Lady Mary Russell (née Baillie-Hamilton; 13 January 1934 – 18 September 2022) was a Scottish socialite who was a maid of honour at the coronation of Elizabeth II. She was the youngest maid of honour at the Queen's coronation.
Early life and family
Russell was born as Mary Baillie-Hamilton on 13 January 1934 to George Baillie-Hamilton, 12th Earl of Haddington. Her brother was a British peer, John Baillie-Hamilton, 13th Earl of Haddington. Her family is the owner of Tyninghame House.
When she was at the age of 10, a French governess started to homeschool her and continued until she was 13 years old. She attended Mayfield School, Mayfield.
She married twice, with Adrian Bailey in 1954 and with David Russell. She left behind five children and twelve grandchildren.
Career
For a brief period, she worked at the Turner Archive, part of the Tate Gallery.
In 1953, she became a maid of honour at the coronation of Elizabeth II along with Lady Rosemary Spencer-Churchill, Anne Tennant, Baroness Glenconner, and Jane Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, 28th Baroness Willoughby de Eresby.
In the 1980s, she founded a business called Combe Manor Fabrics and later directed Whitchurch Silk Mill as a businesswoman.
References
- ^ Obituaries, Telegraph (October 6, 2022). "Lady Mary Russell, maid of honour at Queen Elizabeth II's Coronation – obituary" – via The Telegraph.
- ^ "Lady Mary Russell obituary" – via The Times.
- "Queen Elizabeth's Coronation Maid of Honor Died the Night Before State Funeral". Entertainment Tonight.
- ^ "Queen Elizabeth's Maid Of Honor Died Night Before Monarch's Funeral". HuffPost. September 28, 2022.
- "The Youngest Maid of Honour at the Queen's Coronation has died". Tatler. September 27, 2022.