Who was Queen Elizabeth’s ‘naughtiest’ friend Lady Rupert Nevill as she dies at the age of 97?

Queen Elizabeth’s close friend Lady Rupert Nevill passed away at the age of 97 on 25 January.

Lady Rupert Nevill, formerly Lady Anne Camilla Evelyn Wallop, was known for being Elizabeth II’s ‘naughtiest’ friend after helping the late monarch go out in public incognito throughout her 70-year-reign.

The late Queen always called Lady Nevill by her nickname of ‘Mickey’ and had formed a close relationship since meeting in the grounds of Buckingham Palace as girl guides.

Lady Nevill ensured that King Charles’ mother also had fun while acting as Head of the Commonwealth after helping Elizabeth go out unrecognised.

An article from the 1970s confirmed their sneaky plans after stating that the late Queen ‘once queued at the ticket office ­without being noticed’ before going ‘elbow-deep’ in the crush of a slow-moving crowd.

To remember the Queen’s ‘mischievous’ ally, PeopleWorld takes a look back at who Lady Rupert Nevill was.

Lady Anne Wallop was born to the 9th Earl of Portsmouth, Gerard Vernon Wallop, as Camilla Wallop on 12 July 1925, and had an older brother called Oliver Kintzing Wallop, Viscount Lymington.

While Lady Anne was Queen Elizabeth’s childhood friend, so was ‘Micky’s’ husband Rupert Nevill, who she married in 1944. The pair shared four children through their marriage, until Robert died in 1982, aged 59.

Before his death, Lord and Lady Nevill lived at Horsted Place and were sometimes known as ‘the Little People’ because of their small stature.

In addition to having a close relationship with the late Queen, Lord Nevill acted as treasurer and private secretary to Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh until 1982, and was even named as godfather to Princess Margaret’s son, David Armstrong-Jones.

Lady Rupert Nevill’s funeral is to take place this week, and many senior members of the Royal Family are expected to be in attendance to remember the ‘Micky’ to their ‘Lizzie’.