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{{Short description|British courtier|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{Short description|British courtier (1941–2024)}}
{{For|the actor and writer|Julian Fellowes }}
{{Redirect|Baron Fellowes|other people titled Lord Fellowes|Lord Fellowes (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix = [[The Right Honourable]]
| honorific-prefix = [[The Right Honourable]]
| name = The Lord Fellowes
| name = The Lord Fellowes
| honorific-suffix = {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|GCB|GCVO|QSO|PC}}
| honorific-suffix = {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|GCB|GCVO|QSO|PC}}
| image = [[File:Coronet of a British Baron.svg|centre|150px]] [[File:Fellowes Escutcheon.png|centre|180px]]
| image = Lord Fellowes 2017.jpg
| order = [[Private Secretary to the Sovereign]]
| caption = Fellowes speaking in Parliament for the last time, 18 December 2017.
| office = [[Private Secretary to the Sovereign]]
| term_start = 19 October 1990
| term_start = 19 October 1990
| term_end = 4 February 1999
| term_end = 4 February 1999
| monarch = [[Elizabeth II]]
| monarch = [[Elizabeth II]]
| predecessor = Sir [[William Heseltine]]
| predecessor = [[William Heseltine|Sir William Heseltine]]
| successor = [[Robin Janvrin, Baron Janvrin|Sir Robin Janvrin]]
| successor = [[Robin Janvrin, Baron Janvrin|Sir Robin Janvrin]]
| office1 = [[Member of the House of Lords]]<br/>[[Lord Temporal]]
| office1 = [[Member of the House of Lords]]<br />[[Lord Temporal]]
| term_start1 = 12 July 1999
| term_start1 = 12 July 1999
| term_end1 = 10 February 2022<br/>[[Life peer|Life Peerage]]
| term_end1 = 10 February 2022<br />[[Life peer]]age
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1941|12|11|df=y}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1941|12|11|df=y}}
| birth_place = UK
| birth_place = [[Sandringham, Norfolk]], England
| death_date =
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2024|07|29|1941|12|11|df=y}}
| death_place =
| death_place = Norfolk, England
| nationality = [[United Kingdom|British]]
| nationality = [[United Kingdom|British]]
| alma_mater = [[Eton College]]
| alma_mater = [[Eton College]]
Line 26: Line 27:
| relatives = [[Diana, Princess of Wales]] (sister-in-law)<br>[[Ronald Ferguson (polo)|Ronald Ferguson]] (first cousin)
| relatives = [[Diana, Princess of Wales]] (sister-in-law)<br>[[Ronald Ferguson (polo)|Ronald Ferguson]] (first cousin)
}}
}}
'''Robert Fellowes, Baron Fellowes''', {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|sep=,|GCB|GCVO|QSO|PC}} (11 December 1941 – 29 July 2024) was a British courtier who was [[Private Secretary to the Sovereign|private secretary]] to [[Elizabeth II|Queen Elizabeth II]] from 1990 to 1999. He was the brother-in-law of [[Diana, Princess of Wales]], and a maternal first cousin of [[Ronald Ferguson (polo)|Ronald Ferguson]], the father of [[Sarah, Duchess of York]].


==Early life==
'''Robert Fellowes, Baron Fellowes''', {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|sep=,|GCB|GCVO|QSO|PC}} (born 11 December 1941) is a British courtier who was [[Private Secretary to the Sovereign|Private Secretary]] to [[Elizabeth II|Queen Elizabeth II]] from 1990 to 1999, and is also known as a brother-in-law of [[Diana, Princess of Wales]] and maternal first cousin of [[Ronald Ferguson (polo)|Ronald Ferguson]], the father of [[Sarah, Duchess of York]].
Fellowes was born in [[Sandringham, Norfolk|Sandringham]] on 11 December 1941. He was the son of Sir William Albermarle Fellowes (1899–1986), a [[Major (United Kingdom)|major]] in the [[Scots Guards]] and land agent of the Sandringham estate, and his wife Jane Charlotte Ferguson (1912–1986). His maternal grandfather, Brigadier-General Algernon Francis Holford Ferguson (1867–1943), was the great-grandfather of [[Sarah, Duchess of York]]. His paternal family hail from [[Shotesham]], [[Norfolk]], and are a [[landed gentry]] family, a junior branch of the [[Baron de Ramsey|barons de Ramsey]].<ref name="burke">{{cite book |title= [[Burke's Peerage|Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knighthood]]|publisher=Burke's Peerage & Gentry |editor= Mosley, Charles |editor-link=Charles Mosley (genealogist) |edition=107 |year= 2003 |page= 1406 |ref=Burke |isbn=0-9711966-2-1}}</ref>


