Diana Marion Maxwell, Baroness Farnham, ( Gunnis; 24 May 1931 – 29 December 2021) was a British courtier who served as Lady of the Bedchamber to

Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until Death and state funeral of Elizabeth II, her death in 2022. She was queen ...

from 1987 until her death in 2021.

Biography

Born Diana Marion Gunnis on 24 May 1931, she was the elder daughter of Nigel Eric Murray Gunnis, of Branden,

Sissinghurst Sissinghurst is a small village in the borough of Tunbridge Wells in Kent, England. Originally called ''Milkhouse Street'' (also referred to as ''Mylkehouse''), Sissinghurst changed its name in the 1850s, possibly to avoid association with the smu ...

, Kent. In 1959, she married Barry Maxwell, 12th Baron Farnham. They adopted two daughters, Harriet and Sophia. Lady Farnham was named a Lady of the Bedchamber to

on 4 August 1987 upon the retirement of

Patricia Nevill, Marchioness of Abergavenny Mary Patricia Nevill, Marchioness of Abergavenny (20 October 1915 – 22 February 2005) was a friend and Lady of the Bedchamber to Elizabeth II. Life She was born Mary Patricia Harrison, the daughter of John Harrison of King’s Walden, and his ...

. Owing to her connections to Ireland, Lady Farnham accompanied The Queen on her landmark state visit to the Republic of Ireland in 2011. In 2012, during the Diamond Jubilee, she notably rode alongside The Queen to

St Paul's Cathedral St Paul's Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral in London and is the seat of the Bishop of London. The cathedral serves as the mother church of the Diocese of London. It is on Ludgate Hill at the highest point of the City of London and is a Grad ...

for the Service of Thanksgiving after Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, was hospitalized. Lord and Lady Farnham donated the Farnham collection of photographs, mementos, letters, war medals and papers relating to the Farnham family and their connection to

County Cavan County Cavan ( ; gle, Contae an Chabháin) is a Counties of Ireland, county in Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Ulster and is part of the Border Region. It is named after the town of Cavan and is base ...

to the Cavan County Museum and the National Library of Ireland. She died on 29 December 2021 at the age of 90. Her funeral was held in the Chapel Royal,

St James's Palace St James's Palace is the most senior royal palace in London, the capital of the United Kingdom. The palace gives its name to the Court of St James's, which is the monarch's royal court, and is located in the City of Westminster in London. Altho ...

, on 14 January 2022. Dame Mary Morrison represented The Queen, and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester attended. Her ashes are to be interred in

Kilmore Cathedral St Fethlimidh's Cathedral, Kilmore is one of two cathedral churches in the Diocese of Kilmore, Elphin and Ardagh (along with St John the Baptist Cathedral, Sligo) in the Church of Ireland. It is situated in the parish of Kilmore, southwest of th ...

at a later date.

Honours

Royal Victorian Order: ** 1 January 1998: Commander (CVO) ** 12 June 2010: Dame Commander (DCVO)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Farnham, Diana Maxwell, Baroness 1931 births 2021 deaths British baronesses Ladies of the Bedchamber Dames Commander of the Royal Victorian Order