Mary Patricia Nevill, Marchioness of Abergavenny DCVO (20 October 1915[1] – 22 February 2005) was a friend and Lady of the Bedchamber to Elizabeth II.
The Marchioness of Abergavenny | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Mary Patricia Harrison 20 October 1915 |
| Died | 22 February 2005 (aged 89) |
| Occupation | Lady of the Bedchamber to Elizabeth II |
| Spouse | |
| Children |
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| Parent(s) | John Harrison Hon. Margery Levy-Lawson |
Life
editShe was born Mary Patricia Harrison, the daughter of John Harrison of King’s Walden, and his wife, Hon. Margaret Harrison, a daughter of William Levy-Lawson, 3rd Baron Burnham.[2]
On 4 January 1938, she married the John Nevill, Earl of Lewes, who inherited his father's title of Marquess of Abergavenny in 1954, whereupon Patricia became Marchioness of Abergavenny.[2] They had five children:
- Lady Anne Patricia Nevill (b. 25 October 1938), married Captain Martin Whiteley and had issue.
- Lady Vivienne Margaret Nevill (15 February 1941 – 10 September 2018), married Alan Lillingston and had issue.
- Lady Jane Elizabeth Nevill (1944–1946), died in infancy.
- Henry John Montague Nevill, Earl of Lewes (1948–1965), educated at Eton, died without issue.[3]
- Lady Rose Nevill (b. 15 July 1950); a bridesmaid at the wedding of Princess Margaret and Antony Armstrong-Jones. Lady Rose married George Clowes and had issue.
In 1960 it was suggested to her father (who lived at King's Walden and was a neighbour to the Strathmores' home of St. Paul's Walden Bury) that she become an Extra Lady of the Bedchamber to the Queen; and she held this position from 1960 to 1966. She then became a full Lady of the Bedchamber from 1966 until her retirement in 1987, when she reverted to an Extra Lady until her death.[2]
Death
editThe Marchioness of Abergavenny died on 22 February 2005, aged 89.[4]
Honours
editIn 1970, Lady Abergavenny was appointed CVO and in 1981 DCVO. In 1969, she received the Grand Decoration in Gold with Star for Services to the Republic of Austria.[5][6]
| Country | Date | Appointment | Ribbon | Post-nominal letters | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 1970 | Commander of the Royal Victorian Order | 
|
CVO | Promoted to DCVO in 1981 |
| United Kingdom | 1981 | Dame Commander of the Royal Victorian Order |
|
DCVO | |
| United Kingdom | 6 February 1977 | Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal | 
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| United Kingdom | 6 February 2002 | Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal | 
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| Austria | Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold with Star for Services to the Republic of Austria | 
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Notes
edit- ^ "Abergavenny, Marchioness of; Mary Patricia Nevill". Who's Who 1998 : an Annual Biographical Dictionary. New York: St. Martin's Press. 1998. p. 3. ISBN 0312175914.
- ^ a b c Mary Patricia Harrison at thepeerage.com (accessed 18 April 2008)
- ^ Cokayne, George E.; Hammond, Peter W. (1982–1998). The complete peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain, and the United Kingdom, extant, extinct, or dormant. Vol. XIV. Gloucester: A. Sutton. p. 8. ISBN 0-904387-82-8. OCLC 9464943.
- ^ Death Announcements in The Daily Telegraph dated 25 February 2005
- ^ "Reply to a parliamentary question" (PDF) (in German). p. 275. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
- ^ Reference to Mary Patricia, Marchioness of Abergavenny, DCVO, thegazette.co.uk; accessed 27 March 2016.