Sir Kenneth Scott

Diplomat and deputy private secretary to the Queen

Sir Kenneth Bertram Adam Scott, KCVO, CMG, diplomat and deputy private secretary to the Queen. Born: 23 January 1931, Belfast, Northern Ireland. Died: 23 February 2018, Edinburgh, aged 87.

Sir Kenneth Scott was a diplomat who enjoyed a colourful and interesting life with the Diplomatic Service in farflung corners of the world before being appointed the Queen’s deputy private secretary and enjoying rare access and gaining an extraordinary insight into the Queen and her daily life and routine, for example, her being awoken when in London and Balmoral by a bagpiper playing outside her window.

Following his final posting as Ambassador to Yugoslavia, Scott, who had already served a Prime Minister, foreign secretaries, the Royal Family and other dignitaries, accepted an invitation to become the assistant private secretary to the Queen; he was promoted as the deputy to Sir Robert Fellowes in 1990, retiring in 1996 and becoming an Extra Equerry.

He later described his years with the Queen as “among the happiest of my career” and found her a great deal more efficient and easy to work with than many previous employers.

Scott, a tall, dashing, immaculately presented and mildly spoken man with a cheery disposition, took to his new role with aplomb and particularly enjoyed trips to the Palace of Holyroodhouse and Balmoral, recalling the Queen’s pleasure in entertaining “bemused prime ministers” with picnics in a log cabin on the estate, with Prince Philip on barbecue duty and the Queen laying the table and clearing away. He also noted that when aboard Britannia,officialpaperswere occasionally deposited by military helicopter.

One of three private secretaries, he arranged the Queen’s programme and served as a link with government departments, dealt with official correspondence and went on reconnoitres for upcoming public engagements. He believed visits that included a “walkabout,” in which the Royals ventured down a street chatting with members of the public often “gave the Queen a deeper understanding of the country than many of her ministers”.

Scott was often on duty at significant events, including the Queen’s 60th birthday celebrations in 1986, and the elegant celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in 1995, a particularly successful day following some difficult years, which included her “annus horribilis”, when the Prince and Princess of Wales announced their separation and a fire gutted parts of Windsor Castle.

With his linguistic ability and Foreign Office background, he accompanied the Queen on many European visits, and further afield to Australia, New Zealand and Canada more than once, as well as to Nepal (1986), the United States (1991) and, most significantly, her 1994 state visit to Moscow and St Petersburg. Charged with doing a recce, Scott stood up to the Kremlin and demonstrated his natural authority when approving what would, and would not be, acceptable in the Queen’s itinerary for the trip.

He later worked closely with Charles Anson in the making of what is described as the “best documentary” of the Queen’s working life, Edward Mirzoeff ’s Elizabeth R (1992).

Scott was also captured on film, in a moment of humour exemplifying his friendship with the Queen, explaining that she was going to be presented with six rugby shirts for her grandchildren at a forthcoming function. The Queen looked sceptically at Scott, raised an eyebrow and inquired, “Even for the girls?” He replied, “It’s very in for girls to wear rugby jerseys these days, Ma’am.”

Always willing to fight her corner when necessary, he greatly admired the Queen, observing, “She doesn’t like pomposity… and she doesn’t like side. She likes people who make her laugh and she likes people who are warm in their personality and people who are interesting.” Her sense of humour, he found “impish”.

Born in Belfast in 1931, Kenneth Scott’s lineage can be traced back to Adam Scott of Tushielaw, a notorious border reiver known as “King of the Border” or “King of Thieves” who was eventually captured, tried and executed by James V of Scotland in 1530 for sheep rustling.

Kenneth was the youngest of four children of Adam Scott, OBE, a civil servant, and his wife, Lena (née Kaye). His parents had met in France during The Great War while working for the YMCA behind the Allied front lines. Adam was eventually appointed Assistant-general Secretary of the YMCA in 1942. Growing-up in a predominantly female household would put young Kenneth in good stead later in life, as he seemed to have a gift for charming, reassuring and understanding the opposite sex.

He was educated at Edinburgh’s George Watson’s College, where he was later a Governor (1997-2002), before moving on to read history at the University of Edinburgh, becoming Senior President of the Students’ Representative Council.

In this role it was his job to install the University’s new rector. In March 1952, in what he later described as “an unforgettable experience”, Scott, the Vice Chancellor, the Lord Provost of Edinburgh and the new Rector, Sir Alexander Fleming, discoverer