Second hard hit in a year. Elizabeth II lost a close friend

The Duchess of Grafton served the Queen for 69 years and remained her most devoted maid of honor until the last day of her life. She was 101 years old.

–

Anna Fortuna FitzRoy, Duchess of Grafton, mistress of the Queen’s Mantle and her eldest maid of honor, has passed away at the age of 101. informs Daily Mail.

The Duchess of Grafton has served the Queen from the very first day of her coronation and was one of her closest and most devoted friends. Elizabeth II even baptized the maid of honor’s third child, Virginia’s daughter Mary Elizabeth, in 1954.

Anna Fortuna Smith was born on February 24, 1920 into an aristocratic family of barons, financiers and representatives of the banking dynasty Smith’s Bank of Nottingham. The financial institution was founded in 1658 by Thomas Smith. In 1946, Anna married the 11th Duke of Grafton, Hugh Fitz Roy, to whom she gave birth to five children: two sons and three daughters. In 2011, the Duchess was widowed.

Anna first joined the royal court in 1953, the year of the coronation of Elizabeth II, as a lady of the bedchamber. In 1967, she became the ruler of the Queen’s dressing room. The Duchess of Grafton was one of the two Mistresses of the Mantles during the reign of the Queen, formerly in charge of the monarch’s clothing and ornaments. Prior to her, the position of Mistress of the Mantle was held by Mary Cavendish, Dowager Duchess of Devonshire, performing these duties from 1953 to 1967.

While serving at Buckingham Palace, she was on duty at all of the most important royal events, including state visits and the opening of parliament. Her role also included general responsibility for the toilets of the ladies of the court – the Queen’s friends and assistants.

–

The Duchess of Grafton was awarded the Royal Victorian Order (Commander) on New Years 1965, later promoted to Dame Commander on New Years 1970 and Dame Grand Cross on the Queen’s 1980 birthday.

Until her death, the Duchess remained the most faithful friend of Elizabeth II, and her departure was no less a blow for the Queen than Magzit last year and the death of her husband, Prince Philip. who passed away on April 9 this year.

Earlier we wrote about which two numbers are stored in the phone of the British monarchand also talked about Elizabeth’s first appearance after rumors of health problems.

– .