Fellowes was educated at [[Eton College]].<ref name="Telegraph">{{cite news |title=Lord Fellowes, stalwart private secretary to Queen Elizabeth II during the turbulent 1990s – obituary |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2024/07/31/robert-fellowes-private-secretary-queen-elizabeth-ii/ |access-date=8 August 2024 |work=The Telegraph |date=31 July 2024}}</ref> He received a short service commission in the Scots Guards in 1960.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=42137|date=6 September 1960|page=6152|supp=y}}</ref> Fellowes played [[cricket]] for [[Norfolk County Cricket Club|Norfolk]] in the 1959 [[National Counties Cricket Championship|Minor Counties Championship]], making one appearance each against [[Buckinghamshire County Cricket Club|Buckinghamshire]] and the [[Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club|Nottinghamshire Second XI]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/196/196615/196615.html|title=Player profile: Robert Fellowes|publisher=CricketArchive|access-date=19 June 2011|archive-date=4 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240804153935/https://cricketarchive.com/subscribe|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/196/196615/Minor_Counties_Championship_Matches.html|title=Minor Counties Championship Matches played by Robert Fellowes|publisher=CricketArchive|access-date=19 June 2011|archive-date=8 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108054035/http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/196/196615/Minor_Counties_Championship_Matches.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Family background==
Fellowes is the son of [[Scots Guards]] Major Sir William Fellowes, the Queen's land agent at [[Sandringham House|Sandringham]], and of his wife Jane Charlotte Ferguson, daughter of Brigadier-General Algernon Francis Holford Ferguson (great-grandfather of [[Sarah, Duchess of York]]). The Fellowes of [[Shotesham]] in [[Norfolk]] are an old country family, junior branch to the [[Baron de Ramsey|Lords De Ramsey]] (senior branch).<ref name="burke">{{cite book |title= [[Burke's Peerage|Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knighthood]]|publisher=Burke's Peerage & Gentry |editor= Mosley, Charles |editor-link=Charles Mosley (genealogist) |edition=107 |year= 2003 |page= 1406 |ref=Burke |isbn=0-9711966-2-1}}</ref>


==Career==
Fellowes married [[Jane Fellowes, Baroness Fellowes|Lady Jane Spencer]], elder sister of [[Diana, Princess of Wales]], on 20 April 1978 at [[Westminster Abbey]], when he was an assistant private secretary to the Queen. Diana (who married [[Charles, Prince of Wales]] [[Wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer|in 1981]]) was a bridesmaid. Baron and Baroness Fellowes have three children:<ref name="burke"/>
After leaving the Guards in 1963, Fellowes entered the banking industry. He worked for Allen Harvey and Ross Ltd, discount brokers and bankers, from 1964 until 1977.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=43051|date=9 July 1963|page=5880|supp=y}}</ref> He was a managing director from 1968. He was first offered a position in the royal household in 1974, but declined until his firm was in a better financial state.
*Laura Jane Fellowes (born 19 July 1980),
*Alexander Robert Fellowes (born 23 March 1983)
*Eleanor Ruth Fellowes (born 20 August 1985).


