As you likely know, the Royal Family is very large. Indeed, with so many members, it can get slightly confusing to remember who is related to who, this mainly applies to the Firm's extended family.
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The side of the family that is often overlooked is the non-royal side. Prince William and Prince Harry also have a large family on their mother, Princess Diana’s side—including their uncle, Charles, who has released a book about his school days.
They also have an aunt, Lady Jane, who was married to Lord Robert Fellowes, who recently died. Did you know that this uncle had a close relationship with Queen Elizabeth during a difficult time?
Lord Robert Fellowes dies from ‘undisclosed causes’
As reported by Newsweek, Lord Robert Fellowes died on July 29, 2024, at the age of 82 from ‘undisclosed causes’. Lord Robert was born at Sandringham House in 1941. According to The Sun, he was related to Sarah Ferguson, Prince Andrew’s ex-wife, who still lives at Royal Lodge, and Julian Fellowes, the creator of the hit TV show, Downton Abbey.
Lord Fellowes’ death was announced on Wednesday, July 31, 2024, but no more details have been shared so far. Lord Robert Fellowes leaves behind his wife, Lady Jane, and three children, Laura, Alexander and Eleanor.
As you have noticed, Lord Robert has several ties to the Royal Family, but did you know they go beyond familial relations? As mentioned before, he had quite a close relationship with the late Queen Elizabeth.
Lord Robert Fellowes had several connections to the Royal Family
Lord Robert Fellowes’ main connection to the Royal Family was through the late Princess Diana. He was married to her sister, Lady Jane, which made Lord Fellowes Diana’s brother-in-law. Lady Jane and Lord Robert tied the knot in 1978.
Lord Fellowes – devoted private secretary, brother-in-law of Princess Diana and uncle to Prince William and Prince Harry – passes away https://t.co/Vf3X57EirSpic.twitter.com/o9oQvamOU8
— Tatler (@Tatlermagazine) August 1, 2024
Moreover, this meant that Lord Fellowes was Prince William and Prince Harry’s uncle, with whom they allegedly spent many holidays. According to Tina Brown, who wrote the royal biography, The Palace Papers, Lord and Lady Fellowes were an important part of William and Harry’s lives.
She wrote in her book, as per Newsweek:
It was Diana's more sober-sided sister, don't-rock-the-boat Jane, who became a steady presence in the boys' lives, hosting them on country weekends in Norfolk with their cousins.
Lord Robert Fellowes also worked for the late Queen Elizabeth. As per The Sun, Lord Fellowes became Queen Elizabeth’s private secretary between 1990 and 1999, which has been considered a highly difficult time for the late Queen as three of her four children were going through divorces and there was also a fire at Windsor Castle.
A fun little anecdote about Lord Robert’s birth was that then-Princess Elizabeth was present at Sandringham when he was born in 1941, she was just five years old. As per Newsweek, the late Queen Elizabeth had revealed she held Lord Fellowes in high regard:
Robert is the only one of my private secretaries I have held in my arms.
Read more:
Royal Family mourns the death of close friend who was once the centre of racial controversy
Charles Spencer: Princess Diana’s brother to be divorced for the third time
Sources used:
Newsweek: ‘Grief for Prince William and Harry as Relative Dies’
The Sun: ‘Helping hand Who was Lord Robert Fellowes? Queen Elizabeth II’s private secretary and uncle of Prince William & Prince Harry’
