Lady Jean Rankin, 96; Served Britain’s Queen Mother for 47 Years

Lady Jean Rankin, 96, who was official Woman of the Bedchamber to Britain’s Queen Mother Elizabeth for more than 40 years, died Oct. 3 in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Rankin’s duties included answering much of the former queen’s correspondence, attending to her personal tasks and attending less formal functions with the queen. As a lady-in-waiting, she served two weeks at a time three or four times a year, performing her duties out of honor and friendship, paid only for expenses.

Appointed in 1947, Rankin accompanied the Queen Mother, five years her senior, on tours to Paris, Norway, the United States, Canada and Australia. She served until 1982, and accompanied the Queen Mother to private dinner parties until 1994.

Born in Oxenfoord Castle, the daughter of an earl, Rankin was educated by governesses. She married wildlife photographer Niall Rankin in 1931 and a few years later they bought an estate on the Isle of Mull. The estate became a wildlife sanctuary when Lady Jean moved to a nursing home in Edinburgh in 1994.