In 1977, Fellowes joined the royal household as assistant private secretary to the sovereign.<ref>{{London Gazette| issue = 47145| date = 8 February 1977| page = 1787}}</ref> He would spend the next twenty years in the Private Secretary's Office. He became deputy in 1986 succeeding [[William Heseltine|Sir William Heseltine]] as principal private secretary to the sovereign in 1990.<ref>{{London Gazette| issue = 50480| date = 8 April 1986| page = 4821}}</ref><ref>{{London Gazette| issue = 52306| date = 19 October 1990| page = 16315}}</ref><ref name="Tomlinson">{{cite news|last=Tomlinson|first=Richard|title=They also serve, who only ush|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/they-also-serve-who-only-ush-why-is-the-queen-followed-by-people-in-antique-clothes-richard-tomlinson-on-the-lords-ladies-women-masters-silver-sticks-and-white-staves-at-court-1564751.html|newspaper=The Independent|date=20 December 1992|access-date=10 September 2017|archive-date=25 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925174213/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/they-also-serve-who-only-ush-why-is-the-queen-followed-by-people-in-antique-clothes-richard-tomlinson-on-the-lords-ladies-women-masters-silver-sticks-and-white-staves-at-court-1564751.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Upon his appointment, he was sworn into [[Privy Council (United Kingdom)|Her Majesty's Privy Council]] which entitled him to the prefix ''[[The Right Honourable]]'' for life.<ref name="Telegraph"/> His tenure oversaw Queen Elizabeth II's ''[[annus horribilis]]'' in 1992 and the [[Death of Diana, Princess of Wales|death of his sister-in-law]], Diana, in 1997.<ref name="Times"/><ref name="Bates">{{cite news |last1=Bates |first1=Stephen |title=Lord Fellowes obituary |url=https://www.theguardian.com/global/2024/aug/05/lord-fellowes-obituary |access-date=8 August 2024 |work=The Guardian |date=5 August 2024}}</ref>
==Early career==
Fellowes played [[cricket]] for [[Norfolk County Cricket Club|Norfolk]] in the 1959 [[National Counties Cricket Championship|Minor Counties Championship]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/196/196615/196615.html|title=Player profile: Robert Fellowes|publisher=CricketArchive|access-date=19 June 2011}}</ref> making one appearance each against [[Buckinghamshire County Cricket Club|Buckinghamshire]] and the [[Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club|Nottinghamshire Second XI]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/196/196615/Minor_Counties_Championship_Matches.html|title=Minor Counties Championship Matches played by Robert Fellowes|publisher=CricketArchive|access-date=19 June 2011}}</ref> Fellowes was educated at [[Eton College]] and joined the [[Scots Guards]] in 1960 on a short service commission. After completion of service in 1963 he entered the banking industry, working for Allen Harvey and Ross Ltd, discount brokers and bankers, 1964–77. He was a managing director from 1968.


Fellowes left his position in February 1999 to return to private banking, his retirement having been announced implicitly on 1 June 1998 when his successor [[Robin Janvrin, Baron Janvrin|Robin Janvrin]] was named. He was created a [[life peer]] on 12 July 1999 taking the title '''Baron Fellowes''', ''of [[Shotesham]] in the [[Norfolk|County of Norfolk]]'' in the [[1999 Birthday Honours|Queen's Birthday Honours List]].<ref name="peerage">{{London Gazette|issue=55555|date=16 July 1999|page=7715}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld199899/minutes/991026/ldminute.htm|title=Announcement of his introduction at the House of Lords|author=House of Lords|date=26 October 1999|work=Minutes of proceedings|access-date=26 July 2006|archive-date=7 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170907124402/https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld199899/minutes/991026/ldminute.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/ld199697/ldinfo/ld03mem/inf3e.htm|title=House of Lords: Membership |author=House of Lords |date=13 October 1999 |work=Publications & records |access-date=3 January 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604215751/http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/ld199697/ldinfo/ld03mem/inf3e.htm |archive-date=4 June 2011}}</ref> He sat as a [[crossbench]] peer until his retirement on 10 February 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://members.parliament.uk/member/2473/career|title=Lord Fellowes|website=members.parliament.uk|access-date=21 September 2022|archive-date=21 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220921023710/https://members.parliament.uk/member/2473/career|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Royal service==
In 1977, Fellowes was recruited to join the Royal Household as Assistant Private Secretary. He spent the next 20 years in the Private Secretary's Office, becoming Deputy in 1986, and Private Secretary in 1990.<ref>{{cite news|last=Tomlinson|first=Richard|title=They also serve, who only ush|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/they-also-serve-who-only-ush-why-is-the-queen-followed-by-people-in-antique-clothes-richard-tomlinson-on-the-lords-ladies-women-masters-silver-sticks-and-white-staves-at-court-1564751.html|newspaper=The Independent|date=20 December 1992}}</ref><ref>[https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/52306/page/16315/data.pdf The Gazette, 19 October 1990]</ref><ref>[The Times, London, 5 February 1999]</ref>


