Heartbreaking news for Princess Anne as her mother-in-law passes away

Princess Anne and her husband Sir Timothy Laurence are in mourning, after the news that his mother Barbara has passed away.

The 90-year-old's obituary was released in The Telegraph (opens in new tab) recently, which revealed that she died 'peacefully' on the 2nd July at an assisted living facility in Stroud.

Barbara was married to Timothy's late father, Commander Guy Stewart Laurence, and was mother to his brother too, Jonathan Dobree Laurence. In the obituary, she is describe as the 'much-loved widow' of Guy.

So it is sure to be a difficult time for both Anne and her husband, as they come to terms with the loss.

The Telegraph has also reported that Barbara's funeral will be held in Great Wishford on Saturday 20th July. The family have asked for donations to the RNLI, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, instead of gifts of flowers.

Princess Anne and Sir Timothy have been married for over 25 years now, tying the knot after her divorce from Mark Phillips, who is father to her two children, Zara and Peter.

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The couple had a private marriage service at Crathie Kirk near Balmoral Castle back in 1992. They now live between Princess Anne's country home, Gatcombe Park, in Gloucestershire, and an apartment in St. James's Palace when on official duties in London.

Most recently, Timothy joined his wife and the rest of the royal family at Royal Ascot, and he regularly accompanies her to family occasions, such as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding in may last year.

Sir Timothy is Anne's second husband. She and Mark Phillips married in 1973 at Westminster Abbey, but divorced just under 20 years later.

Like many royal spouses, Timothy Laurence did not receive any kind of title following his marriage to Anne.