Charles, Prince of Wales and his wife, Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, paid their respects to Camilla’s brother-in-law, Mark Shand, at a private funeral service on Friday. The 62-year-old conservationist and travel writer passed away earlier this month after suffering head injuries from a fall in New York City. Mark was the younger brother of Camilla’s husband, Andrew Parker Bowles. As close family and friends gathered to say their final goodbyes to the beloved writer, Charles and Camilla were among the attendees who arrived at the funeral in St. Mary Magdalene Church in England’s Wiltshire county. The couple’s attendance at the sombre event was a touching gesture of support for the Parker Bowles family, who must be grieving the loss of Mark.
On Monday, King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla were among those attending the funeral of Simon Elliot, the businessman who was married to Camilla’s younger sister, Annabel, for over 50 years. Elliot passed away earlier this month at the age of 82. Friends and family of the late businessman were seen arriving at the service at Holy Trinity Church in Stourpaine, Dorset, while police sealed off all roads to the church during the service to allow Elliot’s coffin to be driven through the small village.
Although King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla were not pictured arriving at the funeral, they are understood to have attended the service in a show of support to Annabel, Elliot’s widow. The church in Stourpaine is where funerals of Annabel’s brother, Mark Shand, and her father Major Bruce Shand, had previously been held.
The Queen Consort was once so close to Elliot that she invited him and Annabel to join her and Charles on their honeymoon in Scotland. Elliot was an Air Chief Marshal of the RAF’s father, and Annabel wed the landowner in 1972 at the age of 23.
Leading the mourners were Elliot’s three children, former Conservative Party co-chairman Ben Elliot and his sisters, Alice and Catherine.
The mourners braved the wet English weather as they made their way to the village church. Following the funeral service, guests were seen making their way to the local pub, The White Horse Inn.
Annabel’s interior design skills have seen her run her Dorset business for over 30 years, with the King employing her to redesign various royal households over the years.
The younger brother of Camilla and Annabel, Mark Shand, was tragically killed in 2014 following a fall in New York. Camilla had been very close to her brother and had been devastated by his loss.
Elliot’s passing comes at a difficult time for the royal family, as they mourn the death of Prince Philip, who passed away on April 9. The Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral was held on April 17 in a small ceremony attended by only 30 guests due to coronavirus restrictions.
The funeral of Elliot was a quieter affair than the Duke of Edinburgh’s, but it still drew friends and family from around the country. The images of mourners arriving at the service and making their way to the local pub afterward are a reminder of the many different ways in which people grieve and celebrate the lives of those they love.
In a year that has seen so much loss and upheaval around the world, the royal family’s experiences of grief and loss have made them relatable to many people facing their own difficulties. The funeral of Simon Elliot is one more reminder of the shared experiences that connect us all, no matter our backgrounds or positions.
As the last goodbyes were said, Charles and his Queen Consort walked away from the funeral, leaving behind memories of a man loved by many. It was a poignant reminder of the human side of the royal family and the empathy that they display towards their loved ones. Their presence at the ceremony was a testament to the strength of family bonds, and a reminder that in times of adversity, we can all find comfort and solace in the support of those closest to us. As we reflect on the passing of Camilla’s brother-in-law, let us take comfort in the fact that he will live on in the hearts of those who love him, and that his legacy will continue to inspire us in the years ahead.
