Queen Elizabeth's Lady-In-Waiting Diana Maxwell, Lady Farnham Dies At 90 Years Old
Sadly, Queen Elizabeth has lost another important person in her life — the monarch's lady-in-waiting Diana Maxwell, Lady Farnham, died on December 29 at 90 years old.
Maxwell played a key role in the Queen's life, as she began working as lady of the bedchamber in 1987. Later on, the 95-year-old appointed her Commander, Royal Victorian OrdeR (CVO) in 1998, and she was also appointed Dame Commander, Royal Victorian Order in 2010.
Maxwell rode alongside the Queen on the way to the Diamond Jubilee service in 2012 as Prince Philip was not feeling well, and she came along on several royal tours.
Queen Elizabeth has had a tough year — in early December she lost her pal Ann Fortune FitzRoy, the Duchess of Grafton, and in April, her husband of 73 years, Prince Philip, died at 99 years old.
"It is very sad for the Queen. Everyone loved Lady Farnham, she was always so good humored. She was also a very glamorous and attractive woman," a source told The Sun about the recent lost. “She was always very generous to new people joining the household. It has not been a good year for the Queen — losing her husband and then the Duchess of Grafton and now Lady Farnham. 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.”
During the Queen's Christmas speech, she addressed what she has been dealing with in the past several months.
“Although it’s a time of great happiness and good cheer for many, Christmas can be hard for those who have lost loved ones. This year, especially, I understand why," she began.
“But for me, in the months since the death of my beloved Philip, I have drawn great comfort from the warmth and affection of the many tributes to his life and work – from around the country, the Commonwealth and the world," she continued. “His sense of service, intellectual curiosity and capacity to squeeze fun out of any situation were all irrepressible. That mischievous, enquiring twinkle was as bright at the end as when I first set eyes on him."
