Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Support from loyal and trusted friend
ON the sad and lonely journey to her husband’s funeral, the Queen had her loyal lady-in-waiting, Lady Susan Hussey, by her side.
Lady Susan joined Her Majesty in the state Bentley for the short journey from the Sovereign’s Entrance of Windsor Castle to the Galilee Porch of St George’s Chapel.
The Queen is understood to have personally asked Lady Susan to join her for the journey, as she prepared to say farewell to Prince Philip, her husband of 73 years.
One of a close inner circle of ladies-inwaiting, Lady Susan has been by the Queen’s side since the birth of Prince Andrew in 1960, when she joined the royal household.
Known affectionately as “Number One Head Girl” in an office once described as having the cheery atmosphere of a girls’ school common room, she has been one of the key trusted figures helping the Queen in her later life.
Such is her bond with the family that Lady Susan, 81, is one of Prince William’s godparents, and was at his confirmation in 1997. A Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order, she is the youngest daughter of the 12th Earl of Waldegrave and sister of William Waldegrave, the former Conservative Cabinet minister.
She was married to the late BBC chairman Marmaduke Hussey.
Close to the Prince of Wales, her steady influence has been felt across generations of the Royal Family. She has shared her knowledge of the workings of the palace with newcomers to royal life, including Lady Diana Spencer and Meghan Markle.
She is not paid for the role and continues to serves out of personal loyalty to the Queen. Her understated support was invaluable throughout Saturday’s proceedings.