Saturday, January 01, 2022

The Dowager Baroness Farnham, DCVO 1931-2021

 The Dowager Baroness Farnham, DCVO, a Lady of the Bedchamber to Her Majesty The Queen for over thirty years, and a friend and confidante of the monarch, died 29 December, 2021. She was 90.

She was born 24 May, 1931, as [Diana] Marion Gunnis, daughter of Nigel Eric Murray Gunnis, MP [1904-1986], and his wife the former Elizabeth Morrison [1909-95], a first cousin of the 1st Baron Margadale, and cousin once removed of the Hon Mary Morrison, DCVO, a Lady-in-Waiting to the Queen since 1960.

She was a third cousin of the Queen being descended from Oswald Smith, of the Smith landed family of Midhurst.

She married 19 January, 1959, Barry Owen Somerset Maxwell, 12th Baron Farnham [Peerage of Ireland] [1931-2001]. She was the mother of two adopted daughters, Harriet & Sophia.

Lady Farnham was appointed a Lady of the Bedchamber to the Queen in 1987. She was appointed CVO in 1998, and advanced to DCVO in 2010.

She was widowed 22 March, 2001, and the barony of Farnham devolved upon her husband's younger brother, the Hon Simon Maxwell.

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