martin charteris interview
In an interview with The Spectator in 1995, Charteris said he “sensed it was time to move on”, after helping to arrange the Queen’s Silver Jubilee celebrations. There was no vetting, no security clearance, no board interviews, nothing like that. The lady in question hap- pens to be married. ', Suddenly he asks, 'Have you met him? I don't know why we never got on. His brother, David, succeeded as 12th Earl of Wemyss following the death of their grandfather in 1937.[4]. In his Netflix series, now in its third season, Peter Morgan explores the shame, regret and "misdemeanors of the past" that haunt the House of Windsor. Even now when I see him, a certain dislike rises to the surface, after the initial emo- tion, which 'of course is love. `Very kindly, Oscar told me I had talent and that I should use it. `Lampooning, ridiculing, all been done before. Those memories have to be coaxed from him. The castaway in this week's Desert Island Discs is a pillar of the British Establishment, Lord Charteris of Amisfield. `Two is something I am sad about to this day, and it is not having made love to a certain very beautiful woman because one just didn't push things in those days. Quite simply, the Duchess of York is a vulgarian. `There is nothing in the constitution to say the monarch must be happily married. In 1950, he was appointed Private Secretary to Princess Elizabeth, who was then Duchess of Edinburgh and heir presumptive to the British throne. 1 AA1984/609, Part 4, The Governor-General’s periodic confidential reports to The Queen [Sir John Kerr – correspondence with The Queen – Palace letters] Part 4 Date of letter From To Description 22 Sep 1976 Sir John Kerr Sir Martin Charteris arrangements for Sir John’s papers relating to his Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO) - 1962 ', In the clear blue skies of this idyllic childhood there was one cloud â his intense dislike of his brother, the elder by 18 months, now the Earl of Wemyss. Hope it wasn't too deadly.'. In an interview with The Spectator in 1995, Charteris said he “sensed it was time to move on”, after helping to arrange the Queen's Silver Jubilee celebrations. He answers quickly, 'Absolutely not. Martin first appears in Wolferton Splash as Princess Elizabeth's private secretary while she and her husband are stationed in Malta.. Honours. Did that outspokenness not earn him a royal slap on the wrist? ', The Spectator, 22 Old Queen Street, London, SW1H 9HP, All articles and content Copyright © 2013 The Spectator (1828) Ltd | All rights reserved. `I can't see that there is a great deal of extravagance. To know Char- teris, you have to know about his past. Martin Charteris is the antithesis of the robust huntin', shootin', fishin' caste with whom the royal family are supposed to surround themselves. ', Did he cast Princess Margaret in the same light? "Perfect 10: The Men and Women Who Have Shaped the Queen", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Martin_Charteris,_Baron_Charteris_of_Amisfield&oldid=997550771, Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath, Knights Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order, Officers of the Order of the British Empire, Recipients of the Grand Decoration for Services to the Republic of Austria, Commanders Crosses of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, Graduates of the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, Members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom, Assistant Private Secretaries to the Sovereign, Honorary Grand Commanders of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia, Pages containing London Gazette template with parameter supp set to y, Pages using infobox military person with embed, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in the, Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath 11 August 1977, This page was last edited on 1 January 2021, at 02:27. ', Currently, he is working on two fire- backs, one commissioned by Paul Getty and the other by Lord Rothschild. Depicting himself as a caricature of a rather ineffectual, but stout-hearted trier is part of his charm. Introspective, artistic and quite wily, he is an able diplomat. She was so- young, beautiful, dutiful, the most impressive of women.'. Originally broadcast Jan. 16, 2018. Different type altogether. Read between the lines, observe the codes, note the smiles, take the hints. Martin Charteris is the antithesis of the robust huntin', shootin', fishin' caste with whom the royal family are supposed to surround themselves. ', Was it not an odd career switch, from a Middle East intelligence posting to the role of private secretary to a 24-year-old girl, albeit a princess? He fought in the Middle East during the Second World War, rising to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. While the Queen he still plainly adores is learning to brave the worst storms of her reign, Charteris's life is bobbing along gen- tly on altogether more serene waters. He was the least pompous of aristocrats, despite belonging to … As the Queen Mother so often says, what goes up must come down.'