Prince William’s former right-hand man has lifted the veil on life within the royal family.
He shares stories about the late Queen, Princess of Wales, and the decade he spent helping to shape the future king.
Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton was Prince William and Harry’s trusted private secretary for ten years and later helped the Princess of Wales settle into royal life.
Having been awarded an MBE for his role in dismantling a Colombian drugs cartel, he had previously served as equerry to the Queen Mother and described it as “absolutely unforgettable”.
Among his daily tasks was preparing the Queen Mother’s famous aperitif Martinis.
“The recipe was seven parts gin to one part vermouth,” he recalls.
“We were literally shaking the vermouth on top. Lots of ice.”
Despite her reputation for generous hospitality, the Queen Mother had a clever trick for avoiding excess.
“Whenever I was refilling everyone’s drinks, she was always like, ‘Can I have some ice?’ So everyone was rolling down the aisles while she looked just wonderful.
Lowther-Pinkerton said their conversations frequently turned to World War II, when the Queen became a symbol of resilience for the British public.
“If Adolf Hitler called her the most dangerous woman in Europe, that’s all you need, right?” he said.
The former palace aide believes many of the Queen Mother’s defining qualities are now found in the Princess of Wales.
“The princess reminds me of her in many ways, quiet but very, very determined and actually very strong,” he said.
He also fondly recalled the Queen Mother’s playful side, including the time she challenged him to throw peas into the bowl of a dining room chandelier.
Working alongside the two brothers, Lowther-Pinkerton said helping the young princes through some of the most important years of their lives was a responsibility he never took lightly.
