Fortune , Duchess of Grafton GCVO
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Brian Coleman
Dec 4, 2021, 6:51:37 AM12/4/21
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The death has been announced of the Mistress of the Robes Fortune , Duchess of Grafton GCVO at the grand age of 101
Richard R
Dec 6, 2021, 3:16:32 AM12/6/21
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From the Times of 6 Dec 2021:
Fortune, Duchess of Grafton obituary
Close friend and confidante of the Queen who in a break with tradition was appointed mistress of the robes while still a countess
As mistress of the robes, the Duchess of Grafton’s role traditionally involved arranging the Queen’s clothes and jewellery. In reality, Fortune Grafton had little to do with the royal robes; instead, she was responsible for looking after the Queen’s ladies-in-waiting and taking her turn at the Queen’s side during state occasions and on royal tours.
As Countess of Euston she was appointed lady of the bedchamber in March 1953, in time to assist at the Coronation three months later. In 1967 the Queen broke with tradition by promoting her to mistress of the robes, a position that would normally have gone to a higher-ranking duchess; a situation that was regularised three years later when she became a duchess.
Grafton became one of the Queen’s closest and most discreet confidantes, never once speaking to the press...
Ann Fortune Smith was born in 1920, the eldest of four children of Captain Eric Smith, MC, a scion of the Smith banking dynasty who was severely wounded in the Great War, became managing director of the travel agent Thomas Cook and was later chairman of Rolls-Royce. Her mother, Beatrice (née Williams), was descended from Thomas Cook and her younger brothers were Sir John, a banker, Conservative MP and founder of the Landmark Trust; Jeremy, a banker who rowed in the Oxford crew that sank in the 1951 Boat Race; and Mark, an eye surgeon.
She was raised at Ashfold, the family seat in Slaugham, West Sussex, and was presented at Court in May 1938. During the Season she was a guest at a ball at Euston Hall and met Hugh FitzRoy, the Earl of Euston, who was descended from Charles II’s illegitimate offspring. He had been a possible suitor for Princess Elizabeth but during the war served as ADC to Field Marshal Viscount Wavell, the Viceroy of India, possibly a manoeuvre by Earl Mountbatten to clear the way for Prince Philip of Greece...
James, the eldest of their five children and a godson of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, died from cancer in 2009 aged 61 and as a result when the Duke of Grafton died (obituary, April 12, 2011) the title passed to the duchess’s grandson, Henry FitzRoy. She is survived by their remaining four children: Henrietta, a volunteer at Great Ormond Street; Virginia, a homeopath and artist who is a goddaughter of the Queen; Charles, who runs Fine Art Travel; and Rose, a volunteer at Royal Trinity Hospice.
...After the duke’s death the duchess moved into an apartment off the King’s Road in Chelsea, passing comment among friends about lapses in etiquette in films such as The Young Victoria (2009). After watching some episodes of the Netflix series The Crown, she turned to Lady Charteris of Amisfield (obituary, April 20, 2017), another lady-in-waiting, and asked in horror: “Can the general public see this?” Shortly before the first lockdown she was visited by the Queen, who delivered in person the traditional royal card to mark her 100th birthday.
Fortune Duchess of Grafton, GCVO, mistress of the robes, was born on February 24, 1920. She died on December 3, 2021, aged 101
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/fortune-duchess-of-grafton-obituary-8qvgnzq2w
From the Telegraph of 6 Dec 2021:
The Dowager Duchess of Grafton, steadfast confidante of the Queen who performed the duties of Mistress of the Robes with faultless discretion – obituary
The office of Mistress of the Robes has its origins in Elizabeth’s reign; few people recently have had such close connections with Court
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2021/12/05/dowager-duchess-grafton-steadfast-confidante-queen-performed/
Fortune, Duchess of Grafton obituary
Close friend and confidante of the Queen who in a break with tradition was appointed mistress of the robes while still a countess
As mistress of the robes, the Duchess of Grafton’s role traditionally involved arranging the Queen’s clothes and jewellery. In reality, Fortune Grafton had little to do with the royal robes; instead, she was responsible for looking after the Queen’s ladies-in-waiting and taking her turn at the Queen’s side during state occasions and on royal tours.
As Countess of Euston she was appointed lady of the bedchamber in March 1953, in time to assist at the Coronation three months later. In 1967 the Queen broke with tradition by promoting her to mistress of the robes, a position that would normally have gone to a higher-ranking duchess; a situation that was regularised three years later when she became a duchess.
Grafton became one of the Queen’s closest and most discreet confidantes, never once speaking to the press...
