Queen's friend of many years dies just months after losing his wife

The Queen’s former Master of the Horse and friend has died just two months after losing his wife.

Lord Samuel Vestey’s death was announced on Thursday in the Racing Post.

Lady Celia Vestey, Prince Harry’s godmother, died at the end of November. She was 71.

It’s not confirmed when Lord Vestey died, and the cause of his death has not been announced either.

Lord Vestey was the chairman of Cheltenham racecourse and had a long association with horse racing and breeding.

He and the Queen were friends, and he was her Master of the Horse for nearly 20 years from 1999 to 2018. He was often seen with the Queen at derby events, riding in her carriage during the processions.

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Lord Vestey was born in March 1941 and was educated at Eton and Sandhurst before going into the army in the Scots Guards.

He was married to Kathryn Eccles from 1970 until 1981, and they had two daughters and four grandchildren.

He then married Celia Knight, who became Lady Vestey, and they had three children and four grandchildren.

Their eldest son, Guy Vestey, was a page of honour for the Queen from 1995 to 1998.

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Lord Vestey’s father died when he was just three-years-old, as he was killed in World War Two. He inherited the peerage when he was 13, as his grandfather died.

The family home is Stowell Park Estate in Gloucestershire.

Master of the Horse is a ceremonial role in the UK now, and mostly appears at state occasions.

Lord and Lady Vestey had formed an important part in the Queen’s racing circles.

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