Lord Fellowes was introduced to the House of Lords and took his seat formally on 26 October 1999. Lord Fellowes remained technically a member of the royal household, having been appointed an extra [[equerry]] to the Queen following his retirement.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200102/ldselect/ldconst/69/6906.htm|title=Select Committee on Constitution Fourth Report: APPENDIX 1|author=House of Lords|date=13 October 1999| work= Publications & records|access-date=3 January 2011}}</ref><ref>[[Court Circular]], [https://www.royal.uk/media-centre/court-circulars Buckingham Palace, 24 March 2003] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240614204229/https://www.royal.uk/media-centre/court-circulars |date=14 June 2024 }}</ref><ref name="EE"/><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.royal.uk/court-circular |title=Court Circular, 28 February 2018 |website=The Royal Family |access-date=29 May 2022 |archive-date=29 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160629182208/https://www.royal.uk/court-circular |url-status=live }}</ref> He served as secretary and registrar of the [[Order of Merit]] from 2003 to 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.royal.uk/court-circular |title=Court Circular, 8 May 2003 and 8 May 2022 |website=The Royal Family |access-date=29 May 2022 |archive-date=29 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160629182208/https://www.royal.uk/court-circular |url-status=live }}</ref>
Fellowes left his position in February 1999 to return to private banking, his retirement having been announced implicitly on 1 June 1998 when his successor [[Robin Janvrin, Baron Janvrin|Robin Janvrin]] was named. He was created a [[life peer]] on 12 July 1999 taking the title '''Baron Fellowes''', of [[Shotesham]] in the [[Norfolk|County of Norfolk]]<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=55555|date=16 July 1999|page=7715}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld199899/minutes/991026/ldminute.htm|title=Announcement of his introduction at the House of Lords|author=House of Lords|date=26 October 1999|work=Minutes of proceedings|access-date=26 July 2006}}</ref> in the [[1999 Birthday Honours|Queen's Birthday Honours List]].<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/ld199697/ldinfo/ld03mem/inf3e.htm
|title=House of Lords: Membership
|author=House of Lords
|date=13 October 1999
|work=Publications & records
|access-date=3 January 2011
|url-status=dead
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604215751/http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/ld199697/ldinfo/ld03mem/inf3e.htm
|archive-date=4 June 2011
}}</ref> He sat as a [[crossbench]] peer until his retirement on 10 February 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://members.parliament.uk/member/2473/career|title=Lord Fellowes|website=members.parliament.uk|access-date=21 September 2022}}</ref>


==Personal life==
Lord Fellowes was introduced to the House of Lords and took his seat formally on 26 October 1999. According to reports from the House of Lords, Lord Fellowes remains technically a member of the Royal Household.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200102/ldselect/ldconst/69/6906.htm|title=Select Committee on Constitution Fourth Report: APPENDIX 1|author=House of Lords|date=13 October 1999| work= Publications & records|access-date=3 January 2011}}</ref>
On 20 April 1978, Fellowes married [[Jane Fellowes, Baroness Fellowes|Lady Jane Spencer]], elder sister of [[Diana, Princess of Wales]], at the [[Guards' Chapel, Wellington Barracks]]. He was an assistant private secretary to the Queen at the time. Diana ([[Wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer|who married]] [[Charles III|Charles, Prince of Wales]], in 1981) was a bridesmaid. Lord Fellowes had three children and five grandchildren:<ref name="burke" />
* The Honourable Laura Jane Fellowes (born 19 July 1980); married Nicholas Peter Pettman on 30 May 2009. They have three children.
* The Honourable Alexander Robert Fellowes (born 23 March 1983); married Alexandra Finlay on 20 September 2013. They have two children:
** Robert George Fellowes (born 10 April 2015)
** Rose Jane Fellowes (born 10 August 2016)
* The Honourable Eleanor Ruth Fellowes (born 20 August 1985)


Fellowes died in Norfolk on 29 July 2024, at the age of 82.<ref name="Times">{{cite news |title=Lord Fellowes obituary: Queen Elizabeth's private secretary and brother-in-law of Diana |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/obituaries/article/lord-fellowes-wbtw7ctlk |access-date=31 July 2024 |work=The Times |date=31 July 2024 |archive-date=30 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240730232459/https://www.thetimes.com/uk/obituaries/article/lord-fellowes-wbtw7ctlk |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Furness">{{cite news |last1=Furness |first1=Hannah |title=Harry and William's uncle Lord Fellowes dies aged 82 |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2024/07/31/harry-william-uncle-robert-fellowes-dies/ |access-date=8 August 2024 |work=The Telegraph|date=31 July 2024}}</ref> His funeral was held at St Mary's Church in [[Snettisham]] on 28 August 2024 and was attended by his nephews, Princes [[William, Prince of Wales|William]] and [[Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex|Harry]].<ref>[https://www.thetimes.com/uk/royal-family/article/prince-william-harry-funeral-uncle-lord-robert-fellowes-scmdvfd06 ''The Times'', "Princes William and Harry attend uncle’s funeral — but sit apart"], 30 August 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.</ref>
==Honours and legacy==
He was made a [[Privy Council of the United Kingdom|Privy Counsellor]] (PC) in 1990. He received the Queen Elizabeth II Version of the [[Royal Household Long and Faithful Service Medal]] in 1997 for 20 years of service to the Royal Family.


