Royal heartbreak as late Queen’s cousin dies at home

The Dowager Countess of Strathmore and Kinghorne, who was the niece of the Queen Mother, has died at the age of 92.

A Royal cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth II, Mary, Dowager Countess of Strathmore, has passed away at her residence at the age of 92.

The Dowager Countess peacefully passed away on Monday at her home in Melrose, situated on the Scottish border.

Born on May 31, 1932, Mary Pamela McCorquodale was the daughter of Brigadier Norman McCorquodale and his wife, Barbara.

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As the niece of the late Queen Mother, she held a direct familial connection to the late monarch.

Notably, Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, and Princess Margaret all attended the Countess of Strathmore’s wedding to Fergus Bowes Lyon in 1956.

Throughout her nearly 60-year tenure at Glamis Castle in Angus, Scotland, the countess played a pivotal role in transforming the castle into a prominent Scottish tourist destination.

The castle, which also happens to be the birthplace of Princess Margaret, has welcomed a diverse range of visitors, from royalty to members of the general public.

According to a family statement, “They lived in The White House, Glamis for some of their early married life and continued to visit frequently from East Lothian where they lived while Fergus worked as a stockbroker in Edinburgh.”, reports the Mirror.

The statement further elaborated that “Fergus inherited Glamis and became the 17th Earl of Strathmore in 1972 and, after making some adaptations to make the private side of the castle suitable for a young family, they moved in in 1975 and threw themselves into life on the estate and in the wider Angus community.”

The castle has seen its fair share of royalty, including Queen Elizabeth, King Charles, and the Queen Mother – who was related to the Countess of Strathmore through marriage.

It even served as a retreat for the spouses of global leaders during the 2005 G8 Summit at Gleneagles.

Before her passing, Mary received a heartfelt message that read: “Speaking of the ‘best’ I would like to reinforce to you what a marvellous role model and figurehead you have been for Glamis over the years. Your dedication to, and love of, Glamis has shone through at every level.

“You are a very much loved and important figure in the history of Glamis, not just to the staff but to the wider community.”

Mary leaves behind two daughters, Lady Diana Godfrey-Faussett and Lady Elizabeth Leeming, the latter having served as a Lady-in-Waiting to the Queen.

Her husband’s death came on August 19, 1987, when he collapsed during a grouse shoot on their Glamis Castle estate. He was declared deceased en route to the hospital, and his title was inherited by his son Michael.

In a 2022 interview with Countryfile, Mary reminisced about the late Queen, suggesting that given the choice, Queen Elizabeth would have preferred a pastoral life over her Royal duties.

The countess revealed that prior to ascending to the throne, the late Queen would often spend time at Glamis Castle, the childhood home of the Queen Mother. She noted: “And I would imagine that both of them, if they could’ve chosen, would’ve chosen to have a country life.”