. Mother married Guy Benson when I was seven, and I grew to love him very much. https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/3-massive-errors-crown-season-22994960 Hon- our and patriotism positively ooze from every pore, lending him the naivety that sometimes clings to those of his class and generation. I hope that answers the question. 'The pity is,' he says now, `that the Prince of Wales had to marry a virgin.' Then again, Lord Charteris would be the last to confirm or deny even this analysis of what he says. He added that the Duchess of York was basically unsuited to the task of being a princess. Yet he is trusted by the family to speak to the people they have come to regard as their tormentors, such as journalists and film-makers. Ours was a very happy childhood, spent between Belvoir Castle, Wood House in Gloucester- shire and holidays on the Scottish island of South Uist. ... BBC rules itself out of running for UK rights to Harry and Meghan's Oprah interview. He invited me to train in his studio, so now I am proud to say I am a professional sculptor. 'Oh, every man is a hero when faced with the possibility he might lose his life,' comes the dismissive conclusion. But this man is as sharp as any Rolex- wearing public relations officer, and, if you are too gullible, you would not get beyond the toasted tea-cake stage. In seasons 3 and 4, the more mature Charteris was played by Charles Edwards. Your feedback will help us improve the Spectator Archive. They are national treasures, like her grandfather's stamp collection.'. When the King died in '52, Lord Char- teris joined Michael Adeane and Edward Ford as number three in the new Queen's office. We cook together, sleep together; quite something as mar- riage goes these days, don't you think? The best therapy in the world is being appreciat- ed for something you are rather good at. They know about these phases. The Crown stars Downton Abbey actor Harry Hadden-Paton as Sir Martin Charteris – the Queen’s loyal, charming and dashing aide. 'Choosing me was an act of pure nepotism,' he says proudly. She said she understood exactly what I meant.'. ; I'm wondering whether I should explore a more formal religion. 'Not at all,' he assured me. No serious royal biographer or historian would consider their research complete without consulting Charteris. I met the keeper of royal secrets over tea and tea-cakes in the House of Lords restaurant. One is not going to university. I was standing talking to the sculp- tor Oscar Nemons who had been working on a head of the Queen. At weekends, he and his wife return to Gloucestershire where he nourishes the other side of his personality, the creative part that lay undiscovered until his fifties. Since first sighting evidence of their existence a decade earlier, Hocking had been on the search for what have since become known as the "Palace Letters" – correspondence between Kerr (in his capacity as governor-general) and Queen Elizabeth II, or rather her then private secretary, Martin Charteris. Daily doubles of Grouse or Black Label are, he hoots in the Highland accent he is fond of using with waitresses, 'my wee bitty medicine, ye ken'. She believes the monarchy is strong enough to withstand change and analysis. Which of the following most accurately describes the problem? On Adeane's retirement in 1972, he was promoted to Private Secretary. My mother believed Sandhurst would tidy me up and it did. Probably because she is a bit of an ostrich, she has learned how to protect herself. Some examples from the web: Now I am little confused, whether should I remain on with sisters or go back to India and come back when problems are solved. Nor will his diaries be serialised in a Sunday broadsheet. Being under my mother's thumb till thirty, and not daring to have rebelled. the somebody who is not actually behaving as she should'. Martin Michael Charles Charteris, Baron Charteris of Amisfield GCB GCVO QSO OBE PC (7 September 1913 – 23 December 1999) was a courtier of Queen Elizabeth II.. Charteris was the son of Hugo Charteris, Lord Elcho and a brother of the 12th Earl of Wemyss.He was educated at Eton and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst and was commissioned in the King's Royal Rifle Corps. I cannot guess, nor anyone known to me, be able to tell me, what will happen tomorrow. He was granted the honour of being a Permanent Lord in Waiting. ', He believes that people will eventually overlook the Prince's confession of infi- delity. Princess Margaret was perfectly charming to me about it afterwards. [4][5] He retired from the Army in 1951. Season one. It is a good example of the difficult bal- ancing act he performs. There are those who believe that if he had been private secretary during the Prince of Wales's courtship of Lady Diana Spencer there would have been no mar- riage. 