==In popular culture==
He served as Secretary and Registrar of the [[Order of Merit]] from 2003 to 2022.<ref>[https://www.royal.uk/court-circular Court Circular, 8 May 2003 and 8 May 2022]</ref> He remained an [[Equerry#United Kingdom|Extra Equerry]] to the Queen until her death in 2022.<ref>[https://www.royal.uk/court-circular Court Circular, 28 February 2018]</ref>
Fellowes was portrayed by [[Dominic Jephcott]] in ''[[The Queen (British TV serial)|The Queen]]'' and by [[Andrew Havill]] in series [[The Crown (season 5)|5]] and [[The Crown (season 6)|6]] of ''[[The Crown (TV series)|The Crown]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-au/entertainment/celebrity/james-murray-to-play-prince-andrew-in-the-crown/ar-AAMY4Fk|title=James Murray to play Prince Andrew in the Crown|website=[[MSN]]|access-date=20 December 2022|archive-date=5 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210805171539/https://www.msn.com/en-au/entertainment/celebrity/james-murray-to-play-prince-andrew-in-the-crown/ar-AAMY4Fk|url-status=live}}</ref>


==Honours==
Fellowes is portrayed by actor [[Andrew Havill]] in seasons [[The Crown (season 5)|5]] and [[The Crown (season 6)|6]] of ''[[The Crown (TV series)|The Crown]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-au/entertainment/celebrity/james-murray-to-play-prince-andrew-in-the-crown/ar-AAMY4Fk|title=James Murray to play Prince Andrew in the Crown|website=[[MSN]]}}</ref>
Fellowes was also a member of [[Privy Council (United Kingdom)|Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council]] (PC) from 1990, an extra [[equerry]] from 1997, and a [[life peer]] from 1999.<ref name="Telegraph"/><ref name="EE">{{London Gazette| issue = 51116| date = 10 November 1987| page = 13845}}</ref><ref name="peerage"/>
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Country
!Date
!Appointment
!Ribbon
!Post-nominal letters
!Notes
|-
|[[United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland|United Kingdom]]
|[[Silver Jubilee of Elizabeth II|6 February 1977]]
|[[Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal]]
|[[File:UK_Queen_Elizabeth_II_Silver_Jubilee_Medal_ribbon.svg|100x100px]]
|
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-31 |first1=Caroline |last1=Peacock |first2=Charlotte |last2=Everett |title=Meet the late Queen's private secretary Robert Fellowes |url=https://www.the-sun.com/royals/9639663/robert-fellowes-queens-private-secretary-crown-now/ |access-date=2024-08-12 |website=The US Sun |language=en-us}}</ref>{{deprecated source|certain=y|date=November 2024}}
|-
|[[United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland|United Kingdom]]
|[[1983 Birthday Honours|11 June 1983]]
|[[Member of the Royal Victorian Order|Member, Fourth Class, of the Royal Victorian Order]]
|[[File:UK Royal Victorian Order ribbon.svg|98x98px]]
|MVO
|<ref name="MVO">{{London Gazette
| issue = 49375
| date = 10 June 1983
| page = 4
| supp = y
}}</ref>{{efn|After 31 December 1984: Lieutenant (LVO)}} Promoted to KCVO in 1989
|-
|[[United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland|United Kingdom]]
|[[1987 New Year Honours|31 December 1986]]
|[[Companion of the Order of the Bath]]
|[[File:Order of the Bath UK ribbon.svg|100x100px]]
|CB
|<ref name="CB">{{London Gazette
| issue = 50764
| date = 30 December 1986
| page = 3
| supp = y
}}</ref> Promoted to KCB in 1990
|-
|[[United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland|United Kingdom]]
|[[1989 Birthday Honours|17 June 1989]]
|[[Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order]]
|[[File:UK Royal Victorian Order ribbon.svg|98x98px]]
|KCVO
|<ref name="KCVO">{{London Gazette
| issue = 51772
| date = 16 June 1989
| page = 4
| supp = y
}}</ref> Promoted to GCVO in 1996
|-
|[[United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland|United Kingdom]]
|[[1991 New Year Honours|31 December 1990]]
|[[Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath]]
|[[File:Order of the Bath UK ribbon.svg|100x100px]]
|KCB
|<ref name="KCB">{{London Gazette
| issue = 52382
| date = 28 December 1990
| page = 3
| supp = y
}}</ref> Promoted to GCB in 1997
|-
|[[United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland|United Kingdom]]
|[[1996 Birthday Honours|15 June 1996]]
|[[Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order]]
|[[File:UK Royal Victorian Order ribbon.svg|98x98px]]
|GCVO
|<ref name="GCVO">{{London Gazette
| issue = 54427
| date = 14 June 1996
| page = 4
| supp = y
}}</ref>
|-
|[[United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland|United Kingdom]]
|[[1998 New Year Honours|31 December 1997]]
|[[Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath]]
|[[File:Order of the Bath UK ribbon.svg|100x100px]]
|GCB
|<ref name="GCB">{{London Gazette
| issue = 54993
| date = 30 December 1997
| page = 2
| supp = y
}}</ref>
|-
|[[United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland|United Kingdom]]
|[[1999 New Year Honours (New Zealand)|31 December 1998]]
|[[King's Service Order|Companion of the Queens Service Order]]
|[[File:Ribbon bar of the Queen's Service Medal.svg|100x100px]]
|QSO
|<ref name="QSO">{{cite web |title=New Year Honours List 1999 |url=https://www.dpmc.govt.nz/publications/new-year-honours-list-1999 |access-date=8 August 2024 |website=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet|date=31 December 1998 }}</ref>
|}


