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

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, is the eldest son of Prince George, Duke of Kent, and Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark, while Katharine Worsley is the only daughter and fourth child of Sir William Worsley, 4th Bt., and Joyce Brunner.

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

Date	8 June 1961
Venue	York Minster
Location	York, England
Participants	The Duke of Kent Katharine Worsley

Engagement

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

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.[1]

The wedding

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.[3] The newlyweds then departed for their honeymoon at Birkhall on the Balmoral estate.

Music

The newlywed couple recessed to Widor's "Toccata" from Symphony for Organ No. 5.[4]

Clothing

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. She anchored her white tulle veil with a diamond bandeau tiara which belonged to the bridegroom's late grandmother, Queen Mary.[5]

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

Attendants

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

• The Princess Anne, the groom's paternal first cousin, once removed (maternal second cousin)
• The Hon. Jane Spencer, daughter of Viscount and Viscountess Althorp
• Sandra Butter, daughter of Major Sir David and Myra, Lady Butter (a daughter of Anastasia de Torby)
• Joanna FitzRoy, daughter of Lord and Lady Edward FitzRoy
• Willa Worsley, the bride's niece
• Diana Worsley
• Katherine Ashley Cooper
• Emily Briggs
• William Worsley, the bride's nephew
• Simon Hay, son of Sir Philip and Lady Margaret Hay
• Edward Beckett, son of The Hon. Christopher and Lady Elizabeth Beckett

Guests

Notable guests in attendance included:

Relatives of the groom

• The Duchess of Kent, the groom's mother
  • Princess Alexandra of Kent, the groom's sister
  • Prince Michael of Kent, the groom's brother
• Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, the groom's paternal aunt by marriage
  • The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh, the groom's paternal first cousin and maternal first cousin, once removed
    • The Prince of Wales, the groom's paternal first cousin, once removed
    • The Princess Anne, the groom's paternal first cousin, once removed
  • The Princess Margaret and Mr Antony Armstrong-Jones, the groom's paternal first cousin and her husband
• The Princess Royal, the groom's paternal aunt
  • The Earl and Countess of Harewood, the groom's paternal first cousin and his wife
• The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the groom's paternal uncle and aunt
  • Prince William of Gloucester, the groom's paternal first cousin
• Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone, the groom's first cousin, twice removed and paternal great-aunt by marriage
• The Earl Mountbatten of Burma, the groom's second cousin, once removed
  • The Lady and Lord Brabourne, the groom's third cousin and her husband
  • Lady Pamela and Mr David Nightingale Hicks, the groom's third cousin and her husband
• Lady Patricia Ramsay, the groom's paternal first cousin, twice removed

Relatives of the bride

• Sir William and Lady Worsley, the bride's parents
  • Mr and Mrs Marcus Worsley, the bride's brother and sister-in-law
    • Master William Worsley, the bride's nephew
  • 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

• The Crown Prince of Norway, the groom's paternal second cousin (representing the King of Norway)
• Princess Irene of the Netherlands, the groom's maternal third cousin (representing the Queen of the Netherlands)
• Princess Margrethe of Denmark, the groom's paternal and maternal third cousin (representing the King of Denmark)
• The Crown Prince of Greece, the groom's maternal second cousin (representing the King of the Hellenes)
• Princess Sophia of Greece and Denmark, the groom's maternal second cousin
• Queen Victoria Eugenie of Spain, the groom's paternal first cousin, twice removed
  • The Count of Barcelona, the groom's paternal second cousin, once removed
    • The Prince of Asturias, the groom's paternal third cousin
• Queen Mother Helen of Romania, the groom's maternal first cousin, once removed
• Princess and Prince Paul of Yugoslavia the groom's maternal aunt and uncle
  • Prince and Princess Alexander of Yugoslavia, the groom's maternal first cousin and his wife
• The Dowager Princess of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, the groom's maternal first cousin, once removed

It was at this wedding that Infante Juan Carlos of Spain became better acquainted with Princess Sophia of Greece and Denmark.[6] The pair would marry the following year and accede to the Spanish throne in 1975.

Other notable guests

• Mr and Mrs Douglas Fairbanks Jr.
• Mr Noël Coward

References

1. "Flashback Friday: British Engagement Rings, Part 2". orderofsplendor.blogspot.com. Retrieved 14 March 2019.
2. "The Royal Wedding of Prince Edward & Katharine at York Minster (1961) - British Pathé". YouTube. Retrieved 14 March 2019.
3. "The Royal Wedding of Prince Edward & Katharine at York Minster (1961) - British Pathé". YouTube. Retrieved 14 March 2019.
4. "The Royal Wedding of Prince Edward & Katharine at York Minster (1961) - British Pathé". YouTube. Retrieved 14 March 2019.
5. "Wedding Wednesday: The Duchess of Kent's Gown". orderofsplendor.blogspot.com. Retrieved 14 March 2019.
6. "Wedding Wednesday: Queen Sofia's Gown". orderofsplendor.blogspot.com. Retrieved 14 March 2019.