Lord Robert Fellowes, the uncle of Prince William and Prince Harry by marriage, has sadly passed away at the age of 82.
Lord Fellowes was married to Lady Jane Fellowes, the sister of the late Princess Diana. He served as Queen Elizabeth II’s private secretary for several years and passed away on July 29 from undisclosed causes.
Funeral arrangements for Lord Fellowes have not yet been announced.
A prominent figure within the royal family, Lord Fellowes was one of Queen Elizabeth II’s most trusted advisers during his tenure from 1990 to 1999. During this time, he provided valuable counsel on several critical matters, including the divorces of three of her children and the tragic death of Princess Diana in 1997.
Lord Fellowes and Lady Jane were married for 46 years until his passing. Princess Diana was a bridesmaid at their wedding in 1978.
The couple had three children: Alexander Robert, 41, Eleanor Ruth, 38, and Laura Jane, 44, who is the godmother to Princess Charlotte.
In 1986, Lord Fellowes was promoted to deputy private secretary at Buckingham Palace and became the Queen’s private secretary four years later, following Sir William Heseltine. He stepped down from this role in February 1999 and transitioned to the private sector as a banker.
In recognition of his service, Lord Fellowes was granted the title of Baron Fellowes of Shotesham in Norfolk in 1999 as part of the Queen’s Birthday Honors List.
He served as a Crossbench Peer in the House of Lords, remaining independent of any political party until his retirement in 2022.
Although Lord Fellowes retired from his official position, he continued to be part of the royal household as an extra equerry to the Queen until her death in September 2022 at the age of 96. The position of extra equerry is an honorary role, where one may assist senior members of the royal family when required.
Lord Fellowes was known for his close bond with Prince William and Prince Harry. He attended Prince William and Princess Catherine’s wedding at Westminster Abbey in 2011 and maintained a close relationship with both brothers, also attending the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex at Windsor Castle in 2018.
Lord Fellowes was portrayed by actor Andrew Havill in the popular Netflix series “The Crown.”
