The only daughter of the late Senator Edward Kennedy, Kara Kennedy Allen, died yesterday evening, it has been reported in the US.
According to NBC News, the 51-year-old mother of two died while at a health club in Washington, DC..
Ms Kennedy Allen had survived lung cancer and had been in remission for some years.
No further details about the circumstances of her death were available, although family members are said to have been told that a heart attack was suspected.
Ms Kennedy Allen maintained a very private life and her last public appearance was at the White House more than two years ago when she attended an event to accept the Medal of Freedom awarded to her father by President Barack Obama.
She served on boards of several family-related nonprofits and had also worked as a television producer.
She is survived by her two children, Grace Kennedy Allen who is 17 this coming Monday and Max Greathouse Allen who is 15, her mother, Joan Kennedy, and younger brothers, Edward Kennedy, Jr., and Patrick Kennedy and their families.