Sadness for royal family when close friend dies aged 97
David Ogilvy, 13th Earl of Airlie, one of the late Queen Elizabeth II’s oldest and dearest friends, has passed away at the age of 97.
Born in Scotland, he served as page to his father, David, 12th Earl of Airlie, at the coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth at Westminster Abbey on May 12, 1937.
After the Queen’s death last September, he became the last surviving participant in that momentous event.
News of his death was shared on social media by Alastair Bruce, godfather to the Earl of Wessex, son of the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh.
The sad announcement was met with an outpouring of tribute from his followers who rushed to share their thoughts.
David Ogilvy, 13th Earl of Airlie, seen here with the late Queen Elizabeth II at the Royal Garden Party at Holyrood in Edinburgh in 2009. The two became friends when they were children
David (seen here with Princess Margaret) was a key figure in the royal household and regularly stayed in Sandringham and Balmoral to take family photographs
One person wrote, “Oh no, this is so very sad. Such a lovely man, and as will inevitably be said, what a life. But he was really great.’
“Oh no he was a huge favourite, condolences to his family and everyone who knew him,” added another mourner.
While a third wrote: ‘What a remarkable lifelong service to the Crown. May he rest in peace.’
After the Queen’s death, David served as King Charles’ Chancellor of the Thistle and played a pivotal role in the monarch’s coronation in May.
Born just a month after Elizabeth in 1926, the two became close friends after meeting at his birthday party.
He shared an insight into their relationship on BBC Radio 4’s Today program after her death, recalling: ‘The two princesses stayed at Glamis Castle, which is only a few miles from Cortachy, my home.
“We had a tea party and my mom and dad had given me a pedal car as a birthday present.
“As the party started, my dad said to me, ‘I think it would be really nice if you invited Princess Elizabeth for a ride in your present’ — this little car.
“I said, ‘Certainly not. This is my birthday, this is my car and no one else is going to drive it.’
“This caused some fighting and I lost the battle. So that was the first time I met her. That is now 90 years ago.’
David became a key figure in the royal household, staying regularly at Sandringham and Balmoral.
In 1984 the Queen made him Lord Chamberlain.
He is such a fixture in the life of the royal family that he was portrayed in the 2006 film The Queen, by actor Douglas Reith.
David’s wife Virginia, seen here together, was one of the late Queen’s ladies-in-waiting
The sad news of David’s death was shared on social media by well-placed insider Alastair Bruce and sparked a wave of grief among followers
The Crown also included him, played by actor Martin Turner, in its fifth season to settle the divorce of Prince Charles and Princess Diana.
David’s widow, Virginia Ogilvy, Countess of Airlie, was one of the late monarch’s trusted ladies-in-waiting.
She often accompanied the Queen on trips to the US and met President and Barbara Bush at the White House.
David and Virginia had six children together – Lady Doune Mabell Ogilvy, Lady Jane Fortune Margaret Ogilvy, Lord David John Ogilvy, Hon. Bruce Patrick Mark Ogilvy, Lady Elizabeth Clementina Ogilvy and Hon. Patrick Alexander Ogilvy, and 11 grandchildren.