Queen Elizabeth’s Maid of Honor Died the Day Earlier than State Funeral

Girl Mary Russell was certainly one of Queen Elizabeth II‘s maids of honor at her 1953 coronation, and she or he died on September 18 — simply someday earlier than Her Majesty’s state funeral.

Russell was 88, in response to her obituary in London’s The Instances. She “died peacefully at house along with her household round 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 beloved” by her 12 grandchildren.

The England native was certainly 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 stated the ceremony was “overwhelming and shifting – particularly through 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 ladies our age within the nation we six ladies have been chosen to hold the Queen’s practice and that meant an incredible deal,” she stated on the time through Hi there! Journal.

The Gown of Property is of purple silk-velvet with gold embroidery and is greater than 21 toes lengthy. Whereas Russell and Girl Moyra Campbell have each died (Campbell handed in 2020), there are 4 surviving maids of honor: Dowager Baroness Glenconner, Girl Jane Lacey, Baroness Willoughby de Eresby and Girl Rosemary Muir.

Russell’s demise 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 dropped at Edinburgh earlier than shifting to London. Her casket — topped with the orb, scepter and imperial state crown — was mendacity in state at Westminster Corridor 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 Corridor 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 dropped at Windsor for a committal service. There was a personal 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.