Members of the Royal Family gathered en masse yesterday for the memorial of Her Majesty's cousin, Lady Elizabeth Shakerley, who died in November 2020, aged 79. The Thanksgiving Service dedicated to her life was most likely postponed until now as a result of Covid-19 restrictions at the time.
The Countess of Wessex and Sarah, Duchess of York, were joined by Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, Lady Gabriella Kingston (née Windsor), Lord Frederick Windsor, the Duchess of Gloucester, Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands, as well as Princess Alexandra, the Honourable Lady Ogilvy. Her Majesty was unable to join her relatives for the occasion, as a result of ongoing mobility issues.
The group gathered to pay their respects to Her Majesty's cousin at St Margaret's Church in Westminster. Joining the royal cohort was Dame Joanna Lumley, who chose to dress in black for the occasion, accompanied by a large string of pearls, as well as Lady Eloise Anson and Jane Churchill.
The Countess of Wessex looked striking in a fitted green dress and matching clutch bag, which she teamed with a black hat. Whilst Sarah, Duchess of York, sported a beige jacket with black embroidery.
Lady Elizabeth Shakerley was the daughter of Thomas Anson, Viscount Anson, and Anne Bowes-Lyon, who became Princess Anne of Denmark when she remarried.
Serving as the Queen's ‘party planner’ since 1960, through her respected company, Party Planners, Lady Shakerley organised a number of notable royal soirees, including Her Majesty's 90th birthday and an event held ahead of the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in April 2011.
In an interview for Tatler in 2012, Lady Shakerley revealed details of the monarch's personal tastes. 'For years it was believed that the Queen loved only yellow freesia. They appeared on every table decoration. Until I offered her an alternative and we discovered that she loved all sorts of blooms, from peonies to white roses. The Queen is the most meticulous host. She checks every dining-room setting, every flower, every guest bedroom and always chooses her own menu. We could all learn something from that.'
Her death came mere months after Her Majesty assigned her a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order as a sign of her personal esteem.
