The sovereign of the United Kingdom has had a particularly rough year. Following the death of her beloved husband, Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth suffers yet another loss: her 68-year confidante has passed away. What were Ann Fortune FitzRoy’s responsibilities as the Duchess of Grafton in the British royal family?
Ann Fortune FitzRoy started working for the royal family in 1953 and remained with the Queen until her death on December 3rd. Natural causes claimed her life at the age of 101. Given their close friendship, the news of his death severely devastated the sovereign.
But what precisely was Ann Fortune, afterward Duchess of Grafton, doing for Queen Victoria? According to Hello! Magazine’s royal correspondents, the duchess has served in a variety of capacities over the years, but most recently she was in charge of Queen Elizabeth’s clothes and jewelry. As a result, his contribution to the sovereign’s royal duties was enormous.
The duchess was also in charge of the uniforms worn by senior officers who accompanied the queen to numerous public appearances and state occasions. Furthermore, the Duchess of Grafton accompanied Queen Elizabeth on numerous royal excursions, including those to Nigeria (1956), France (1972), Morocco (1980), and even Russia (1986). (1994). He was without a doubt a vital person for the sovereign, which explains her anguish at the hearing of her death.
For her years of devoted service, Queen Elizabeth bestowed the title of Lady Grand Cross of the Victorian Royal Order on the Duchess of Grafton, the highest rank of cavalry the queen bestows on those who represent or assist her.