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Royal Friend's 94 Years: From Maid of Honour to Bestselling Author
12 Oct
Summary
- Authored a hit novel at age 87, chronicling a life of privilege and hardship.
- Served as lady-in-waiting to Princess Margaret for decades, traveling globally.
- Maintains close friendships with the King and recalls serving Queen Elizabeth II.
Now 94, a distinguished lady-in-waiting, who began her writing career at 87, shares reflections on a life rich with royal connections and personal resilience. She served as a maid of honour at Queen Elizabeth II's 1953 coronation and maintains a close friendship with King Charles III, having attended his coronation in 2023.
Her debut novel, released in 2019, detailed her 54-year marriage to the abusive Colin Tennant, Lord Glenconner. This candid account brought her global recognition. Despite extensive travel with Princess Margaret, including trips to Egypt and Australia, she cherishes time spent at her Norfolk home.
Her family has long-standing ties to the monarchy; her mother was a lady of the bedchamber to Queen Elizabeth, and her father was an equerry to King George VI. She became a lady-in-waiting to Princess Margaret in 1971, developing a deep friendship documented in her book "Trunks and Tiaras."
She also offers insights into other notable figures, defending Raine, Countess Spencer, against negative portrayals and recounting her positive interactions with President Reagan. The challenges of her childhood, including an unkind governess, and the anxiety stemming from her marriage, continue to influence her.
More recently, she organized an auction of belongings, including a tiara, to support the ongoing care of her son, Christopher, who sustained a brain injury in 1987. She expressed delight at recently discovering she has become a gay icon in America.
