She was once the great beauty at the heart of the royal family, but the late Queen backed her up to the hilt when she traded in her royal baubles and became a teacher. As her death is announced, Harry Mount reports on the intriguing life of a much-loved, if forgotten, royal

The life of the Duchess of Kent, who stepped away from royal life and became a primary school teacher.

With the Queen’s permission, she stepped back from royal duties and taught in a primary school in Hull under the name of ‘Miss Katharine’