Margaret Rhodes

Margaret Rhodes, LVO (née Elphinstone; born 9 June 1925), is a first cousin of Elizabeth II.

She was born The Hon. Margaret Elphinstone in London, the youngest daughter of the 16th Lord Elphinstone and his wife Mary (née Bowes-Lyon). Margaret was a bridesmaid to her cousin Elizabeth on 20 November 1947. She was herself married to writer Denys Gravenor Rhodes (1919 - 1981) on 31 July 1950. The couple had four children together:

• Annabel Margaret Rhodes (born 21 February 1952); married firstly Christopher Strickland-Skailes in 1978 and had a son, Andrew James Downing Strickland-Skailes in 1980; married secondly Charles Cope in 1986
• Victoria Ann Rhodes (born 27 September 1953); married Nicholas Deans in 1974
• Simon John Gravenor Rhodes (born 22 February 1957); married Susan Simon in 1983
• Michael Andrew Gravenor Rhodes (born 8 June 1960)

She was a lady-in-waiting to her aunt, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, from 1991 until the latter's death in 2002. She was awarded the LVO that year and currently lives in the Garden House, a residence in Windsor Great Park. In the run-up to the Queen's 80th birthday in April 2006, Margaret gave an interview to the BBC in which she confirmed that, in her own opinion and despite several rumours, the Queen would not abdicate.

Her autobiography, The Final Curtsey, was published in 2011 and will be released sometime during 2012.

Ancestry

Being a first cousin of Elizabeth II, Rhodes shares half her ancestry with The Queen. Notable peers exist throughout all lines of Rhodes' recent ancestry.

References

• Queen will 'never quit throne' claims cousin, Edinburgh Evening News - 19/04/06
• 'The Queen will NEVER consider abdicating', Daily Mail - 20/04/06

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