Maybe she was flying to London for medical treatment?
Or returning home to London from a visit to India.

If she was seated in coach/economy, narrow seats with a stranger probably on one side, moving her to 1st class with maybe a window seat would be less of an interference to the passengers.

I wonder: wouldn't her daughter as NOK have any say in what to do with the body? (land at first avail. site vs continue to destination?)