Mary Morrison (courtier)

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The Hon. Mary Morrison accompanying the Queen on a visit to Hitchin in 2012. Royal goodbye, Her Majesty The Queen leaves Hitchin, June 14, 2012 - panoramio.jpg
The Hon. Mary Morrison accompanying the Queen on a visit to Hitchin in 2012.

The Honourable Dame Mary Anne Morrison GCVO (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] She received the Queen Elizabeth II Version of the Royal Household Long and Faithful Service Medal in 1980 for 20 years of service to the Royal Family and has subsequently received 30, 40, 50 and 60 year service bars.

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]

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References

  1. 1 2 "The Hon Mary Anne Morrison, GCVO". People of Today. Debrett's. Archived from the original on 11 November 2014. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  2. Tomlinson, Richard (20 December 1992). "They also serve, who only ush: Why is the Queen followed by people in antique clothes?". The Independent. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  3. "Queen's Ladies-in-Waiting given highest personal honour". Royal Central. 14 June 2013. Archived from the original on 19 October 2018. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  4. Johnson, Simon (23 July 2010). "Queen leads Royal Family on island cruise". The Telegraph. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  5. Coughlan, Sean (27 November 2022). "Camilla scraps ladies-in-waiting in modernising move". BBC News. Retrieved 27 November 2022.