Estranged children turn out for funeral of lonely Lady Lucan

The bitter family rift that divided the Lucan family for more than 35 years finally ended this week when Veronica, the Dowager Countess of Lucan, was laid to rest.

Although the widow of the 20th century’s most famous fugitive did not speak to her children for more than three decades, her estranged son and heir George, the 8th earl of Lucan, attended the small service along with close family members including his sisters Frances and Camilla.

Veronica was found dead in her central London home aged 80 seven weeks ago. Poignantly, prayers are being said in her memory during holy communion at St George’s hanover Square this Sunday, which is where her son George, 50, wed Danish industrialist’s daughter Anne- Sofie Foghsgaard last year. Professional gambler Lord ‘ Lucky’ Lucan was thought to be trying to kill Veronica when he bludgeoned nanny Sandra Rivett to death with a lead pipe at his family home in Belgravia in 1974. George and his two sisters continued to live with their mother. however custody was transferred to Veronica’s sister, Christina Shand Kydd, and her husband, Bill, eight years later after Lady Lucan reportedly became mentally ill. Veronica lived alone around the corner from the murder scene in a leased property held in a Lucan trust.

Veronica only formally became the Dowager Countess last year after a death certificate was finally issued for her husband, enabling their son, George, to inherit the family title. Friends of Lady Lucan had hoped George’s marriage would bring about a reconciliation of the estranged family. But it was not to be.

She launched a withering attack accusing him of ‘ bartering the accidental privilege of his birth’ by abandoning her to live with his aunt and uncle.

George said he had no alternative as he was only 14 at the time and under the direction of his guardian-in-law, the Official Solicitor, he had to move.

It is believed that Veronica intended to leave nothing to her children and even put her solicitor’s name on forms when asked for her next of kin.