Prince William and Prince Harry suffer new heartbreak as their uncle dies aged 82

The British courtier was among the late Queen’s most important advisers.

Lord Robert Fellowes, the uncle of the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Sussex, has died at the age of 82.

He served as private secretary to Queen Elizabeth II for nine years, and was married to Princess Diana’s sister, Lady Jane Spencer for 46 years.

The British courtier was the late monarch’s most important adviser during the divorces of three of her children and the late Princess of Wales’s death in 1997.

Lord Fellowes helped the Queen through a particularly difficult year in 1992 – which she dubbed her “annus horribilis” – as it was the year Charles and Diana separated, Andrew and Sarah separated, Anne got divorced and Windsor Castle went up in flames.

He passed away on 29 July and his cause of death is “undisclosed” at this time.

Tributes were led today by Princess Diana’s brother the Earl Spencer who wrote: “My absolutely exceptional brother-in-law, Robert, is no longer with us.

“A total gentleman – in all the best meanings of that word – he was a man of humour, wisdom and utter integrity. I’m deeply proud to have been his brother-in-law.”

Prince William, Harry's emotional 'reconciliation photo' moves fans to tears

Lord Fellowes married Diana’s sister Lady Jane Spencer in 1978 with whom he shares three children – Alexander, Eleanor and Laura.

He was closely connected to the royals through more than just marriage and served as Queen Elizabeth’s private secretary between 1990 and 1999, although he worked for the Queen in more junior roles since 1977.

Lord Fellowes remained a close confidant of the Queen until her death in September 2022 and remained an equerry.

He was born in 1941, and according to The Times, met the late Queen as baby when she was still a princess.

The monarch later remarked: “Robert is the only one of my private secretaries I have held in my arms.”

The Queen and Prince Philip viewing the extensive floral tributes to Princess Diana.
The Queen and Prince Philip viewing the extensive floral tributes to Princess Diana

While Lord Fellowes studied at Eton, he did not attend university.

In his capacity as private secretary to the Queen, he was not only a confidant but instrumental at some of the key moments in the monarch’s life.

He is reported to have sped up her return to London from Balmoral following news of Diana’s untimely death in 1997, when she faced harsh criticism for not returning to the city sooner.

Opening up to the Daily Telegraph about his late sister-in-law’s respective work, he said: “She was very good at it – an extraordinary communicator with a great feeling for the underdog.

“It never became patronising. She chose the areas where she thought she could make a difference, and on the whole, she did that.”

Related Posts

🚨🔥 COUNTDOWN Season 1 ends TODAY on Prime Video — and the finale changes everything! 😱 Fans are already begging for more…

Fans were left screaming at their screens after Countdown dropped its jaw-dropping finale—and now the mastermind behind the series is spilling secrets. From why the cliffhanger had…

🐺💥 BREAKING: The Witcher S4 release date leak shocks fans — Netflix may drop it earlier than anyone thought! ⚡ And yes, Henry Cavill’s name is back in the buzz… 👉 [

The Continent is abuzz with excitement as whispers from the shadows suggest that The Witcher Season 4 might arrive far sooner than fans expected. After the heart-pounding…

Countdown’s Jaw-Dropping Season 1 Finale Leaves Fans Reeling: Will Jensen Ackles, Jessica Camacho, and Eric Dane Return to Unravel the Explosive Cliffhanger in Season 2?

The curtains have closed on the first season of Amazon Prime Video’s high-octane crime thriller Countdown, and what a finale it was. Premiering its 13th and final…

Heartbreak and High Stakes in My Life With the Walter Boys Season 3: Will Jackie’s Love Triangle with Cole and Alex End in a Dreamy Finale or a Shocking Departure?

The small town of Silver Falls, Colorado, is about to be swept back into the whirlwind of romance, drama, and family turmoil as My Life With the…

Love Triangle Explodes in Silver Falls: My Life With the Walter Boys Season 3 Drops December 2025 with Heart-Wrenching Choices, New Romances, and a Shocking Twist That Will Leave Fans Speechless!

The quaint, idyllic town of Silver Falls, Colorado, is about to become the epicenter of emotional chaos as My Life With the Walter Boys gears up for…

Bill Nighy and Helena Bonham Carter’s Explosive Family Secrets Unravel in BBC’s California Avenue: A 1970s Drama of Betrayal, Love, and Haunting Past Promises to Leave You Speechless

In the lush, rolling countryside of 1970s England, a secluded canal-side caravan park serves as the unlikely stage for a story that promises to tug at heartstrings…