===Arms===
==Arms==
{{Infobox COA wide
{{Infobox COA wide
|image =[[File:Coronet of a British Baron.svg|centre|150px]] [[File:Fellowes Escutcheon.png|centre|180px]]
|image =
|image size =
|image size =
|notes =
|notes =
|year_adopted =
|year_adopted =
|coronet = [[Coronet|Coronet of a Baron]]
|coronet = [[Coronet|Coronet of a baron]]
|escutcheon = Azure, a Fess indented Ermine, between three Lions' Heads erased Or, murally crowned Argent.
|escutcheon = Azure, a Fess indented Ermine, between three Lions' Heads erased Or, murally crowned Argent
|crest = A Lion's Head erased Or, murally crowned Argent, charged on the neck with a Fess dancettée Ermine.
|crest = A Lion's Head erased Or, murally crowned Argent, charged on the neck with a Fess dancettée Ermine
|supporters =
|supporters =
|compartment =
|compartment =
|motto =
|motto =
|orders = Order of the Bath circlet ''(Appointed CB 1987; KCB 1991; GCB 1998)''
|orders = Order of the Bath (CB 1987; KCB 1991; GCB 1998)<ref name="GCB"/><br />Royal Victorian Order (LVO 1983; KCVO 1989; GCVO 1996)<ref name="GCVO"/><br />Queen's Service Order (QSO 1999)<ref name="QSO"/>
Royal Victorian Order ''(Appointed LVO 1983; KCVO 1989; GCVO 1996)''
Queen's Service Order ''(Appointed 1999)''
|other_elements =
|other_elements =
|banner =
|banner =
Line 85: Line 172:
|previous_versions =
|previous_versions =
}}
}}

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3724/is_199806/ai_n8793702 "My Secretary and I"] James Whitaker article in [[The Spectator]], 6 June 1998.


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{{succession box|title=[[Private Secretary to the Sovereign]]|years=1990–1999|before=[[William Heseltine|Sir William Heseltine]]|after=[[Robin Janvrin, Baron Janvrin|Sir Robin Janvrin]]}}
{{succession box|title=[[Private Secretary to the Sovereign]]|years=1990–1999|before=[[William Heseltine|Sir William Heseltine]]|after=[[Robin Janvrin, Baron Janvrin|Sir Robin Janvrin]]}}
{{s-prec|uk}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Narendra Patel, Baron Patel|The Lord Patel]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Orders of precedence in the United Kingdom|Gentlemen]]'''<br />''Baron Fellowes'' '''}}
{{s-fol|after=[[Dennis Stevenson, Baron Stevenson of Coddenham|The Lord Stevenson of Coddenham]]}}
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[[Category:Fellowes family|Robert]]
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[[Category:Life peers created by Elizabeth II]]
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Latest revision as of 22:36, 2 November 2024

"Baron Fellowes" redirects here. For other people titled Lord Fellowes, see Lord Fellowes (disambiguation).

The Right Honourable
The Lord Fellowes
GCB GCVO QSO PC
Fellowes speaking in Parliament for the last time, 18 December 2017.
Private Secretary to the Sovereign
In office
19 October 1990 – 4 February 1999
MonarchElizabeth II
Preceded bySir William Heseltine
Succeeded bySir Robin Janvrin
Member of the House of Lords
Lord Temporal
In office
12 July 1999 – 10 February 2022
Life peerage
Personal details
Born(1941-12-11)11 December 1941
Sandringham, Norfolk, England
Died29 July 2024(2024-07-29) (aged 82)
Norfolk, England
Spouse
​
(m. 1978)​
Children3
RelativesDiana, Princess of Wales (sister-in-law)
Ronald Ferguson (first cousin)
Alma materEton College

Robert Fellowes, Baron Fellowes, GCB, GCVO, QSO, PC (11 December 1941 – 29 July 2024) was a British courtier who was private secretary to Queen Elizabeth II from 1990 to 1999. He was the brother-in-law of Diana, Princess of Wales, and a maternal first cousin of Ronald Ferguson, the father of Sarah, Duchess of York.

