In 1987, Elizabeth was criticised when it emerged that two of her nieces, Nerissa and Katherine Bowes-Lyon, had been committed to a psychiatric hospital in Redhill, Surrey, in 1941 because they had severe learning disabilities. However, Burke's Peerage had listed the sisters as dead, apparently because their mother, Fenella (Elizabeth's sister-in-law), "was 'extremely vague' when it came to filling in forms and might not have completed the paperwork for the family entry correctly". When Nerissa died in 1986, her grave was originally marked with a plastic tag and a serial number. Elizabeth said that the news of their institutionalisation came as a surprise to her.
in 1987 elizabeth was criticised when it emerged that two of her nieces nerissa and katherine bowes-lyon had been committed to a psychiatric hospital in redhill surrey in 1941 because they had severe learning disabilities however burke's peerage had listed the sisters as dead apparently because their mother fenella (elizabeth's sister-in-law) "was 'extremely vague' when it came to filling in forms and might not have completed the paperwork for the family entry correctly" when nerissa died in 1986 her grave was originally marked with a plastic tag and a serial number elizabeth said that the news of their institutionalisation came as a surprise to her