Unofficial Royalty: The Strathmore Cousins
In 2006, one of our columnists, The Laird o’Thistle, wrote an article entitled “The Strathmore Cousins” about the first cousins of Queen Elizabeth II from the Bowes-Lyon side of her family. We have revised the article as many people are currently interested in The Queen’s Bowes-Lyon cousins due to the recent death of The Honorable Margaret Rhodes, one of Queen Elizabeth II’s Strathmore Cousins.
Born Margaret Elphinstone in 1925, Margaret Rhodes was the youngest daughter of Sidney Elphinstone, 16th Lord Elphinstone and his wife Lady Mary Bowes-Lyon, sister of The Queen Mother. She was one of Queen Elizabeth II’s bridesmaids and was considered to be the best friend of The Queen.