There was a poignant tinge to recent engagements carried out by the Princess Royal. As Anne visited Yorkshire on Monday she was dressed in black, a reminder that the princess is in mourning for her mother-in-law who died earlier this month.
Sir Tim Laurence’s mother, Barbara, passed away on July 2nd 2019 at the age of 90. She died at a nursing home a few miles from Gatcombe Park in Gloucestershire, the home her son shares with the Princess Royal.
Born Barbara Alison Symons, she was married to Commander Guy Stewart Laurence. The couple had two sons – Tim (born in 1955) and Jonathan (born 1952). Barbara became the mother-in-law of the Princess Royal in 1992 when her younger son married Anne at Crathie Kirk near Balmoral. Barbara Laurence stood proudly at her son’s side as he emerged from the wedding ceremony and appeared in official photographs taken later.
Anne’s diary has been relatively empty over the past few days as she and her husband come to terms with their loss. Her most recent engagements in Yorkshire saw her travel to Bradford where she opened the new factory run by Texfelt UK and heard about the multi million pound investment being made to support the industry in Yorkshire.
Anne also heard about its work to make carpets more environmentally friendly. The firm uses upcycled bottles to help make underlay. The new factory is a collaboration between Texfelt and four other machinery manufacturers.
In the coming days, Anne has a packed agenda with visits to Derby and East Sussex planned.
She will join her husband at Barbara Laurence’s funeral which will take place on July 20th 2019 in Gloucestershire. Mrs Laurence’s family have requested no flowers at the commemoration but have asked mourners to instead make donations to the RNLI in her memory.
