The Queen is facing fresh heartache after news that a close family friend has died aged 102.
- The Queen faces fresh heartache following the news one of her and Prince Philip's close friends has died aged 102.
- War hero Captain Alwyne Arthur Compton Farquharson was a close friend of Prince Philip and worshipped with the Queen.
- This royal news comes after the Queen sparks health fears after a recent outing with Princess Anne.
The Queen is expected to be saddened by the death of the Scottish chief clan and decorated war hero Captain Alwyne Arthur Compton Farquharson has died aged 102.
A close friend of Prince Philip, the Captain would often have coffee with the Duke of Edinburgh at Sandringham and was awarded the Military Cross for his role in the Battle of Normandy.
But news of his death will be of sadness to the Queen who worshipped at Crathie Kirk in a seat directly opposite him, and he was also her Balmoral neighbour.
Her majesty and the Duke used to attend the Braemar Highland Gathering at The Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park - an event often attended by the Captain.
The Captain's lands extended from Perthshire to Aberdeenshire but he passed away at his Norfolk home.
A memorial is planned in Crathie Kirk in November.
Jonathan Findlay, President of Clan Farquharson UK, expressed his 'deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences' to Madam Farquharson and the wider family.
He told The Scotsman, "The Chief played an important part in all of our lives and he will be dearly missed."
He leaves behind his wife Patricia and five step-children from his two marriages his nephews and a niece.
His first wife was British Vogue journalist Frances Gordon, the pair married in 1949 and first met when the Captain was recovering from war injuries.
He fought at the Battle for Caen in 1944, earning him the Military Cross for singlehandedly determining the position of the enemy even though he was seriously injured in the foot.
Ms Gordon passed away in 1991 and the chieftain shortly married Patricia de Winton, Madame Farquharson.
The Ballater Highland Games also paid tribute to the captain. It posted a note on its Facebook page which read, 'Ballater Highland Games are very sad to announce, earlier today the passing of Capt. Alwyne Arthur Compton Farquharson of Invercauld, M.C.
It continued, 'Our Chieftain for 73 years, the loss we feel is immense. Our heartfelt condolences are with Alwyne''s wife Patricia, Madame Farquharson & our Chieftain Philip Farquharson & his family especially so close after of Zoe' too!'
He was vice-patron of the Braemar Royal Highland Gathering.
He saw to it that Braemar Castle - the seat of the clan - become community-owned and was vigilant in his duties as chieftain of the Ballater Highland Games.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AaZWxk9cX0
He never missed a march onto the field for 73 years, including the last of its kind in 2019 at the grand age of 100.
It's understood that Captain Alwyne resigned from chiefship a year before his death was because he worried about bringing down the 'tempo of the event' and didn't want to be 'wheeled onto the field'.
