Prince arranged Kiwi’s Christmas

A Kiwi who worked for the royal family has revealed how Prince Philip arranged for him to spend a Christmas at Sandringham.

Jason, a New Zealander of Ma¯ori descent, told Newstalk ZB’s Jack Tame he worked for the royal family in a military role and over the course of a year got to know the Duke of Edinburgh.

He said he and an Irish-born colleague felt like outsiders among others serving who were “well connected”.

“He [the Prince] recognised that and always took a bit of time to connect with us and make us feel like we were part of the crew, so to speak,” Jason said.

“At events and those sort of things he would stop by and have a quick chat with us. A couple of times we actually managed to have a few drinks with him.

“He was a serviceman at heart and he never lost touch with connecting with servicemen and women wherever he went.”

Jason described the Duke as an “absolute legend of a man”.

The royal family traditionally spends Christmas and New Year at Sandringham House, the Queen’s country estate in Norfolk.

Jason said Prince Philip arranged

We actually managed to have a few drinks with him. Jason, Kiwi who worked with royals

for him and a colleague to stay in a chalet on the estate for Christmas because they didn’t have a home to go to.

“We got to spend the Christmas holidays up there.

“It was just fantastic for someone who meets so many people and you feel like he’s taken a little bit of time to give you a bit of care and attention is quite amazing.”