David Ogilvy, 13th Earl of Airlie, one of the late Queen Elizabeth II‘s oldest and dearest friends, has passed away aged 97.
Born in Scotland, he served as a page to his father, David, the 12th Earl of Airlie, at the Coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in Westminster Abbey on 12 May 1937.
After the Queen’s death last September, he became the last surviving participant in that momentous occasion.
News of his death was shared on social media by Alastair Bruce, godfather to the Earl of Wessex, the son of the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh.
The sad announcement was met with an outpouring of tributes from his followers who rushed to share their thoughts.
David Ogilvy, 13th Earl of Airlie, seen here with the late Queen Elizabeth II at the Royal Garden Party at Holyrood in Edinburgh in 2009. The two became friends when they were children
David (seen here with Princess Margaret) was a key figure in the royal household, regularly staying at Sandringham and Balmoral to go shooting with the family
One person wrote: ‘Oh no, this is so very sad. Such a lovely man, and as will inevitably be said, what a life. But he really was wonderful.’
‘Oh no,he was a firm favourite, condolences to his family and all who knew him,’ added another mourner.
While a third penned: ‘What a remarkable lifetime of service to the Crown. May he rest in peace.’
After the queen’s death David served as King Charles’ Chancellor of the Thistle and played a vital part at the Monarch’s Coronation in May.
Born just a month after Elizabeth in 1926, the two became firm friends after meeting at his birthday party.
Sharing an insight into their relationship on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme after her death, he recalled: ‘The two princesses were staying at Glamis Castle which is only a few miles from Cortachy, my home.
‘We had this tea party and my father and mother had given me a pedal car as a birthday present.
‘When the party started, my father said to me “I think it would be very nice if you invited Princess Elizabeth to have a ride in your present” – this little motor car.
‘I said “Certainly not. This is my birthday, this is my car and nobody else is going to have a ride in it”.
‘This caused a bit of a row and I lost the battle. So that was the first time I met her. That’s 90 years ago now.’
David went on to become a key figure in the royal household, regularly staying at Sandringham and Balmoral.
In 1984 the Queen appointed him as Lord Chamberlain.
He’s been such a permanent fixture in the lives of the Royal family that he was portrayed in the 2006 film The Queen, by actor Douglas Reith.
David’s wife Virginia, seen here together, was one of the late queen’s ladies-in-waiting
The sad news of David’s death was shared on social media by well placed insider Alastair Bruce and prompted an outpouring of grief from followers
The Crown also included him, played by actor Martin Turner, in the fifth season to manage the divorce of Prince Charles and Princess Diana.
David’s widow, Virginia Ogilvy, Countess of Airlie, was one of the late monarch’s trusted ladies-in-waiting.
She frequently joined the Queen on trips to the US and met President and Barbara Bush at The White House.
David and Virginia had six children together – Lady Doune Mabell Ogilvy, Lady Jane Fortune Margaret Ogilvy, Lord David John Ogilvy, Hon. Bruce Patrick Mark Ogilvy, Lady Elizabeth Clementina Ogilvy, and Hon. Patrick Alexander Ogilvy, and 11 grandchildren.