One of Queen Elizabeth’s most trusted advisors passed away on the same day that the 95-year-old monarch was attending the funeral of her husband, Prince Philip.
Sir Michael Oswald, who managed the Royal Studs and played an important role in the monarch’s horse racing interests, died on Saturday aged 86 following a long illness, The Times reports.
Sir Michael was the advisor of both Queen Elizabeth and the Queen Mother and was regularly photographed alongside the royals at major horse racing events through the years.
His death comes as another blow to the Queen, who was already grieving from the loss of her husband.
Paying tribute to her husband, Oswald’s wife Lady Angela who was the Queen Mother’s lady-in-waiting for many years – told The Racing Post Sir Michael was “deeply committed to the studs, the Queen and the Queen Mother.”
He was a regular feature in their lives for more than 50 years.
Oswald became manager of the Royal Studs in 1970 and served in the role for 28 years.
“He always said he had the most wonderful job anybody could ever have had and that for all his working life he was simply doing what he would have done had he been a rich man who didn’t have to work,” Lady Angela said.
The Queen’s current racing adviser John Warren said Sir Michael did a “magnificent job” in managing the Royal Studs.
“He was extraordinarily enthusiastic and got such a buzz out of all the royal winners,” he said.