Queen Elizabeth II
She still has these companions
Queen Elizabeth recently had to cope with many goodbyes.
© imago images / ZUMA Press / Victoria Jones
Queen Elizabeth II mourns the loss of many close friends. She still has these long-time companions by her side.
The reports of deaths in the close circle of the British Queen are increasing. Most recently, Queen Elizabeth II (95) had to say goodbye to journalist Ivor Herbert (1925-2022), who “died peacefully at home at the age of 96” a week ago, according to a message from his family. A few days earlier, on December 29th, her lady-in-waiting Diana Maxwell (1931-2021), Lady Farnham, had died at the age of 90. In early December, the monarch lost her friend Ann Fortune FitzRoy (1920-2021), Duchess of Grafton, at the age of 101.
And in April 2021, Queen Elizabeth’s husband, Prince Philip (1921-2021) passed away at the age of 99. Certainly the most painful loss.
She still has these longtime companions
The ranks of the closest companions are slowly thinning. But like “People” magazine on the occasion of the upcoming platinum jubilee, in addition to her family around heir to the throne Prince Charles (73), these people are close confidants of the Queen:
Lady Susan Hussey (82) has been one of the Queen’s ladies-in-waiting since 1960. In the early 1980s she instructed Prince Charles’ first wife, Princess Diana (1961-1997), on royal protocol issues. She is the godmother of Queen’s grandson Prince William (39).
Lady Annabel Whitehead (78) is also in the circle. She was only a lady-in-waiting to the Queen’s sister Princess Margaret (1930-2002). Since her death she has been one of the queen’s ladies-in-waiting.
In 2017 two new ladies-in-waiting were appointed: Lady Elizabeth Leeming (62) and Susan Rhodes. Lady Elizabeth Leeming is the Queen’s first cousin. Susan Rhodes is the daughter-in-law of lady-in-waiting Margaret Rhodes (1925-2016), who died in 2016 at the age of 91. Margaret Rhodes was the Queen’s best friend and cousin and was a bridesmaid at their 1947 wedding.
The main duties of a lady-in-waiting are to help Her Majesty collect flowers at events, to attend to private and personal affairs, to run errands, and to deal with general correspondence.
Mabel Anderson has belonged to the inner circle of the Queen for many decades. The former nanny of her firstborn Prince Charles is said to be the same age as the Queen.
Her personal assistant, fashion designer Angela Kelly (54), and boss-page Paul Whybrew (born 1959) complete the circle.