Her arm wrapped around her younger daughter, the Duchess of York comforted her girls as they attended the memorial service of one of their childhood friends. Princesses Beatrice, 18, and Eugenie, 16, wept as they joined other members of the royal family at a service for 21-year-old James Wentworth-Stanely.
Both had spent countless holidays with James - who studied at Harrow and then Newcastle University - and his family as they grew up. Fergie who went to school with his mother, the Marchioness of Milford Haven, was also clearly devastated by the loss.
Hundreds of mourners, including Viscount Linley and Lady Helen Taylor, turned out to pay tribute to the handsome and talented young polo player, who was found shot dead at his father's Worcestershire farmhouse in December. Police have yet to establish if it was a tragic accident or whether James took his own life.
At the moving service in Knighstbridge, West London, Queen drummer Roger Taylor, a friend of the family, performed No One But You with Kiki Dee. James' mother, Lady Milford Haven, a former social editor of Tatler magazine, released a statement saying: "We are all devastated by the loss of James. He was a shining star to all who met him and no one felt the joy of his personality more than his family. He had a wonderful enthusiasm for life and we will all miss his kindness, loyalty and generosity of spirit."
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
