Royalty, Elvis at Duchess of Devonshire funeral

LONDON (AP) — Hundreds of liveried staff, the heir to the British throne and the music of Elvis Presley have formed part of a final farewell for Deborah, Dowager Duchess of Devonshire, last of the unconventional Mitford sisters.

Deborah, who married a nobleman and became chatelaine of the vast Chatsworth estate in central England, died last week aged 94. She was buried Thursday on the estate grounds.

Her late siblings included novelist Nancy; social activist Jessica; Diana, who married a fascist politician; and Unity, friend of Adolf Hitler.

More than 600 Chatsworth staff in traditional livery lined the cortege route to St Peter’s Church.

The mourners included Prince Charles, who said he “adored and admired” her.

Music at the service included “How Great Thou Art,” sung by Elvis, the duchess’s favorite entertainer.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Federal News Network Logo
Log in to your WTOP account for notifications and alerts customized for you.

Sign up