Lady Moyra Campbell


Lady Moyra Kathleen Campbell-Grove was a British aristocrat and courtier who served as a maid of honour at the coronation of Elizabeth II.

Early life and family

Lady Moyra Hamilton was born on 22 July 1930 in London. She was the eldest child of James Hamilton, Marquess of Hamilton, later 4th Duke of Abercorn, and The Hon. Kathleen Crichton. Her father was the son and heir of James Hamilton, 3rd Duke of Abercorn, and Lady Rosalind Bingham. Her mother was the daughter of Viscount Crichton and Lady Mary Grosvenor. She was raised at Baronscourt, the Abercorn's seat in County Tyrone. She was a first cousin of John Spencer, 8th Earl Spencer, father of Diana, Princess of Wales.
As a child, she was a member of 1st [Buckingham Palace Guide Company] which was formed in 1937 for Princess Elizabeth. She was educated at St Mary's School, Wantage, before attending finishing school in Switzerland. She did not attend university.

Royal service

In 1953, Lady Moyra was one of six well-born young ladies selected as maids of honour at the coronation of Elizabeth II. Her duties included carrying the queen's train during the procession of Elizabeth II|procession]. The maids of honour all wore matching gowns by Norman Hartnell.
From 1954 to 1964 she was a lady-in-waiting to Princess Alexandra. She was made a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order on 23 April 1963. She later served as an extra lady-in-waiting to Elizabeth II from 1964 to 1966.

Later life

While in royal service at Buckingham Palace, she met Commander Peter Colin Drummond Campbell, a Royal Navy officer and equerry to Elizabeth II. They married in 1966 and had two sons. The family lived at Hollybrook House in Randalstown, County Antrim.
She was active in philanthropy in Northern Ireland, serving as president of the Northern Ireland Cancer Fund for Children and honorary president of the Early Years. She was also a trustee of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.
Lady Moyra suffered from Alzheimer's disease in her later years. She died on 8 November 2020 at the age of 90 in a nursing home in Belfast.