The coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla was quite the who's who when it came to guests – amongst the some 2,000 people gathered in Westminster Abbey were the likes of senior royals, celebrities and foreign dignitaries. There were also two women, both dressed in white, accompanying Camilla, that had people talking...
So, who are the two women that were privileged enough to sit close by to Queen Camilla during the coronation ceremony? One is Annabel Elliott, the Queen's sister, and the other is Lady Lansdowne (also known as Fiona Mary Petty-Fitzmaurice, Marchioness of Lansdowne), both of whom perform the royal role of a Queen's Companion. They're just one of six to hold that honour.
When she took over as Queen Consort, Camilla made a big change by scrapping the title of 'ladies in waiting' at the Palace and instead making the role something less frequent and a lot more informal, so in order to be a part of her inner circle, these two women are sure to be seen as special in the new Queen's eyes.
Let's learn a little more about them, shall we?
Who is Annabel Elliott, Queen Camilla's sister?
Annabel Elliott is not only one of Queen Camilla's six companions, but is also her younger sister (there's around eighteen months between them). Prior to stepping into the royal limelight, Annabel had a lengthy career as an interior designer and antiques dealer. She was also present at the wedding of King Charles and Queen Camilla, and is said to have helped her older sister get ready for the big day, whilst making jokes to cheer her up (it's reported that Camilla was suffering with sinusitis on her big day and struggled to get out of bed, so Annabel quipped that she'd get changed into Camilla's wedding outfit and step in for her!).
The two Shand (their maiden name) sisters are said to be incredibly close, especially following the passing of their brother Mark, and many have often remarked on how similar the pair look.
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Very sadly, Annabel's husband of fifty years, Simon, passed away earlier this year (March 2023). Together, they had three children, a son named Ben (a Conservative politician turned businessman) and two daughters Alice and Catherine. Little is known about Alice and Catherine, who prefer to stay out of the spotlight.
Who is the Queen's Companion, Lady Lansdowne?
Is it just us or does the name Fiona Mary Petty-Fitzmaurice, Marchioness of Lansdowne,just absolutely scream Bridgerton character? Anyway, that aside, Lady Lansdowne is now best known for being a companion to Queen Camilla – and much like Annabel Elliott, she also has an impressive career as an interior designer to her name. Her studio goes under the name 'Fiona Shelburne'.
According to a Twitter account that holds her name (it has not been publicly used since 2014) she lives "in the most beautiful house in England and I adore my family, my four dogs and am passionate about cooking".
Fiona, who is married Charles Petty-Fitzmaurice, the 9th Marquis of Lansdowne, is not only such a close friend of the Queen's that she's a named companion, but she's also the godmother to Camilla's only daughter, Laura Lopes.
Describing her home and family life in an interview with The English Home, Lady Lansdowne said an open fire is an essential to any country home. "I'd find it very hard to live in a home that didn’t have one... and a dog," she joked, adding that her favourite room is the sitting room. "We have our supper on a table by the fire. We don't have a huge 'state-of-the-art' kitchen but I love my Aga and love to cook. I also love my bathroom/dressing room. I have a desk in it. It is somewhere to escape to."
Jennifer Savin is Cosmopolitan UK's multiple award-winning Features Editor, who was crowned Digital Journalist of the Year for her work tackling the issues most important to young women. She regularly covers breaking news, cultural trends, health, the royals and more, using her esteemed connections to access the best experts along the way. She's grilled everyone from high-profile politicians to A-list celebrities, and has sensitively interviewed hundreds of people about their real life stories. In addition to this, Jennifer is widely known for her own undercover investigations and campaign work, which includes successfully petitioning the government for change around topics like abortion rights and image-based sexual abuse. Jennifer is also a published author, documentary consultant (helping to create BBC’s Deepfake Porn: Could You Be Next?) and a patron for Y.E.S. (a youth services charity). Alongside Cosmopolitan, Jennifer has written for The Times, Women’s Health, ELLE and numerous other publications, appeared on podcasts, and spoken on (and hosted) panels for the Women of the World Festival, the University of Manchester and more. In her spare time, Jennifer is a big fan of lipstick, leopard print and over-ordering at dinner. Follow Jennifer on Instagram, X or LinkedIn.
