Britain’s Duchess of Cornwall paid tribute to her brother at his memorial service yesterday (11.09.14).
The 67-year-old royal was joined by her husband Prince Charles and other family members as they gathered at St Paul’s Church in Knightsbridge, London, to remember Mark Shand, who died in April after he fell and smashed his head on the pavement in New York.
Duchess Camilla lead the tributes for her younger brother by reading the poem ‘Farewell My Friends’ by Gitanjali Ghei, before his sister Annabel Elliot read an extract from his book, ‘Travels On My Elephant’.
Two of Mr Shand’s friends, Henry Wyndham and Don McCullin, gave personal tributes during the service, before his 19-year-old daughter Ayesha, finished off the eulogies by reading a poem she had written.
Speaking after the ceremony, comedian Stephen Fry described the service, which was attended by 750 mourners, as "wonderful" and "extremely funny."
He said of Mr Shand: "A traveller and a rogue and an establishment figure of course in some ways, by birth.
"He was a renegade and he cared not more or less for royalty or for dukes or dustmen, as you might say."
The mourners also included Yasmin Le Bon, Bianca Jagger, Princess Beatrice, Prince and Princess Michael of Kent and Jemima Khan.
Mr Shand was known for his dedication to protecting the Asian elephant and since his passing, conservation charity Elephant Family has launched the Mark Shand Memorial Fund, which will raise money for the cause.
Duchess of Cornwall pays tribute to brother at memorial service
