Billions of people across the globe are expected to watch Queen Elizabeth II's funeral today. Britain's longest-reigning monarch died age 96 on Thursday (September 8) at Balmoral Castle.
Since then the UK entered a 10-day period of mourning, with ceremonies and vigils taking place across the four nations and the Commonwealth to honour the late Queen. Members of the Royal Family will be attending the Queen's funeral today to continue paying their respects.
Among them is David Armstrong-Jones, Earl of Snowdon, who will join in the funeral procession alongside other royals. Formerly known as Viscount Linley, he is the late monarch's nephew.
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The Earl, 60, is the eldest child of the Queen’s late sister Princess Margaret, and celebrity photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones. He became the 2nd Earl of Snowdon following the death of his father the Earl of Snowdon in 2017.
Armstong-Jones, also known by his professional name of David Linley, runs his own company making bespoke furniture. He founded his business in 1985, and in 2006 was appointed honorary chairman for Christie’s Europe, Middle East, Russia and India.
David, who is 24th in line to the throne, has lectured around the world and written books about furniture and styling the home. The furniture designer lives in Dorking, where he runs a workshop, but is still seen at various royal events, especially sporting events such as the Royal Ascot, reports the Mirror.
He has a close relationship with the Royal Family and was one of the 30 mourners to attend Prince Philip's funeral last year. He also attended Prince William's wedding, where his daughter Lady Margarita Armstrong-Jones, now 20, was a bridesmaid. The Earl was a guest at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's big day.
When the Queen Mother died in 2002, he joined King Charles III, the Duke of York and the Earl of Wessex in standing guard at his grandmother's coffin. Growing up, he spent time on holidays with Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward.
At the age of five, he started lessons with his cousin Prince Andrew in the Buckingham Palace schoolroom. Armstrong-Jones was born in Clarence House, and christened in the Music Room at Buckingham Palace, counting the Queen as his godmother.
He lived at Kensington Palace with his family. His mother, Princess Margaret, died in 2002 at the age of 71.
In 2020, it was announced he had separated from his wife Serena after 26 years in 2020 - the same year he received the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal. The couple wed in October 1993 and have two children Viscount Linley, Charles Armstrong-Jones, 23, and Lady Margarita Armstrong-Jones.
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