Early life

[edit]

Fellowes was born in Sandringham on 11 December 1941. He was the son of Sir William Albermarle Fellowes (1899–1986), a major in the Scots Guards and land agent of the Sandringham estate, and his wife Jane Charlotte Ferguson (1912–1986). His maternal grandfather, Brigadier-General Algernon Francis Holford Ferguson (1867–1943), was the great-grandfather of Sarah, Duchess of York. His paternal family hail from Shotesham, Norfolk, and are a landed gentry family, a junior branch of the barons de Ramsey.[1]

Fellowes was educated at Eton College.[2] He received a short service commission in the Scots Guards in 1960.[3] Fellowes played cricket for Norfolk in the 1959 Minor Counties Championship, making one appearance each against Buckinghamshire and the Nottinghamshire Second XI.[4][5]

Career

[edit]

After leaving the Guards in 1963, Fellowes entered the banking industry. He worked for Allen Harvey and Ross Ltd, discount brokers and bankers, from 1964 until 1977.[6] He was a managing director from 1968. He was first offered a position in the royal household in 1974, but declined until his firm was in a better financial state.

In 1977, Fellowes joined the royal household as assistant private secretary to the sovereign.[7] He would spend the next twenty years in the Private Secretary's Office. He became deputy in 1986 succeeding Sir William Heseltine as principal private secretary to the sovereign in 1990.[8][9][10] Upon his appointment, he was sworn into Her Majesty's Privy Council which entitled him to the prefix The Right Honourable for life.[2] His tenure oversaw Queen Elizabeth II's annus horribilis in 1992 and the death of his sister-in-law, Diana, in 1997.[11][12]

Fellowes left his position in February 1999 to return to private banking, his retirement having been announced implicitly on 1 June 1998 when his successor Robin Janvrin was named. He was created a life peer on 12 July 1999 taking the title Baron Fellowes, of Shotesham in the County of Norfolk in the Queen's Birthday Honours List.[13][14][15] He sat as a crossbench peer until his retirement on 10 February 2022.[16]

Lord Fellowes was introduced to the House of Lords and took his seat formally on 26 October 1999. Lord Fellowes remained technically a member of the royal household, having been appointed an extra equerry to the Queen following his retirement.[17][18][19][20] He served as secretary and registrar of the Order of Merit from 2003 to 2022.[21]

Personal life

[edit]

On 20 April 1978, Fellowes married Lady Jane Spencer, elder sister of Diana, Princess of Wales, at the Guards' Chapel, Wellington Barracks. He was an assistant private secretary to the Queen at the time. Diana (who married Charles, Prince of Wales, in 1981) was a bridesmaid. Lord Fellowes had three children and five grandchildren:[1]

  • The Honourable Laura Jane Fellowes (born 19 July 1980); married Nicholas Peter Pettman on 30 May 2009. They have three children.
  • The Honourable Alexander Robert Fellowes (born 23 March 1983); married Alexandra Finlay on 20 September 2013. They have two children:
    • Robert George Fellowes (born 10 April 2015)
    • Rose Jane Fellowes (born 10 August 2016)
  • The Honourable Eleanor Ruth Fellowes (born 20 August 1985)

Fellowes died in Norfolk on 29 July 2024, at the age of 82.[11][22] His funeral was held at St Mary's Church in Snettisham on 28 August 2024 and was attended by his nephews, Princes William and Harry.[23]

[edit]

Fellowes was portrayed by Dominic Jephcott in The Queen and by Andrew Havill in series 5 and 6 of The Crown.[24]

Honours

[edit]

Fellowes was also a member of Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council (PC) from 1990, an extra equerry from 1997, and a life peer from 1999.[2][19][13]

Country Date Appointment Ribbon Post-nominal letters Notes
United Kingdom 6 February 1977 Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal [25][deprecated source]
United Kingdom 11 June 1983 Member, Fourth Class, of the Royal Victorian Order MVO [26][a] Promoted to KCVO in 1989
United Kingdom 31 December 1986 Companion of the Order of the Bath CB [27] Promoted to KCB in 1990
United Kingdom 17 June 1989 Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order KCVO [28] Promoted to GCVO in 1996
United Kingdom 31 December 1990 Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath KCB [29] Promoted to GCB in 1997
United Kingdom 15 June 1996 Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order GCVO [30]
United Kingdom 31 December 1997 Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath GCB [31]
United Kingdom 31 December 1998 Companion of the Queens Service Order QSO [32]

