Amidst it all was the complete composure of the Queen, making her solemn promise. ‘You could feel the history of the ancient walls, the expectation of the vast congregation and you knew the television audience was on us. ‘The young Duke of Kent looked at his watch and said to his mother “bang on time!” as he walked out of the Abbey after the service. It was a humbling experience to see all the crowds who had been out all night in the rain waiting.’Īs she recalled, they stood for three hours and the ceremony went like clockwork. We got into a car sent from the Royal Mews to the Abbey on the dot of 8am. She recalled: ‘My grandmother made a cooked breakfast. Lady Moyra spent the night before with her grandparents in Mount Street in Mayfair. ‘The dresses were made incredibly quickly - the seamstresses must have stayed up all night.’ The first fitting with Norman Hartnell was in January 1953.

She recalled in 2013: ‘I bumped into the Duke of Norfolk at a fundraising evening and he said: “Have you had a letter from me?” I swooned with amazement and rang home, which you only did then in an emergency.’ She was staying with cousins in Gloucestershire when the invitation arrived at home in County Tyrone. Lady Moyra married distinguished naval officer Cdr Peter Campbell and the pair, who lived in Co Antrim, Northern Ireland, had two sons. 'I later called a newborn colt Tonga in her honour, but sadly he wasn't quite the success she was!' 'She was one of the stars of the day,' she said. Race-horse-loving Lady Moyra specially remembered the 6ft 3in Queen of Tonga, who refused a hood and rode through the pouring rain in an open carriage. She said they were touched by the cheering crowds along the route. On the 60th anniversary of the Coronation in 2013, Lady Moyra joined her five fellow maids of honour, with whom she was still good friends, in recalling what she said was the greatest day of her life for the Radio 4 programme The Reunion. On the 60th anniversary of the Coronation in 2013, Lady Moyra joined her five fellow maids of honour for the Radio 4 programme The Reunion

Republic's Chosen by Rori I.