Lady Gilmour of Craigmillar (1927-2004)
Michael Rhodes
Princess Margaret, and a Bridesmaid to HRH The Princess Elizabeth, 20
November, 1947, died after a long illness, 17 October, 2004. She was
aged 76.
Lady Caroline, as a friend of Princess Elizabeth since childhood, was
asked to be one of her bridesmaids in 1947. The other attendants were
the bride's sister, Princess Margaret, and cousins, Princess
Alexandra, the Hon Margaret Elphinstone, Lady Pamela Mountbatten, Lady
Mary Cambridge, Diana Bowes Lyon, and another childhood friend, Lady
Elizabeth Lambart.
Four of the bridesmaids are now deceased, the others are - Diana
Bowes Lyon (1986), Lady Mary Cambridge (1999), and Princess Margaret
(2002).
Lady Gilmour was born Lady Caroline Margaret Montagu-Douglas-Scott, 17
November, 1927, a daughter of the 8th Duke of Buccleuch and
Queensberry, KT, GCVO, PC, by his wife, (Vreda Esther) Mary Lascelles.
She married 10 July, 1951, the then Ian Hedworth John Little Gilmour
(b. 8 July, 1926), the elder son of Lt-Col Sir John Little Gilmour, 2nd
Baronet, by his wife, the Hon. Victoria Laura Cadogan (a granddaughter
of the 5th Earl Cadogan), four sons, and one daughter, viz:-
(i) Hon David Robert Gilmour, b. 1952 (heir to his father's baronetcy)
(ii) Hon Oliver John Gilmour, b. 1953
(iii) Hon Christopher Simon Gilmour, b. 1956
(iv) Hon Jane Victoria Gilmour, b.
(v) Hon Andrew James Gilmour, b. 1964
Her husband was editor of The Spectator, 1954-59, was Conservative MP
for Central Norfolk, 1962-74, and for Chesham and Amersham, 1974-92,
was sworn of the Privy Council, 1973; Secretary of State for Defence,
1974, and Lord Privy Seal, 1979-81; he succeeded to his father's
baronetcy in 1977, and was created a life peer, as Baron Gilmour of
Craigmillar, of Craigmillar in the District of the City of Edinburgh,
1992.
Lady Gilmour is survived by her husband and children.
Source: Daily Telegraph, 19 Oct, 2004.
Michael Rhodes
Michael Rhodes wrote:
> The Lady Gilmour of Craigmillar, a lifelong friend of the Queen and
> Princess Margaret, and a Bridesmaid to HRH The Princess Elizabeth, 20
> November, 1947, died after a long illness, 17 October, 2004. She was
> aged 76.
A Memorial Service for Baroness Gilmour of Craigmillar will be held on
Tuesday 14 December, 2004, at 11.15 a.m. at St. James's Church,
Piccadilly, London.
Source: Daily Telegraph 12 Nov, 2004.