'Divorce will clear the air. This isn't the first time the monarchy has gone through troubled times. He is first introduced … "The Queen loves clothes and is a real expert on fabrics," said her personal assistant in an interview approved by the Palace. `A wonderful wife and mother to our three children: well-read and 'intelligent too. Charteris's value to writers lies in his intimate knowledge of the intricacies of the domestic and official life of the royal household from 1944 onwards. Except that it doesn't explain the cool hero of various death- defying war exploits. ', As for Camilla Parker-Bowles and her place in Charles's life, official or otherwise, he will only say rather crossly, 'The lady has a husband. entertainment; tv & radio; The Crown: Truth behind Princess Alice’s rare interview with The Guardian. As for updat- ing obituaries of the Queen Mother, he is practically the only survivor of her circle left to call on, or at least the only one will- ing to admit that there is more to her than the tedious cameo of pastels painted by less secure members. 'It's only the monarch who matters, although it is lovely when you see every- one together at a great state occasion. However, in real life, Martin had already retired by this point as he only worked as the Queen’s Private Secretary for five years, ending his duties in 1977. Sir Martin Charteris, KCVO, CB, OBE is a recurring character on Netflix series The Crown.He is played by Harry Hadden-Paton and Charles Edwards. ', Then, with a sigh bordering on sadness, he adds, 'Of course she is the love of his life; there is no denying that now, since he has made a clean breast of it himself. Enough. [6], Charteris was noted for his outspoken interview, given to The Spectator in 1995, in which he described the Duchess of York as "vulgar", the Prince of Wales as "whiny", and the Queen Mother as "a bit of an ostrich", who "doesn't look at" what she "doesn't want to see".[7]. ; Whether I should take it or not. His slow, measured, understated sentences cannot, of course, compete with the sound- bite sensations of the Mortons and Dim- blebys. private secretary Lord Charteris, still with a keen finger on the royal pulse. Introspective, artistic and quite wily, he is an able diplomat. Charteris was the second of two sons born to Hugo Francis Charteris, Lord Elcho (1884–1916) and Lady Violet Catherine Manners (died 1971). If the Prince and Princess of Wales had had a successful marriage, there would not be a problem, nor would we be having this discussion. Lord Thomson of Monifieth writes: Martin Charteris was both an establishment man and a Renaissance man. His paternal grandparents were Hugo Charteris, 11th Earl of Wemyss and Mary Constance Wyndham, and his maternal grandparents were Henry Manners, 8th Duke of Rutland and Violet Lindsay. Once you realise this, there is not the least frustration in talking to him. Lieutenant-Colonel Martin Michael Charles Charteris, Baron Charteris of Amisfield, GCB, GCVO, OBE, QSO, PC (7 September 1913 – 23 December 1999) was a British Army officer and courtier of Queen Elizabeth II. And those words were spoken from love. On Adeane's retirement in 1972, he was promoted to Private Secretary. Early life and education. When the dear, sweet Queen dies, although I wish she could go on for ever, a council of succession will appoint Charles as head of state. 'Hocking had to make a difficult decision in early 2016. I'm not saying she isn't a rich woman, but everyone gets muddled up about the whole business. You must make up your own mind about the titbits on offer. He ended the war as a lieutenant- colonel on attachment to military intelli- gence in Jerusalem. . Assistant Private Secretary to the Sovereign, Officer of the Order of the British Empire, Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia, Grand Decoration of Honour in Silver for Services to the Republic of Austria, "Senarai Penuh Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat Persekutuan Tahun 1972", Grice, Elizabeth. He held this post until his retirement in 1977 and returned to Eton as its Provost. At 81, he is tall, slender and bald, with alert blue eyes and a smile as enigmatic as an Oriental's. The Crown season 3 depicts a moving scene with Princess Alice, Prince Philip’s mother. She is vulgar, vulgar, vulgar, and that is that. He remained with her as assistant private secretary until 1972, when he became private secretary until his retire- ment in 1977. 