Queen Mourns Close Friend’s Death on Same Day as Prince Philip’s Funeral

The Queen has been hit with another wave of sorrow as her close friend, Sir Michael Oswald, passed away on the same day she attended the funeral of her beloved husband, Prince Philip.

According to the Times, Sir Michael, who had been battling a long illness, died on Saturday, April 17th.

For nearly three decades, he had served as Her Majesty's trusted horse-racing advisor, overseeing the Queen and the Queen Mother's racing interests.

Throughout the years, he was often seen alongside members of the royal family at various racing events.

The exact cause of Sir Michael's passing has not been disclosed.

However, the senior editor of the Racing Post shared the sad news on Twitter on Sunday.

In his tweet, he described Sir Michael Oswald as a remarkable individual, stating, “Sir Michael Oswald was clearly a very lovely man.

He died yesterday and is remembered here with great fondness and some super stories.”

Born in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, in 1934, Sir Michael Oswald attended Eton before pursuing higher education at King's College, Cambridge.

Following his studies, he was appointed as the manager of the Royal Studs.

From 1970 until 2002, he worked for the Queen Mother, and after her passing, he became Her Majesty's racing advisor.

Lady Angela Oswald, Sir Michael's wife and the Queen Mother's former lady-in-waiting, paid tribute to her late husband, expressing his love for his job and how he considered it the most wonderful occupation one could have.

She stated, “For all his working life, he was simply doing what he would have done had he been a rich man who didn't have to work.”

John Warren, the Queen's current racing advisor, praised Sir Michael's exceptional management of the Royal Studs, describing him as extraordinarily enthusiastic and someone who found great joy in the success of the royal winners.

Last year, Sir Michael was honored with the title of Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order in the New Year's Honours list.

In addition to his professional achievements, Sir Michael also shared an amusing anecdote about the Queen's dry sense of humor.

On one occasion, he had called an aide to inform him that a horse owned by the Queen, named Harvest Song, would be running and televised.

The aide, Barry Mitford, excitedly asked if the horse would win and if he should place a bet.

Sir Michael jokingly replied, “Under no circumstances should he waste any money on that, that I had more chance of winning the 100 meters at the Olympics.”

Astonishingly, the 50 to 1 outsider ended up winning the race by five and a half lengths.

When Sir Michael later spoke to the Queen and asked if she had watched the race, she humorously responded, “Oh yes, and may I say that Barry is standing next to me.

If I were you, I would find some dark glasses and a good disguise next time to come anywhere near this place.”

Sir Michael's passing has dealt another blow to the Queen, who is already mourning the loss of her husband of over seven decades.

The Duke of Edinburgh was laid to rest in a poignant funeral ceremony in Windsor on Saturday, with only 30 mourners in attendance.

During her saddest and most difficult day, the grieving Queen sat alone as she bid her final farewell to her beloved Prince Philip.