Ann Fortune Smith was born in 1920, the eldest of four children of Captain Eric Smith, MC, a scion of the Smith banking dynasty who was severely wounded in the Great War, became managing director of the travel agent Thomas Cook and was later chairman of Rolls-Royce. Her mother, Beatrice (née Williams), was descended from Thomas Cook and her younger brothers were Sir John, a banker, Conservative MP and founder of the Landmark Trust; Jeremy, a banker who rowed in the Oxford crew that sank in the 1951 Boat Race; and Mark, an eye surgeon.
She was raised at Ashfold, the family seat in Slaugham, West Sussex, and was presented at Court in May 1938. During the Season she was a guest at a ball at Euston Hall and met Hugh FitzRoy, the Earl of Euston, who was descended from Charles II’s illegitimate offspring. He had been a possible suitor for Princess Elizabeth but during the war served as ADC to Field Marshal Viscount Wavell, the Viceroy of India, possibly a manoeuvre by Earl Mountbatten to clear the way for Prince Philip of Greece...
James, the eldest of their five children and a godson of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, died from cancer in 2009 aged 61 and as a result when the Duke of Grafton died (obituary, April 12, 2011) the title passed to the duchess’s grandson, Henry FitzRoy. She is survived by their remaining four children: Henrietta, a volunteer at Great Ormond Street; Virginia, a homeopath and artist who is a goddaughter of the Queen; Charles, who runs Fine Art Travel; and Rose, a volunteer at Royal Trinity Hospice.
...After the duke’s death the duchess moved into an apartment off the King’s Road in Chelsea, passing comment among friends about lapses in etiquette in films such as The Young Victoria (2009). After watching some episodes of the Netflix series The Crown, she turned to Lady Charteris of Amisfield (obituary, April 20, 2017), another lady-in-waiting, and asked in horror: “Can the general public see this?” Shortly before the first lockdown she was visited by the Queen, who delivered in person the traditional royal card to mark her 100th birthday.
Fortune Duchess of Grafton, GCVO, mistress of the robes, was born on February 24, 1920. She died on December 3, 2021, aged 101
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/fortune-duchess-of-grafton-obituary-8qvgnzq2w
From the Telegraph of 6 Dec 2021:
The Dowager Duchess of Grafton, steadfast confidante of the Queen who performed the duties of Mistress of the Robes with faultless discretion – obituary
The office of Mistress of the Robes has its origins in Elizabeth’s reign; few people recently have had such close connections with Court
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2021/12/05/dowager-duchess-grafton-steadfast-confidante-queen-performed/
Richard R
Dec 6, 2021, 3:23:46 AM12/6/21
to Peerage News
From the Telegraph of 6 Dec 2021: Fortune, Duchess of Grafton, GCVO, died peacefully at home in London on Friday, 3rd December 2021, aged 101. Beloved wife of Hugh, and mother of James, Henrietta, Virginia, Charles and Rose, Grandmother and great grandmother. Funeral private. Memorial Service to be announced.
colinp
Dec 6, 2021, 9:26:58 AM12/6/21
to Peerage News
She was the senior non-royal Dame having been appointed DCVO in the 1970 New Year's Honours list (advanced to GCVO in 1980), the senior Dame being Princess Alexandra of Kent - appointed GCVO in 1960. The senior non-royal Dame is now Dame Janet Baker appointed DBE in the 1976 New Year's Honours list. Coincidentally the senior non-royal Knight, Sir Sonny Ramphal, was also appointed, as knight bachelor, in the 1970 New Year's Honours list.
colinp
Dec 6, 2021, 9:35:17 AM12/6/21
to Peerage News
She was also the oldest GCVO, the oldest GCVO is now the Earl of Airlie
Richard R
Mar 22, 2022, 4:23:58 AM3/22/22
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From the Times of 22 March 2022: GRAFTON Fortune, Duchess of Grafton GCVO. A memorial service will be held on Thursday 12th May 2022 at The Queen’s Chapel of the Savoy in London at noon. Please reply to...19 Grafton Square, London...
Richard R
May 13, 2022, 4:33:14 AM5/13/22
to Peerage News
COURT CIRCULAR
Windsor Castle
12th May, 2022
The Queen was represented by the Hon Mary Morrison (Lady in Waiting) at the Memorial Service for Fortune, Duchess of Grafton (Mistress of the Robes) which was held at The Queen’s Chapel of the Savoy, London WC2, today...
12th May, 2022
The Queen was represented by the Hon Mary Morrison (Lady in Waiting) at the Memorial Service for Fortune, Duchess of Grafton (Mistress of the Robes) which was held at The Queen’s Chapel of the Savoy, London WC2, today...
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