Sad news for the Queen as friend from 'inner circle' passes away

The Queen has received sad news as her childhood friend, Lady Myra Butter, has reportedly died at the age of 97.

• Lady Myra Butter was a childhood friend of the Queen's and a relative of Prince Philip's
• Lady Butter died at the age of 97, and her death was announced by her family.
• In other royal news, Kate Middleton's unlikely train toilet gesture that shows her 'character and sense of duty'

Just over a year since Prince Philip died aged 99 at Windsor Castle, the Queen has suffered another blow as she loses yet another close companion who was reported to be a member of her 'inner circle.'

It was announced by Joe Little, from Majesty Magazine, that Lady Myra Alice Butter "died peacefully on Friday 29th July 2022 in London aged 97."

Joe Little commented on Twitter, "Lady Butter was a daughter of Sir Harold and Lady Zia Wernher, and a granddaughter of Grand Duke Michael Mikhailovich of Russia and Countess de Torby. Myra was a close friend of the Queen and Prince Philip since childhood and from time to time appeared in royal documentaries."

This is a devastating blow for Her Majesty who was reportedly very close with Lady Butter. The Queen's relationship goes back decades and both the Queen and Lady Butter attended one another weddings. "The war had been so grey that the royal wedding seemed to signify the world coming to life again," said Lady Myra to the Daily Mail in 1997 about the Queen's wedding day. 

"The Princess looked truly glittering. Her dress was beautiful and she was obviously in love. Philip looked very dashing in his naval uniform – and it really did seem like a fairy tale wedding," she said.

Following the death of the Duke of Edinburgh, Lady Butter spoke to ITV about his impact on the Royal Family. "There is no one, in my mind, who could have done this job. No one," said Lady Myra. "Dedicated to this, and very smart and young. He was a step behind in walking, but he was never a step behind as a person."

Lady Myra was so close to Her Majesty that she made the Queen her firstborn daughter's Godmother. Lady Butter's husband died in 2010, but she is survived by her five children, including the Queen's goddaughter, Sandra Elizabeth Zia.

It was revealed in the death notice that Lady Butter's private funeral would be held in Scotland. As Her Majesty is currently enjoying a summer retreat at her Scottish estate, Balmoral Castle, so it is entirely possible that the Queen will be in attendance.