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 organized 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.
