Viewers of classic British comedy are in mourning today because Patricia Routledge, a beloved English star of stage and screen, has passed away at the age of 96. As per the BBC, for whom she worked on many a production, her passing was a peaceful one. Patricia Routledge with Queen Camilla. In the 1993 Birthday Honors, she was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). And in the 2017 New Year Honors, she was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE).