Queen’s fresh heartache as lady-in-waiting Lady Farnham dies weeks after death of second friend

The Queen has suffered fresh heartache with two more major losses just weeks apart after a devastating year.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II has lost two close contemporaries in a matter of weeks. Picture: AFP

The Queen’s devoted lady-in-waiting has died just weeks after the death of a second close friend in a double personal royal tragedy.

Lady Farnham, 90, was a close confidante of the Queen and had supported her since 1987 in her role as Lady of the Bedchamber.

According to The Sun, she rode alongside Her Majesty on the way to the Diamond Jubilee service in 2012 when Prince Philip was too ill to attend.

Lady Farnham also accompanied the couple on royal tours during her 44 years of service for the Queen.

A royal source told The Telegraph: “It is very sad for the Queen. Everyone loved Lady Farnham, she was always so good humoured. She was also a very glamorous and attractive woman.

The Queen wiping away a tear at a ceremony, behind her is her Lady in Waiting, the Duchess Of Grafton. Picture: Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images

“She was always very generous to new people joining the household.

“It has not been a good year for the Queen - losing her husband and then the Duchess of Grafton and now Lady Farnham.

“They were dear friends who supported the Queen on official duties. Unfortunately a sad consequence of living a long life is that you have to say goodbye to a lot of people you care about.”

Lady Farnham, who was married to Barry Maxwell, the 12th Baron Farnham, passed away at home on December 29.

Her death is the second tragedy to hit the Queen after close friend, the Duchess of Grafton Ann Fortune FitzRoy, died at the start of December.

She served as the royal’s Mistress of the Robes from 1967 until her death at the age of 101.

Other notable losses for the Queen at year’s end were emeritus Archbishop and Nobel Peace Laureate Desmond Tutu and British transgender icon April Ashley, Member of the British Empire, as awarded to her by the Queen in 2012.

Desmond Tutu Picture: Getty Images

April Ashley Picture: WPA Pool/Getty Images

It comes as the Queen is also still mourning Prince Philip, who passed away last April aged 99.

She moved viewers to tears on Christmas Day while making reference to her beloved husband in her annual speech.

The monarch said: “Although it’s a time of great happiness and good cheer for many, Christmas can be hard for those who have lost loved ones.

“This year, especially, I understand why.

“But for me, in the months since the death of my beloved Philip, I have drawn great comfort from the warmth and affection of the many tributes to his life and work – from around the country, the Commonwealth and the world.”

Paying tribute to her husband of 73 years, she continued: “His sense of service, intellectual curiosity and capacity to squeeze fun out of any situation – were all irrepressible.

“That mischievous, inquiring twinkle was as bright at the end as when I first set eyes on him.

“But life, of course, consists of final partings as well as first meetings; and as much as I and my family miss him, I know he would want us to enjoy Christmas.”

— With The Sun.