Although increasingly frail, the Duchess of Kent is determined to leave a lasting legacy.
And I can reveal that on Thursday it will celebrate its 91st birthday by launching a “groundbreaking” partnership between two of its charities to foster the musical talents of talented young singers from low-income backgrounds across the country.
Katharine, who is married to Queen Elizabeth’s first cousin, the Duke of Kent, founded the charity Future Talent, which is partnering with the National Children’s Choir of Great Britain, of which she is patron.
The scheme aims to foster the next generation of singers, who will be offered full scholarships to take part in the choir’s week-long residential courses during the school holidays each year.
Children will have the opportunity to participate in performances, workshops, master classes and recordings.
Although increasingly frail, the Duchess of Kent is determined to leave a lasting legacy. Photographed in 2012
The Duchess of Kent with her daughter Lady Helen Taylor at a Future Talent Gala fundraising evening at Ronnie Scott’s Club in 2008
“I am truly delighted to see Future Talent and the National Children’s Choir of Great Britain come together in this important endeavour,” says the Duchess.
“This partnership embodies the spirit of inclusivity and accessibility, with a shared commitment to fostering the musical talents of the future.”
Nick Robinson, Chairman and Co-Founder of Future Talent, tells me: ‘It gives me great pleasure to wish Katharine a very happy birthday.
‘He is in a good mood and loves hearing news about Future Talent and our young musicians.
‘She fully supports our new initiative with the National Children’s Choir of Great Britain. Katharine is very grateful for all the kind messages on her birthday.’
Born Katharine Worsley, the Duchess has long championed the cause of providing access to music education to young talent across Britain.
She taught music at a primary school in East Hull, where she was called “Mrs Kent” and traveled by train from her home in Kensington Palace, London.
He even revealed in a newspaper interview that he had a fondness for rap music, particularly American stars Eminem and Ice Cube.
Katharine married the Duke, Prince Edward, grandson of George V, at York Minster in 1961 and the couple have three children, George Windsor, Earl of St Andrews, Lady Helen Taylor and Lord Nicholas Windsor.
The Duchess has long championed the cause of providing access to music education to young talent across Britain. She is pictured visiting Helen House Hospice in 1985.
The duchess has kept a low profile since she retired from royal duties in 1996. In 2002, she decided not to use the style “Her Royal Highness”, memorably telling the BBC: “Call me Katharine.”
However, she joined her husband at formal family events such as Trooping the Color and royal weddings, including those of Prince William and Kate Middleton in 2011, and those of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018.
Nadiya’s pain by Strictly pal Robin
Come Dancing star Nadiya Bychkova has been left devastated by the death of her friend and colleague Robin Windsor.
“His death is a huge shock to the whole Strictly family,” she tells me at the London Fashion Week closing party, in collaboration with app Pendulum Private Members, at Home House.
Come Dancing star Nadiya Bychkova (pictured) was left devastated by the death of her friend and colleague Robin Windsor.
The circumstances surrounding the death of Windsor, 44, have not been confirmed, but Ukrainian Nadiya, 34, says she regrets not getting it under control.
‘I saw him not long ago, in January, in one of the studios. I was teaching and rehearsing,” she says. ‘It’s going to take time to accept what happened. Now I realize how important it is to share things.’
Was Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle, who yesterday caused such confusion in events in the House of Commons, suffering from jet lag?
Sir Lindsay, who is not averse to gifts, has just returned from a five-day excursion to St Helena, where he planted a yew tree and presented a Guinness World Records certificate to a 192-year-old tortoise called Jonathan.
Given yesterday’s unfortunate antics, perhaps he should have stayed in the South Atlantic?
Was Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle, who yesterday caused such confusion in events in the House of Commons, suffering from jet lag?
Reading is a great passion of Queen Camilla, but here’s a job that may even be beyond her ability to concentrate: the Royal Collection Trust wants a curator of books and manuscripts.
“With more than 220,000 books and manuscripts… the size and breadth of the Royal Library offers a truly unique working environment,” he says.
The role, which costs £32,000 a year, is at Windsor Castle.
It’s a Thor point… The computer gave Natalie muscles.
Hollywood star Natalie Portman’s muscular physique in the Thor movies generated a lot of comments about her gym workout routine.
But the 42-year-old actress now admits that the magic of computing was a big help.
When asked how she built her muscles to play Jane Foster in the superhero movie, she says: “CG [Computer Generation]. I mean, I worked out, but they helped me a lot.
Hollywood star Natalie Portman’s muscular physique in the Thor movies generated a lot of comments about her gym workout routine.
The 42-year-old actress now admits that computer magic was a big help to her. Photographed in 2022
“They made me 6ft 4in and it’s great to know that’s possible.”
The Oscar winner’s personal trainer, Naomi Pendergast, previously opened up about her grueling gym work.
“Natalie did five sessions a week and didn’t miss a session the entire time we trained,” he said, revealing that the main goal had been to strengthen Portman’s arm and abdominal muscles.
“We also worked on stability and agility to prevent injuries, as Natalie had some dynamic stunt scenes,” he added.
Four Weddings And A Funeral star Dame Kristin Scott Thomas, who played Churchill’s wife Clementine in Darkest Hour, is trying to make her own more French films.
The actress, 63, made her directorial debut last year with Estrella del Norte. “Film in the UK is not considered an art form; there is a different attitude,” she tells me at the launch of Andrew Gilmour’s book The Burning Question.
“French films are not better, but they are more interested in society than in great adventures.”
Dame Kristin, a British-French national, adds: “I want to write stories about families and relationships.”
Four Weddings and a Funeral star Dame Kristin Scott Thomas is trying to make her films more French
Sir Keir Starmer was on such good terms with his ex, lawyer Phillippa Kaufmann, that she was at his wedding and donated to his Labor leadership campaign.
However, Kaufmann, with whom Sir Keir bought a house during their six-year relationship, appears disillusioned by his policies. “I want to encourage him and I don’t want to change him,” he says in Tom Baldwin’s book, Keir Starmer: The Biography.
“But I’m not going to be your spokesperson and some things that are happening are extremely difficult for me.”