Her family confirmed the news on December 15, sharing that Dame Shan died peacefully at home the previous evening.
“We are devastated to lose our mother. She was an inspiration to us all, and to many people she met over her years of service to Wales, and the countless organisations and institutions she supported,” the family said in a statement, as reported by GB News.
“A country girl at heart, she has left an indelible legacy at Glanusk, the wider countryside and beyond.”
A Special Bond With Princes William and Harry
Glanusk Estate later became a cherished refuge for the young Princes William and Harry, who were said to be frequent visitors during their childhood years.
Dame Shan’s close relationship with the royal family was reinforced through her eldest daughter, Tiggy. From 1993 to 1999, Tiggy worked as a nanny and personal assistant to the then-Prince Charles.
Dame Shan herself also held an official royal position, serving as a lady-in-waiting to Princess Anne, further cementing her place within the royal inner circle.
A Life Captured on Screen
In 2006, Dame Shan’s extraordinary life was documented in a four-part BBC Wales series titled The Lady of Glanusk.
The program highlighted her practical, hands-on approach to running the historic estate. Viewers saw her cleaning gutters, preparing pheasants alongside her grandchildren, and fixing electrical problems well into her sixties.
Her daughter Zara summed up her mother’s remarkable abilities, saying: “[She] can drive a tractor better than any man I’ve ever seen and can reverse it through a narrow gap with a trailer on the back of it.”
Early Lessons and Personal Reflections
During the series, Dame Shan spoke candidly about her upbringing and the responsibilities she learned at a young age.
“From a really early age, I was encouraged by everyone on the estate to be able to put my hand to whatever I could,” she said. “Whether that be searching for eggs, picking raspberries or sitting in the tractor.”
Despite her deep attachment to home life, she recalled being sent away to boarding school in Sussex as a child. She described the experience as “awful” and said it left her feeling “extremely homesick”.
Service, Leadership, and Lasting Impact
Beyond her personal ties to royalty, Dame Shan held numerous influential public roles. She served as Lord Lieutenant of Powys and chaired the Brecon and Radnor Country and Land Association.
She was also President of Save the Children in Wales, President of the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society, and led the National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs.
More than her titles and achievements, Dame Shan Legge-Bourke will be remembered for her dedication to Wales, her community, and her family, as well as for the quiet strength and practicality that defined her life.
