One of Queen Elizabeth’s most trusted advisors died 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 horseracing interests, died on Saturday aged 86 following a long illness, The Times reports.
Sir Michael advised both Queen Elizabeth and the Queen Mother and was regularly photographed alongside the royals at major horseracing events through the years.
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His death came as another blow to the Queen, who was already mourning the loss of her husband of more than seven decades.
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.
British racehorse trainer Nicky Henderson described Sir Michael as having had “the most amazing twinkle and such a lovely impish air about him.”
“He really was the most lovely man and came out with such wonderfully witty lines,” he said.
“He had a marvellous military background and always referred to his wife, Lady Angela, as the commanding officer.
“He was very close to the Queen and the Queen Mother and loved his role with their horses.
“He would go absolutely anywhere to watch them run, even in the last few years when he was in his eighties.”
Long-time friend David Minton told The Racing Post that Sir Michael and Prince Philip shared similar personality traits.
“Like Prince Philip, he was one of those people who enjoyed talking to everybody,” he said.
“He was amazing and one of the nicest, most charming men you could ever meet.”
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