Diana Maxwell, Baroness Farnham Explained

Honorific-Prefix:The Right Honourable
The Lady Farnham
Birth Name:Diana Marion Gunnis
Birth Date:24 May 1931
Occupation:Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Elizabeth II
Children:2

Diana Marion Maxwell, Baroness Farnham, (Gunnis; 24 May 1931 – 29 December 2021) was a British courtier who served as Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Elizabeth II from 1987 until her death in 2021.

Life

Born Diana Marion Gunnis on 24 May 1931, she was the elder daughter of Nigel Eric Murray Gunnis, of Branden, Sissinghurst, Kent, and Elizabeth Mary Morrison, a first cousin of Lord Margadale.[1] Her paternal grandmother, Ivy Marion Gunnis née Streatfeild, was a daughter of Marion Henrietta Smith of Blendon Hall, Kent, whose sister Frances was the paternal grandmother of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, making her and Queen Elizabeth II third cousins. In 1959, she married Barry, 12th Baron Farnham. They adopted two daughters, Harriet and Sophia.[2]

Lady Farnham was named a Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Elizabeth II on 4 August 1987 upon the retirement of Patricia, Marchioness of Abergavenny. Owing to her connections to Ireland through her maternal grandmother, a daughter of Lord Trevor, Lady Farnham accompanied the Queen on her landmark state visit to the Republic of Ireland in 2011. In 2012, during the Diamond Jubilee, she notably rode alongside the Queen to St Paul's Cathedral for the Service of Thanksgiving after Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, was hospitalized.[3] [2]

Lord and Lady Farnham donated the Farnham collection of photographs, mementos, letters, war medals and papers relating to the Farnham family and their connection to County Cavan to the Cavan County Museum and the National Library of Ireland.[4] [5] [6] [7]

She died on 29 December 2021 at the age of 90. Her funeral was held in the Chapel Royal, St James's Palace, on 14 January 2022. Her cousin the Hon. Mary Morrison represented the Queen, and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester attended.[8] Her ashes were interred in Kilmore Cathedral.[3] [2] [9]

Honors

CountryDateAppointmentRibbonPost-nominal lettersNotes
United Kingdom31 December 1997Commander of the Royal Victorian OrderCVOPromoted to DCVO in 2010
United Kingdom12 June 2010Dame Commander of the Royal Victorian OrderDCVO
United Kingdom6 February 2002Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal
United Kingdom6 February 2012Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal
United Kingdom6 February 2022Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal

Notes and References

  1. Book: Morris . Susan . Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage 2019 . 20 April 2020 . . 978-1999767051 . 2594 . 3 January 2022.
  2. News: Tominey . Camilla . Sadness for the Queen as her devoted lady-in-waiting, Lady Farnham, dies . 3 January 2022 . . 2 January 2022.
  3. News: Malvern. Jack. 2 January 2022. Queen's lady-in-waiting Diana, Lady Farnham dies aged 90. The Times. 3 January 2022.
  4. Web site: The Farnham Gallery . . 3 January 2022.
  5. News: Farnham . Simon Maxwell, 13th Baron . "Lady Farnham was a very impressive individual," - Ryan . 3 January 2022 . . 3 January 2022.
  6. News: Unique family photo collection launched . 4 January 2022 . . 17 November 2010.
  7. Web site: Cherry . Jonathan . Farnham Papers . . 4 January 2022.
  8. News: Court Circular: January 14, 2022 . 15 January 2022 . . 14 January 2022.
  9. News: Farnham, Diana: Death notice . . 3 January 2022.