • Mr and Mrs Marcus Worsley, the bride’s brother and sister-in-law
    • Mr Oliver Worsley, the bride’s brother
    • Mr and Mrs John Worsley, the bride’s brother and sister-in-law
      • Miss Willa Worsley, the bride’s niece

Other royal guests[edit]

Members of reigning royal houses[edit]

Members of non-reigning royal houses[edit]

It was at this wedding that Infante Juan Carlos of Spain became better acquainted with Princess Sophia of Greece and Denmark.[8] The pair would marry the following year and accede to the Spanish throne in 1975.

Other notable guests[edit]

References[edit]



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