Ruth Roche, Baroness Fermoy

Ruth Sylvia Roche, Baroness Fermoy (née Gill), was born on October 2, 1908, at Dalhebity House in Bieldside, Aberdeenshire. Her parents were Colonel William Smith Gill and Ruth (née Littlejohn), the daughter of David Littlejohn, DL. Ruth Gill demonstrated early musical talent and pursued studies in piano under Alfred Cortot at the Paris Conservatoire during the 1920s.

In 1931, she married Maurice Roche, 4th Baron Fermoy, a wealthy and considerably older man. Their wedding took place on September 17, 1931, at St. Devenick’s Church in Bieldside, Aberdeenshire. The couple had three children: Mary Cynthia, Frances Ruth, and Edmund James Burke. Her daughter Frances Ruth became the mother of Diana, Princess of Wales.

Following her marriage, Lady Fermoy occasionally performed publicly as a pianist, including a notable recital with Josef Krips at the Royal Albert Hall in 1950 and performances with Sir John Barbirolli and the Hallé Orchestra at King's Lynn in 1966. She founded the King's Lynn Festival in 1951 and maintained involvement with the festival for 25 years. Her efforts led to Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother accepting the festival as its patron. Her contributions to the arts earned her an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in January 1952, specifically for her role as Chairman of the King's Lynn Arts Festival Society.

In 1956, Lady Fermoy was appointed an Extra Woman of the Bedchamber by the Queen Mother, a role often assigned to widows in her household. Four years later, she was promoted to Woman of the Bedchamber, a position she held for 33 years. Her service was further recognized when she was appointed a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) in June 1966, and later a Dame Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (DCVO) in June 1979.

Lady Fermoy adhered to traditional views on marriage. In 1969, her daughter Frances divorced John Spencer, Viscount Althorp, after leaving her husband for Peter Shand Kydd. Lady Fermoy testified against her daughter during the proceedings, which resulted in Viscount Althorp retaining custody of their children.

A close confidante of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, Lady Fermoy was widely thought to have influenced the marriage between Charles, Prince of Wales, and Diana, Princess of Wales. When questioned, Lady Fermoy denied orchestrating the match, stating, "You can say that if you like – but it simply wouldn't be true." She reportedly advised her granddaughter against the marriage, citing differences in humor and lifestyle.

Lady Fermoy passed away at her residence at 36 Eaton Square, London, on July 6, 1993, at the age of 84. Reports indicated that she was estranged from Diana at the time of her death.

Her ancestry includes her great-grandmother Kitty Forbes, daughter of Eliza Kewark. Eliza's father, Hakob Kevork (or Kevorkian), was Armenian, and her mother was likely Muslim and Indian. Contemporary documents describe her as "a dark-skinned native woman" or "an Armenian woman from Bombay."

In popular culture, Lady Fermoy was portrayed by Georgie Glen in the fourth season of the television series "The Crown."