Prince William’s former right-hand man has lifted the curtain on life in the royal family.
He shares stories about the late Queen, the Princess of Wales and the decade he spent shaping the future King.
Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton served as Prince William and Harry’s trusted private secretary for ten years and later helped the Princess of Wales settle into royal life.
Having earned an MBE for his role in dismantling a Colombian drug cartel, he had previously served as equerry to the Queen Mother, he described as “absolutely unforgettable.”
Among his daily duties was preparing the Queen Mother’s famous Martinis before dinner.
“The recipe was seven parts gin to one part vermouth,” he recalled.
“We would literally wave vermouth over the top. Lots of ice.”
Despite her reputation for generous hospitality, the Queen Mother had a clever trick to avoid indulging herself.
“When I went around refilling everyone’s drinks, she would always say, ‘Can I have some ice cream?’ So everyone else was rolling in the aisles while she was just wonderful.”
Lowther-Pinkerton said their conversations often turned to the Second World War, 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, isn’t it?” he said.
The former palace aide believes that many of the defining qualities of the Queen Mother can now be seen in the Princess of Wales.
“The princess reminds me of her in many ways understated but very, very duty driven 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 both brothers, Lowther-Pinkerton said helping guide the young princes through some of the most important years of their lives was a responsibility he never took lightly.