Arms

[edit]
Coat of arms of Robert Fellowes, Baron Fellowes
Coronet
Coronet of a baron
Crest
A Lion's Head erased Or, murally crowned Argent, charged on the neck with a Fess dancettée Ermine
Escutcheon
Azure, a Fess indented Ermine, between three Lions' Heads erased Or, murally crowned Argent
Orders
Order of the Bath (CB 1987; KCB 1991; GCB 1998)[31]
Royal Victorian Order (LVO 1983; KCVO 1989; GCVO 1996)[30]
Queen's Service Order (QSO 1999)[32]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ After 31 December 1984: Lieutenant (LVO)

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Mosley, Charles, ed. (2003). Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knighthood (107 ed.). Burke's Peerage & Gentry. p. 1406. ISBN 0-9711966-2-1.
  2. ^ a b c "Lord Fellowes, stalwart private secretary to Queen Elizabeth II during the turbulent 1990s – obituary". The Telegraph. 31 July 2024. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  3. ^ "No. 42137". The London Gazette (Supplement). 6 September 1960. p. 6152.
  4. ^ "Player profile: Robert Fellowes". CricketArchive. Archived from the original on 4 August 2024. Retrieved 19 June 2011.
  5. ^ "Minor Counties Championship Matches played by Robert Fellowes". CricketArchive. Archived from the original on 8 November 2012. Retrieved 19 June 2011.
  6. ^ "No. 43051". The London Gazette (Supplement). 9 July 1963. p. 5880.
  7. ^ "No. 47145". The London Gazette. 8 February 1977. p. 1787.
  8. ^ "No. 50480". The London Gazette. 8 April 1986. p. 4821.
  9. ^ "No. 52306". The London Gazette. 19 October 1990. p. 16315.
  10. ^ Tomlinson, Richard (20 December 1992). "They also serve, who only ush". The Independent. Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 10 September 2017.
  11. ^ a b "Lord Fellowes obituary: Queen Elizabeth's private secretary and brother-in-law of Diana". The Times. 31 July 2024. Archived from the original on 30 July 2024. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
  12. ^ Bates, Stephen (5 August 2024). "Lord Fellowes obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  13. ^ a b "No. 55555". The London Gazette. 16 July 1999. p. 7715.
  14. ^ House of Lords (26 October 1999). "Announcement of his introduction at the House of Lords". Minutes of proceedings. Archived from the original on 7 September 2017. Retrieved 26 July 2006.
  15. ^ House of Lords (13 October 1999). "House of Lords: Membership". Publications & records. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 3 January 2011.
  16. ^ "Lord Fellowes". members.parliament.uk. Archived from the original on 21 September 2022. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  17. ^ House of Lords (13 October 1999). "Select Committee on Constitution Fourth Report: APPENDIX 1". Publications & records. Retrieved 3 January 2011.
  18. ^ Court Circular, Buckingham Palace, 24 March 2003 Archived 14 June 2024 at the Wayback Machine
  19. ^ a b "No. 51116". The London Gazette. 10 November 1987. p. 13845.
  20. ^ "Court Circular, 28 February 2018". The Royal Family. Archived from the original on 29 June 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  21. ^ "Court Circular, 8 May 2003 and 8 May 2022". The Royal Family. Archived from the original on 29 June 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  22. ^ Furness, Hannah (31 July 2024). "Harry and William's uncle Lord Fellowes dies aged 82". The Telegraph. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  23. ^ The Times, "Princes William and Harry attend uncle’s funeral — but sit apart", 30 August 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  24. ^ "James Murray to play Prince Andrew in the Crown". MSN. Archived from the original on 5 August 2021. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  25. ^ Peacock, Caroline; Everett, Charlotte (31 July 2024). "Meet the late Queen's private secretary Robert Fellowes". The US Sun. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
  26. ^ "No. 49375". The London Gazette (Supplement). 10 June 1983. p. 4.
  27. ^ "No. 50764". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 December 1986. p. 3.
  28. ^ "No. 51772". The London Gazette (Supplement). 16 June 1989. p. 4.
  29. ^ "No. 52382". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 December 1990. p. 3.
  30. ^ a b "No. 54427". The London Gazette (Supplement). 14 June 1996. p. 4.
  31. ^ a b "No. 54993". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 December 1997. p. 2.
  32. ^ a b "New Year Honours List 1999". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 31 December 1998. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
Court offices
Preceded by Private Secretary to the Sovereign
1990–1999 		Succeeded by
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