Diana, Lady Farnham

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Sad news out of the UK this week! Diana Maxwell, the 12th Baroness Farnham has passed away at the age of 90! In the Irish Times:

“Diana, Lady Farnham DCVO died peacefully at home on December 29, 2021. Much loved wife, mother and grandmother. Interment of ashes at Kilmore Cathedral, Co. Cavan at a later date.”

Born Diana Marion Gunnis, known as Marion, in 1931, she married the 12th Baron Farnham in 1959 and they adopted two daughters, The Hon. Harriet and The Hon. Sophia, having two grandchildren, Araminta and Henry before his death in 2001. The Barony was inherited by her brother-in-law, the 13th Baron, while Lady Farnham soon also sold the Farnham Estate in Ireland and gave the Farnham Archives to the Irish National Archives. She also held the Office of Justice of the Peace.

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A Lady of the Bedchamber to the Queen from 1987, Lady Farnham has accompanied the Queen on countless occasions, including a tour of the Republic of Ireland in 2011. She also accompanied the Queen to the Diamond Jubilee Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral after the Duke of Edinburgh was admitted into hospital. Appointed Commander, Royal Victorian Order (CVO) in 1998, recognising her distinguished personal service to the monarch, Lady Farnham was later appointed Dame Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (DCVO) in 2010, which is one of the highest personal honours the Queen can bestow.

The Death of Lady Farnham comes just weeks after the death of the Queen’s leading Lady-in-Waiting, Fortune FitzRoy, Duchess of Grafton, leaving Lady Susan Hussey and Dame Mary Morrison to handle the majority of the responsibility.

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2 thoughts on “Diana, Lady Farnham

  1. I had read of her passing, and it’s so nice that you have dedicated this page to her. I had never seen pictures of her in detail, so what I had read of her as a very elegant lady was true indeed. She is no doubt greatly missed by her daughters, family, and friends. May she rest in peace.

  2. I remember her riding along with Her Majesty during the Diamond Jubilee, and felt she must be a very special person to “sit in” for the ailing Duke of Edinburgh. May she Rest In Peace.

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