The royal family is in mourning this week after Lady Celia Vestey, a godmother to Prince Harry and a close friend of Queen Elizabeth’s, passed away suddenly. She was 71 years-old.

People Magazine reported that Lady Vestey’s family confirmed her death in a brief statement.

“Celia Elizabeth SRN BA. Died suddenly, but peacefully, on Saturday 28th November, aged 71 years,” the family said. “Adored wife of Sam. Much loved mother of William, Arthur and Mary and loving Granny of Ella, Frankie, Sam and Cosima. Private family funeral. Memorial service later. Family flowers only please, but donations gratefully received in Celia’s memory to Ebony Horse Club.”

We’re so sad to hear of the death of our Patron, Lady Vestey. Wonderful memories of weeks spent at Stowell with horses & children. She made us so welcome & did so much for us. We’re going to miss her hugely. RIP Celia pic.twitter.com/HuDURUtHy8

— Ebony Horse Club (@EbonyHorseClub) December 1, 2020

The Sun reported that Harry reached out to the family of Lady Vestey privately to offer his condolences.

Lady Vestey was one of the six godparents to be chosen for Harry after his 1984 birth by his parents, Prince Charles and Princess Diana. Lady Vestey being chosen as godmother to Harry caused a bit of controversy within the family, as Charles’ sister Princess Anne was not chosen as a godmother.

Lady Vestey appears to have taken her role as godmother to the royal seriously, as she was present at various key events in his life. She attended his baptism after his birth and his confirmation in 2000, as well as his wedding to Meghan Markle in 2018.

https://twitter.com/Murky__Meg/status/1333807764934713346

Lady Vestey was known for being in the inner circle of the Queen, 94, as the two shared a mutual love of horses. Lady Vestey could often be seen joining the Queen and the rest of the royal family for events like the Royal Ascot, where she and her husband Lord Samuel Vestey sometimes arrived in horse-drawn carriages with the royals.

This comes at a difficult time for Harry, as his wife Meghan just revealed to the world that she suffered a miscarriage back in July.

“Losing a child means carrying an almost unbearable grief, experienced by many but talked about by a few,” she wrote in an op-ed for The New York Times last month. “We have learned that when people ask how any of us are doing, and when they really listen to the answer, with an open heart and mind, the load of grief often becomes lighter — for all of us.”