Duchess of Kent's musical legacy lives on as charity revisits special moment

A year after the death of Katharine, Duchess of Kent, the charity she co-founded is remembering her through a series of photographs that capture one of the causes closest to her heart which is giving young musicians the chance to be heard.

Future Talent shared the photographs on Instagram, looking back at a special occasion in 2018 when the Duchess arranged for young musicians supported by the charity to perform at Windsor Castle.

“Today we're remembering our co-founder Katharine, Duchess of Kent, one year after her passing,” the organisation wrote, alongside the photographs.

Katharine co-founded Future Talent with Nicholas Robinson OBE in 2004 after years of working with children and seeing how financial circumstances could prevent talented young people from developing their abilities. 

The charity provides support including mentoring, bursaries, tuition and performance opportunities to gifted musicians from low-income backgrounds.

For 13 years, Katharine taught at a primary school in East Hull, where she became known simply as “Mrs Kent” and quietly devoted herself to encouraging children to discover their potential.

Support for a single young violinist has grown into a charity helping around 150 young musicians each year, offering them tailored guidance and opportunities to perform and develop their careers.

The 2018 Windsor Castle show was an example of the opportunities she wanted young musicians to experience.