Lady Mary Russell. Shutterstock
Lady Mary Russell was considered one of Queen Elizabeth II‘s maids of honor at her 1953 coronation, and she died on September 18 — just one day before Her Majesty’s state funeral.
Russell was 88, in accordance with her obituary in London’s The Times. She “died peacefully at home with her family around her” the Sunday earlier than the queen was laid to relaxation. She is survived by husband David Russell in addition to youngsters Arabella, Anthony, Philip, Jason and Mariana. She was additionally “dearly loved” by her 12 grandchildren.
The England native was considered one of Elizabeth’s six maids of honor on the June 1953 coronation, held the yr after she acceded the throne. She was the thirty ninth sovereign to be topped at Westminster Abbey, which can also be the place her state funeral was held on September 19.
In 2013, the maids of honor reunited to recreate their picture from the historic day to rejoice the sixtieth anniversary. Russell mentioned the ceremony was “overwhelming and moving – especially during the anointing.”
She emphasised how prestigious it was to be in that group of younger girls, who have been all between the ages of 18 and 23. “Of all the girls our age in the country we six girls were chosen to carry the Queen’s train and that meant a great deal,” she mentioned on the time by way of Hello! Magazine.
The Robe of Estate is of purple silk-velvet with gold embroidery and is greater than 21 ft lengthy. While Russell and Lady Moyra Campbell have each died (Campbell handed in 2020), there are 4 surviving maids of honor: Dowager Baroness Glenconner, Lady Jane Lacey, Baroness Willoughby de Eresby and Lady Rosemary Muir.
Russell’s loss of life got here 10 days after the queen died at age 96 on September 8 at Balmoral property in Scotland. After her passing, her coffin was delivered to Edinburgh earlier than shifting to London. Her casket — topped with the orb, scepter and imperial state crown — was mendacity in state at Westminster Hall for the general public to pay their respects from September 14 and till simply earlier than her funeral on September 19.
The funeral started with a procession from Westminster Hall to Westminster Abbey led by King Charles III, who acceded the throne after his mom died, and his siblings — Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward — in addition to three of the queen’s grandchildren, Prince William, Prince Harry and Peter Phillips.
After her state funeral, the queen was delivered to Windsor for a committal service. There was a non-public ceremony for her burial on the King George VI Memorial Chapel alongside her late husband, Prince Philip, who died at age 99 in April 2021.
Source: www.usmagazine.com
