Dame Shan Legge Bourke, who once served as a lady in waiting to Princess Anne and was also the mother of Prince William and Prince Harry’s former nanny, has died at the age of 82. Her family confirmed the news on December 15, saying she passed away peacefully at home the previous evening.
In a statement shared with GB News, her children spoke of their loss with deep emotion. They described her as an inspiration not only to her family but also to the many people and organisations she supported throughout her life. They noted that she was a country woman at heart and said her influence would continue to be felt at Glanusk, across the Welsh countryside and far beyond.
A close connection to the royal family
Dame Shan inherited the Glanusk Estate in Wales at just five years old following her father’s death in 1948. Over the decades, the estate became central to her life and legacy. It also became a familiar and much loved setting for Princes William and Harry, who reportedly spent time there during their childhood years.
Her royal connections extended through her daughter Tiggy, who worked as a nanny and personal assistant to the then Prince Charles between 1993 and 1999. Dame Shan herself held a formal position at court, serving as a lady in waiting to Princess Anne, a role that reflected the trust placed in her by the royal family.
In 2006, her life and work were highlighted in a BBC Wales documentary series titled The Lady of Glanusk. The programme offered a rare glimpse into her day to day life, showing her carrying out practical tasks around the estate well into her sixties. Scenes included cleaning gutters, preparing pheasants with her grandchildren and dealing with electrical repairs, all of which illustrated her hands on approach.
Her daughter Zara once summed up her mother’s skills by saying she could drive a tractor better than anyone she had ever seen and reverse it with a trailer through the tightest spaces.
Dedication to Wales and public life
During the documentary, Dame Shan spoke candidly about her upbringing and the early responsibilities she was encouraged to take on. She recalled learning from a young age to turn her hand to anything, whether collecting eggs, picking fruit or working on the tractor. Despite her strong attachment to home, she was sent to boarding school in Sussex as a child, an experience she later described as deeply unhappy and isolating.
Alongside managing the estate, Dame Shan took on a wide range of 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.
While her ties to royalty were well known, those who knew her say she will be remembered above all for her devotion to Wales, her community and her family. Her life combined tradition, hard work and quiet influence, leaving a legacy that reaches far beyond her titles.
