Heartbreak for Prince Harry and William as their uncle Lord Robert Fellowes dies aged 82

Queen Elizabeth II's private secretary Lord Robert Fellowes, who was Princess Diana's brother-in-law and the uncle of Princes Harry and William, has died aged 82. 

The British courtier was the late monarch's most important adviser between 1990 and 1999 during the divorces of three of her children and Diana's death. 

Lord Fellowes was also forced to deny bizarre claims by Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed that he was involved in a conspiracy to murder his son Dodi and the Princess. 

And he helped the Queen through what she dubbed her 'annus horribilis' in 1992 when Charles was at war with Diana, Andrew separated from Sarah, Anne divorced, Windsor Castle went up in flames and public opinion turned against the royals.

He was born at Sandringham in 1941 to father Sir William 'Billy' Fellowes, its estate manager from 1936 to 1964; and mother Jane Fellowes, who was the daughter of Brigadier General Algernon Ferguson, high sheriff of Northamptonshire.

He spent three years in the Army from 1960 to 1963 - and in 1978 married Lady Jane Spencer, the elder sister of Diana, who was a bridesmaid at their wedding.

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