‘Convinced I saw a tear in her eye’
To mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, Reporter Jade Kidd spoke to Robert Jones, a former member of the Royal Household and John Spandley, a veteran of the Household Cavalry, about their memories of the Queen and experiences from their careers.
Memories of unforgettable moments and meetings with the Queen have been shared as Her Majesty celebrates her Platinum Jubilee.
Robert Jones, a former member of the Royal Household and John Spandley, a veteran of the Household Cavalry have spoken of their fond memories of the Queen and experiences from their careers.
Growing up at Victoria Bridge Lodge, in the grounds of Windsor Castle, Robert was 15-years-old when he started working for the maintenance team at St George’s Chapel in 1976.
Robert later joined the fire brigade at Windsor Castle in 1982, and in 1990 moved on to the superintendent’s team as a coal porter.
Sharing memories of the fire at Windsor Castle in 1992, Robert said that ‘there was a lot of bravery going on’ that day.
At the time, Robert also helped in various ways including helping to take books out of the royal library to safety and assisting in removing the large carpet in St George’s Hall.
In 2003, after finding working on summer openings at Buckingham Palace enjoyable, Robert left Windsor Castle for a full-time position as a palace attendant.
Robert worked at Buckingham Palace, Balmoral, Kensington Palace, St James’s Palace and The Palace of Holyroodhouse during his role.
In 2004, Robert received his first Royal Victorian Medal (RVM) and spoke of the proud moment he was able to take his family, including his mum, who also previously worked at the palace, to the ceremony.
Robert added that he has also had two audiences with the Queen.
The first was in 2010 to mark his 20-year service and the second was to receive a clasp for 30 years in 2020.
Robert said it was ‘lovely’, and added: “She just put you at ease.”
He said he spent about 10 minutes speaking with the Queen, and she congratulated him on his service and asked whether he had enjoyed his time working there.
During his role Robert worked on various events, including garden parties, investitures, receptions, dinners, state visits and large events including both the Golden and Diamond Jubilees and the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in 2011, where he was spotted on TV by friends while helping to put out the balcony drape.
On his career, Robert said: “[I] had a really good time, met some lovely people who worked at the palace and I met some lovely people who were coming in for the day.”
In March, Robert was presented with the RVM Gold by the Vice Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire at a ceremony in Newbury. Robert said he was ‘stunned’ when he heard he was receiving it, adding: “It was a real honour.”
Sharing fond memories of his time in the Household Cavalry, John Spandley said it had been an ‘absolute honour’.
John joined the Junior Leaders Regiment in Bovington in 1977, later moving on to the Blues and Royals.
John explained that Her Majesty visited Combermere Barracks in Windsor a number of times during the 1980s and 1990s.
Speaking of the fire at Windsor Castle in 1992, John said he was there on the day, and helped to take things out, including a ‘massive carpet’.
“When we picked it up to move it, the press took loads of photographs of us and we were on the front page all round the world,” he said.
Discussing the day, John said a young soldier of the regiment was climbing down the stairs carrying a ‘massive’ glass bowl and heard someone say ‘be very careful with that, that’s priceless’.
He added that the young man turned and saw that it was the Queen and was so taken by the moment that he ‘started shaking and almost dropped it’.
John explained that, following the restoration of Windsor Castle, all those that had helped were invited back for a reception in 1997 where the Queen expressed her thanks in a speech.
“For the first time ever, I saw her really emotional thanking us,” he said.
“I was convinced I saw a tear in her eye which was quite amazing.”
During his career, John said he saw the Queen at least a dozen times and has spoken to her about four or five times.
Reflecting on his first Trooping the Colour in 1993, John said his division were welcomed onto the mall with a ‘huge amount’ of clapping of cheering, and when the Queen’s carriage came onto the square, the crowd ‘absolutely went berserk’.
“It almost brings a tear to my eye now because it’s the affection you felt.”
John added that the Queen used to visit Hyde Park Barracks ‘quite regularly’, where they worked with horses.
“You couldn’t pull the wool over her eyes, she knows everything there is about horses.”
On his career, John said: “[It’s been] an absolute honour.
“[I’ve] met some wonderful people and when you join somewhere like the Household Cavalry, you never leave, you become a veteran and you're part of the family forever.”