24 Feb 2021, 9:30pm In the News Oprah faces backlash over 'uncomfortable' questions in interview with Olsen twins Oprah Winfrey has been slammed over questions about weight and Mary-Kate Olsen's rumoured eating disorder. Briefly, then, he was born in 1913, the second son of the former Lady Violet Man- ners, daughter of the Duke of Rutland, and Hugo Francis, Lord Elcho, heir to the Earl of Wemyss. . He was granted the honour of being a Permanent Lord in Waiting. He was educated at Eton and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst and was commissioned in the King's Royal Rifle Corps. He lunches fre- quently with the Queen Mother; speaks regularly to the Queen; and appears no stranger to Prince Charles's long, dark night of the soul. He called her 'the wicked fairy . On his return, he married the Hon. In 1950, he was appointed Private Secretary to Princess Elizabeth, who was then Duchess of Edinburgh and heir presumptive to the British throne. In the first two seasons of the Netflix series The Crown, Charteris was portrayed by Harry Hadden-Paton. Now if you want to cast doubt on that certainty, then you are talking revolution, referendum, change of constitution, and that is an entirely different matter, one I would not care to speculate on. Sir Martin Charteris Sir John Kerr Response to letter of 5 Apr 1977 5 Apr 1977 Sir John Kerr Sir Martin Charteris BBC documentary on Royal visit Attachments Press clipping 5 Apr 1977 Sir John Kerr Her Majesty, The Queen Handwritten thank you for luncheon on HM Royal Yacht Britannia 2 Mar 1977 Sir John Kerr Sir Martin Charteris AS THE Queen's Private Secretary from 1972 to 1977, Martin Charteris seemed to break most of the rules in the courtier's handbook. He held this post until his retirement in 1977 and returned to Eton as its Provost. Do you know, I believe sculpting saved me. 'I never knew my father since he was killed in action in 1916. As for restoring the monarchy to the status it enjoyed before the onslaught of annus hornbills, Lord Charteris believes that the royal family do not feel less secure, nor that they fear their roles diminishing or that they themselves are becoming anachronisms. `I was going through the male menopause, terribly depressed, when I was rescued by the most extraordinary coinci- dence. Read our interview with Louise Milligan See More. He doesn't gossip or indulge in mischievous speculation. Weekdays are spent at the Lords, and at his Westminster flat. Martin Charteris hands the Queen a roll of welcome during a tour of New Zealand. The Queen is aware that they have gone through difficulties before and survived, and so they will do again. Do they seriously imagine that the ten Michelangelos are hers to sell? The real Martin Charteris would surely have been delighted with how Downton Abbey star Harry Hadden-Paton plays him in The Crown: in the Netflix series he is … So much rubbish is talked about the Queen's riches. Polarisation of our public discourse is a creeping problem, and I wish it would go away.' Martin Charteris (Harry Hadden-Paton) You may recognize Harry Hadden-Paton from his roles in Downton Abbey and Versailles . His father, a barrister, was killed in action in Egypt in the First World War, and his mother remarried in 1922. Not that he will ever write a book. Oh, too bad, women adore him, such a charming man, when he isn't being whiny, which he can be rather. During last year's television documen- tary series, The Windsors, he described the Princess of Wales as someone who doesn't know how to behave in front of servants and finds conversations with dinner guests difficult. 'I have three regrets in what I believe to have been a most won- derful life. She is quite prepared for it and, yes, she can and will withstand the shock. As I stood there chatting, I picked up a piece of clay and began fashioning it into a likeness of Oscar, and stuck it on the Queen's nose. From her accession in 1952 until 1972, he served as her Assistant Private Secretary under Sir Michael Adeane. `I am an aristocrat,' he adds firmly. `You don't reach ninety-four without sur- viving a number of shocks, and Her Majesty is built of stern stuff. We are never separated. His slow, measured, understated sentences cannot, of course, compete with the sound- bite sensations of the Mortons and Dim- blebys. I know Charles, know the man, and believe he will be a good king, a king for his time. Thankfully, as Charteris once told me over lunch, the way things are done at the palace now is by “evolution, not revolution”. From her accession in 1952 until 1972, he served as her Assistant Private Secretary under Sir Michael Adeane. For instance, on the delicate matter of Charles's marriage, he was adamant: 'The Queen Mother is aware that in her lifetime the Prince and Princess of Wales are going to divorce. Sandhurst and the King's Royal Rifles followed Eton, although he would have preferred university. 'We shared a room at Eton and it was just awful. He is the courtier's courtier, giving an object lesson in how to combine discretion with can- dour. [3], Charteris was the second of two sons born to Hugo Francis Charteris, Lord Elcho (1884–1916) and Lady Violet Catherine Manners (died 1971). Then you under- stand that what might be mistaken for indiscretions are probably intentional (and implicitly bear the Windsor imprimatur). Instead, he acts as a guiding light through the morass of rumour, innu- endo and exaggeration which bedevils the path of those searching for whatever facts are available. Only reluc- tantly does he agree that there is room for discussing a streamlining of the royal fami- ly.