Inside life of a royal secretary - clever techniques used to 'persuade' royals
The British royal family is an institution - but who is it that really keeps the show on the road? King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince William and Princess Kate might be the stars, but it's the royal secretaries that manage everything behind the scenes.
Former royal correspondent and author of Courtiers: The Hidden Power Behind the Crown, Valentine Low recently gave a fascinating insight into the world of the royals' right-hand staff and revealed why their work is so crucial.
Sir Clive Alderton currently serves as the King's private secretary, while William and Kate are supported by Ian Patrick and Lieutenant Colonel Tom White, respectively.
"They're the machinery of the palace," Low said of the key staff members during an appearance on HELLO!'s podcast. "They organise their public life, engagements, they're their gatekeeper, they determine who gets to see the member of the royal family, they write speeches, they advise, they advise on policy, and they're also a constant companion. They are with them a lot of the time."
But, he added, while the private secretary will make a lot of the day-to-day decisions, the big decisions are still made by the sovereign.
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Low also spoke about the private secretary's difficult job of trying to "persuade" their royal to do something when they are "set on another path".
"When I was writing my book Courtiers, the different techniques that the private secretaries would use to get their royal to do the right thing... It's not about having a full-on row, because a full-on row doesn't get you anywhere. Sometimes it's about explaining the consequences," he shared.
"Sometimes it's a question of recruiting allies. You might, if it was the then Prince of Wales, Prince Charles, you might want to get Camilla on board. It's about using subtle techniques to get your way."
It comes after the news that Princess Kate has reportedly appointed Lt Col White as her new press secretary, her first since the departure of Hannah Cockburn-Logie in October 2022.
He certainly has an impressive royal resume. Lt Col White worked by the late Queen's side right up until her death on 8 September 2022. He was the first Royal Marines commando to hold the position.
The royal aide was spotted alongside the late monarch at the modified Trooping the Colour celebration in the summer of 2021 and again at the Royal Windsor Horse Show. According to royal sources via The Mail , he is "so well-liked by every member of the household".
He was also on hand to greet former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson at Balmoral Castle on September 6, 2022, when he resigned from the position to pass the role to Liz Truss . The meetings were the Queen's final audiences before her death just two days later at the age of 96.
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