The late Queen’s cousin, Mary, Dowager Countess of Strathmore, has died at home aged 92, her family has announced.
The countess, born Mary Pamela McCorquodale, in 1932, was directly related to Queen Elizabeth II as she was the niece of the Queen Mother.
She died at her home in Melrose, on the Scottish border, on Monday, her family confirmed.
Previously, she lived in Glamis Castle, Angus, with her late husband Fergus Bowes Lyon, who became the 17th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne in 1972.
There, she was often visited by Queen Elizabeth and other royal visitors, including the Queen Mother, Princess Margaret and the then Prince Charles.
A family statement, per The Courier, recalled how she was a ‘marvellous role model’ to all around and was ‘much loved’ by her family and community.
It read: ‘They lived in The White House, Glamis for some of their early married life and continued to visit frequently from East Lothian where they lived while Fergus worked as a stockbroker in Edinburgh.’
The statement added that the family renovated the Castle from 1972 to 1975 when they moved in, ‘throwing themselves into life on the estate and in the wider Angus community’.
The late Queen’s cousin, Mary, Dowager Countess of Strathmore, has died at home aged 92, her family have announced
The Dowager Countess is pictured with her son, Lord Strathmore in the Italian Garden and Glamis Castle in 2010
The family recalled how important Mary had been in the community: ‘A recent kind message sent to Mary just before she died read: “Speaking of the ‘best’ I would like to reinforce to you what a marvellous role model and figurehead you have been for Glamis over the years.”
‘Your dedication to, and love of, Glamis has shone through at every level.
‘You are a very much loved and important figure in the history of Glamis, not just to the staff but to the wider community.’
According to Mary, Queen Elizabeth had a ‘great affection’ for Glamis and had created ‘many happy memories’ there.
During the late monarch’s final visit, before her death in September 2022, the Countess explained they went on the golf buggy and went round the grounds for around an hour and a half.
Speaking of her lifelong friend and cousin, she said she believed the Queen knew it was her ‘final visit’ and had come to ‘say goodbye’.
The Dowager Countess was born on May 31, 1932, at her grandparents’ house in London to her father Norman and mother Barbara.
In September 1939, the family moved from Edinburgh to Buckinghamshire and, after the war, she moved to Paris to learn French before studying at Oxford.
Mary was praised as a ‘much-loved’ member of the community, who was a ‘marvellous role model’
She was involved in a local protest with villagers over the proposed closure of Glamis Post Office in 2008
She met her husband, Fergus, in 1955 and married the following April – with their wedding attended by the Queen, Queen Mother and Princess Margaret.
Following their marriage, the Countess had a 60-year association with Glamis, where she was loved and respected by many.
As well as a home for their three children – Michael, Elizabeth and Diane – she helped ensure Glamis became a popular tourist destination for people visiting Scotland.
Mary faced considerable hardship in her life, as her husband passed away in 1987, while her son Michael, died in 2016 aged 58.
She found solace in her hard work with charitable causes, including Multiple Sclerosis Society, Age Concern and Cancer Relief, and was an enthusiastic supporter of the arts in Scotland.
She also joined forces with the Day Care Committee for the Elderly, Nursing Benevolent Fund, Brittle Bone Society and Child Psychotherapy Trust.
She also worked closely with the local community, including a campaign to save the local post office in 2008 – a village staple used by the Queen Mother when she was staying in the Castle nearby.
Her home was also visited by political figures, including former Prime Ministers Margaret Thatcher and John Major.
The Queen Mother is pictured with Princess Margaret at Glamis Castle, which has close links to the royal family
After suffering a series of heartbreaks, the Dowager Countess dedicated herself to charitable causes and the local community
She also welcomed several American astronauts to the castle through a special relationship with NASA.
One instance showed the Countess display her sense of humour – when Air Force Colonel Alvin Drew called Glamis Castle, and had to leave a message on her answering machine.
She joked at the time that she was likely the ‘only granny’ who had ever received a call from outer space.
Mary leaves behind her two children, Lady Elizabeth Leeming and Lady Diana Godfrey-Faussett, as well as 11 grandchildren.
A service of thanksgiving in her memory is due to be held on May 16 at St Fergus Kirk in Glamis.
