Pope's tribute at funeral of Duchess

POPE Leo XIV has paid a personal tribute to the Duchess of Kent, praising her “legacy of Christian goodness” in a message delivered during her funeral in London yesterday.

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The pontiff highlighted her “dedication to official duties” as the King, the Prince and the Princess of Wales and other senior royals gathered with her immediate family at Westminster Cathedral for her requiem mass, a Catholic funeral.

Missing was the Queen, who pulled out of attending as she is recovering from acute sinusitis, but Camilla remains hopeful of being able to attend the royal elements of United States President Donald Trump's state visit to the UK, which begins today. The Duke of York made a rare appearance outside the environs of Windsor, with his ex-wife, Sarah, Duchess of York.

The requiem mass was the first Catholic funeral to be held for a member of the royal family in modern British history. The pontiff’s message was read by Archbishop Miguel Maury Buendia, the diplomatic representative in the UK of the Holy See, the government of the Roman Catholic Church.