Queen’s No 1 Shadow
Revealed in extraordinary archive, bodyguard who kept HM safe 70 years ago
AS her ‘No 1 Shadow’, he was rarely far from the future Queen’s side – and even accompanied her on her honeymoon.
Alexander Usher was appointed bodyguard to the then Princess Elizabeth in 1944 – when she was 18 and he was 40 – and served alongside her until 1951.
Now a fascinating photo archive illustrating how the police inspector kept a discreet but ever watchful eye on her has come to light as part of a collection of more than 200 black and white photographs going under the hammer.
Many of the images, collected by Mr Usher as a reminder of his years of dedicated service, show him in the background while she went about her duties meeting and greeting dignitaries.
Others show the bodyguard, who died in 1974 aged 70, acting as a doorman and bagman to the young princess, who acceded to the throne in 1952 after the death of her father George VI.
Also being sold with the photos is a silver cigarette case bearing the etched signatures of HRH Elizabeth and HRH Prince Philip which was presented to Mr Usher when he retired from the role in 1951 – four years after her marriage to Philip. Christmas cards signed by the couple and the Queen Mother, along with a Coronation Medal, are also among the items from Mr Usher’s personal archive being offered for sale.
Cheshire-based auctioneer Adam Partridge said: ‘When such a unique group of items comes to auction, it is very difficult to be accurate with an auction estimate. Our guide is £2,000 to £4,000, but in this, the Queen’s 90th birthday year, and with such personal items and photographs, we hope a royal fanatic will dig deep to buy the collection. It is an extraordinary archive.’
Born in Wandsworth, south-west London, Mr Usher served with the Metropolitan Police for 32 years, rising through the ranks of sergeant and station sergeant to inspector. His father George was also a police officer.
Mr Partridge said: ‘In 1939 Alexander Usher was selected for protection duty, travelling with members of the Royal Family before being appointed No1 Shadow to Her Royal Highness Princess Elizabeth in May 1944. He accompanied Her Majesty on all private and official trips both in this country and abroad, including the very special engagements of her wedding to Prince Philip, and the subsequent honeymoon. A lot of the photos show the inspector himself by the Queen’s side. Whether he is opening a car door or carrying something for her, he seems to always be there.
‘There are between 200 to 300 pictures and I suspect a lot of them have never been seen before. Some are more formal pictures but there are lots of relaxed images.’
The items are being sold as a single lot by an anonymous vendor who bought the archive many years ago at another auction.
‘Now he feels during the 90th birthday year of the Queen it is the right time to sell,’ Mr Partridge said. The archive is being sold on Thursday next week.