The Queen's longstanding lady-in-waiting and friend - Lady Farnham - has died at the age of 90.
She was a close confidante of Her Majesty - supporting her since 1987 in her role as Lady of the Bedchamber.
Lady Farnham - who died last month - accompanied Prince Philip and the Queen on royal tours during her 44 years of service.
It comes just weeks after the death of the Duchess of Grafton, Ann Fortune FitzRoy, who served the Royal Household throughout Her Majesty’s entire reign.
Lady Farnham had been the Queen’s Lady of Bedchamber since 1987, and sat with the monarch during her Diamond Jubilee celebrations in 2012.
Queen Elizabeth II drives down the Mall with Diana Marion, The Lady Farnham, on her way to St Paul's Cathedral.
Paul Ellis
Speaking to The Telegraph, a royal source said: “It is very sad for the Queen. Everyone loved Lady Farnham, she was always so good humoured. She was also a very glamorous and attractive woman.
“She was always very generous to new people joining the household.
“They were dear friends who supported the Queen on official duties. Unfortunately a sad consequence of living a long life is that you have to say goodbye to a lot of people you care about.”
It’s been a year of grief for Her Majesty.
In March, royal patriarch Philip spent a month in hospital and underwent heart surgery before returning to Windsor, but he died peacefully at the castle at the age of 99 on April 9.
The Queen described it as a “period of great sadness” but said she was “deeply touched” by the tributes paid to her husband of 73 years and the support and kindness shown to her family.
At the duke’s funeral, amid Covid restrictions, the monarch poignantly sat alone in a face mask socially distanced from her loved ones, in mourning for Philip.
The Queen continued with her duties as head of state, and within weeks appeared in public for the State Opening of Parliament.
