Duchess of Cornwall wipes away a tear at funeral of late brother Mark Shand
THE Duchess of Cornwall wipes away a tear at the funeral of her late brother Mark Shand today.
Camilla attended the service for the 62-year-old travel writer accompanied by her husband Prince Charles.
The 66-year-old's daughter Laura Lopes and son Tom Parker Bowles were also among those who attended the private funeral in Dorset.
Mr Shand's nephew Ben Elliot greeted around 180 mourners as they arrived at the Holy Trinity Church in Stourpaine.
Mr Shand's daughter Ayesha, 19, her cousin Kate Elliot and Camilla's sister Annabel Elliot also came to pay their respects.
Musician Cat Stevens, now known as Yusuf Islam, flew in from the US for the funeral and sang an acoustic version of his hit song Wild World.
There was no-one like him, never will be
After mourners entered the church, Mr Shand's biodegradable wicker coffin was carried inside by pallbearers.
Prince William and Prince Harry were not at the funeral, as they are expected to be attending the wedding of friend Guy Pelly in Memphis, USA, this weekend.
Mr Shand was in New York for a charity auction in Sotheby's last month when he slipped and hit his head on the pavement.
He was rushed to hospital on April 22 and placed on life support but passed away 12 hours later after suffering serious head injuries.
The funeral service is being held in the village where Camilla and her siblings often spent time together.
Mr Shand previously described the picturesque area as the family's "centre" and it is where his sister Mrs Elliot currently lives.
The funeral of Camilla's father Major Bruce Shand was also held at the same church in 2006.
Many of the mourners used umbrellas to shelter from the drizzle as they walked into the church.
The service began with music including The Elephant from Carnival Of The Animals by Saint-Saens. The first hymn was Praise My Soul The King of Heaven.
Mr Parker Bowles then read Farewell My Friends by Rabindranath Tagore.
The congregation sang the hymn Dear Lord And Father Of Mankind before celebrated wildlife photographer Don McCullin, a close friend of Mr Shand, paid tribute.
Musicians also played Panis Angelicus, and Somewhere from the musical West Side Story.
Mr Elliot then read extracts from his uncle's book, Travels On My Elephant.
The vicar, Rev Stephen Coulter, led the prayers and then Mr Shand's daughter, Ayesha, paid her own personal tribute.
The final hymn was Lord Of The Dance.
More music, including The Elephant Song from the film The Jungle Book, played as Mr Shand's coffin was carried out of the church.
Camilla led mourners from the church and was comforted by Charles, who put his arm around her as they walked back to the nearby family home for a private reception.
Mr Shand's body was escorted home on a private jet by Camilla's son Mr Parker Bowles and Mr Elliot after his death was ruled an accident.
The Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Charles were preparing for a trip to Canada when they heard the news of Mr Shand's death.
A Clarence House spokesman said Camilla was "utterly devastated" by the death of her brother.
Besides his work as a travel writer Mr Shand was also the chairman of the Elephant Family, a wildlife foundation.
The event he attended prior to his death was in aid of the elephant charity and it raised an incredible £950,000.
The Faberge Big Egg Hunt auction was also attended by Princess Eugenie and much of New York high society.
Mr Shand was known for his dedication to protecting the endangered Asian elephant and it led to his best-selling book Travels On My Elephant.
It focussed on his rescue of Tara, a female elephant he saved from the streets of India and rode 600 miles across the country.
The Elephant Family have launched the Mark Shand Memorial Fund to raise money to save the Asian elephant.
The charity said it had been "deeply touched by the many offers of support we have received since his tragic death".
Camilla's son Mr Parker Bowles recently paid tribute to his uncle saying his death had left "a massive, gaping hole that will never be filled".
Writing in the Mail on Sunday, he said: "There was no-one like him, never will be. How lucky we all were to have had this giant, magnificent figure in our lives."