Mary Morrison (courtier) explained

Mary Morrison
Office1:Woman of the Bedchamber to Queen Elizabeth II
Term1:1960-2022
Birth Date:17 May 1937
Father:John Morrison
Relatives:John Morrison (brother)
Charles Morrison (brother)
Peter Morrison (brother)
Frederick Smith (grandfather)
Hugh Morrison (grandfather)

The Honourable Dame Mary Anne Morrison (born 17 May 1937) is a former lady-in-waiting to Elizabeth II, and was a Woman of the Bedchamber from 1960 until the Queen's death in 2022.

Biography

Morrison is the daughter of John Morrison, 1st Baron Margadale and Margaret, Lady Margadale (née Smith). Her father and brothers were active as politicians of the Conservative Party. She was educated at Heathfield School, Ascot and at schools abroad, before becoming a lady-in-waiting.[1] [2]

On 14 June 2013, it was announced that Morrison would be made a Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order in the 2013 Birthday Honours, having previously been Dame Commander.[3] She has been described as one of the queen's closest confidantes.[4] She has chosen not to use the style of Dame, but exclusively The Honourable.[1]

Following Elizabeth II's death, she along with the late Queen's other ladies-in-waiting were made "Ladies of the Household", responsible for helping with events at Buckingham Palace.[5]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Hon Mary Anne Morrison, GCVO. Debrett's. People of Today. 1 November 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20141111205054/http://www.debretts.com/people-of-today/profile/2172/Mary-Anne-MORRISON. 11 November 2014.
  2. News: The Independent. They also serve, who only ush: Why is the Queen followed by people in antique clothes?. Richard. Tomlinson. 20 December 1992. 1 November 2014.
  3. Web site: Queen’s Ladies-in-Waiting given highest personal honour. Royal Central. 14 June 2013. 1 November 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20181019105120/http://royalcentral.co.uk/state/queens-ladies-in-waiting-given-highest-personal-honour-9373. 19 October 2018. dead.
  4. News: Queen leads Royal Family on island cruise. The Telegraph. 23 July 2010. 1 November 2014. Simon. Johnson.
  5. Web site: Camilla scraps ladies-in-waiting in modernising move. BBC News. Sean. Coughlan. 27 November 2022. 27 November 2022.