Turmoil at Palace as Queen’s right hand man to quit
...and William and Harry set to lose top aides too in rival courts’ game of thrones
‘This is just the start... major changes are afoot’ New era may see Queen accept Charles as regent
THE QUEEN’S top aide Sir Christopher Geidt is set to stand down from his key role at her side amid a dramatic shake-up of senior Royal staff.
The Mail on Sunday understands that Sir Christopher’s surprise departure is the first of a ‘slew’ of personnel changes at a senior level in the Royal Household.
It comes as the Queen and her heir the Prince of Wales attempt to impose greater unity on the rival ‘firms’ or households of the younger Royals. This is a watershed moment for the monarchy, as the Queen and Prince Philip step back from official duties and hand responsibility to the younger generation.
Sir Christopher, the Queen’s Private Secretary and a shrewd former Army intelligence officer – educated at top private school Glenalmond in Perthshire – is a key figure in this transition, or ‘operation handover’ as it is known.
Sources within the Royal Household say his departure will be followed by ‘two, maybe three more’ senior figures, who are set to leave before Christmas.
‘Sir Christopher’s departure is just the beginning. Major changes are afoot. Yes, it is a shake-up,’ said a senior source. One of those who is understood to be considering his position is Prince William’s Private Secretary, Miguel Head.
Another said to be weighing up his options is Prince Harry’s Private Secretary Edward Lane Fox, a former captain in the Household Cavalry.
Mr Head has served the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge loyally for a decade but has privately told friends he never intended be ‘a palace lifer’.
The privately educated former Ministry of Defence press officer has confided that he ‘feels his time is up’. If he does walk away it would be a huge blow to William and Kate who have relied on his counsel for a decade, although Kensington Palace last night insisted he has not quit.
It has been previously announced that Kate’s Private Secretary, newly married Rebecca Deacon, has already officially announced that she is leaving her job.
With Sir Christopher going, the next most senior Private Secretary will be Clive Alderton – the Prince of Wales’s top aide.
The impending departures are seen as part of a shake-up as the Queen and Charles move to take control of disharmony among the different Royal Households.
It follows Sir Christopher’s forceful plea to all the households in May this year to come together ‘on message’.
Cambridge graduate Sir Christopher, 55, will be a huge loss to Her Majesty as he has been her key adviser for a decade and a lynchpin at Buckingham Palace during the ongoing transition of the Crown.
In 2014, Sir Christopher was awarded his second knighthood for ‘a new approach to constitutional matters… [And] the preparation for the transition to a change of reign’ – and he has certainly earned it.
For now, the Palace insists publicly that the Queen will carry on as if nothing has changed.
It is expected that Sir Christopher will be replaced by his well-liked deputy Edward Young.
Mr Young’s promotion to the top could mean an elevation too for the Queen’s favourite, long-serving Samantha Cohen, to Deputy Private Secretary. This, however has not been confirmed.
Unifying the households of the Queen, Prince Charles and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge is something Sir Christopher has long championed, albeit with varying degrees of success.
He tried to bring the press office – now named Royal Communications – under one director, former Daily Mail reporter Sally Osman. This has not really worked out as planned and has been marked by squabbles, rivalry and highlevel departures.
The Prince of Wales has preferred to maintain his autonomy and handle his own media affairs, led by his appointment of former BBC man Julian Payne.
‘It is a bit of surprise that Sir Christopher is going now,’ said one official. ‘We all thought he had his hand on the tiller and would see through the transition of the monarchy.’
But Sir Christopher has decided the time is right. He has bought a sheep farm in the Outer Hebrides and enjoys spending time there helping with the lambing.
His family has strong links with the Isle of Lewis where he now owns a 365-acre farm in South Lochs. His grandfather, Kenneth Mackenzie, was a fish curer and coal merchant before he established a Harris Tweed plant in Stornoway and became provost of the Outer Hebridean capital.
Some courtiers see his departure as a ‘line being drawn’ – the beginning of a new era that might yet see the Queen accept Prince Charles as regent. Sources say she would seriously consider this once she reaches 95. It is widely acknowledged Her Majesty will never abdicate and the succession is rarely, if ever, talked about in official terms.
It is perhaps no coincidence that despite the upheaval at Buckingham Palace, there are no sudden changes at Clarence House, the Prince of Wales’s household.
He is understood to feel ‘a little bruised’ over the recent official Diana documentary ‘Diana: Our Mother’ sponsored by his sons, William and Harry and Kensington Palace in which there was no mention of his considerable contribution to their upbringing.
Add to that the forthcoming Channel 4 documentary Diana: In Her Own Words in which embarrassing and revelatory video tapes made by his late ex-wife ridicule him, and he is understandably upset.
‘It would be reasonable to expect some action. It would not be unreasonable if heads should roll over this,’ said one senior figure.
Significantly, when Sir Christopher called the must-attend meeting of royal courtiers to politely read the riot act, Charles’s Private Secretary Mr Alderton was not there. He was with the Prince out of town, and sent his apologies.
A close source added: ‘This is a fascinating time with regard to the monarchy. The Crown is in transition, with Prince Philip retiring next week, with the Queen at 91 looking to hand over a number of patronages. The Prince of Wales is ready to step up to support Her Majesty in whatever capacity she should see fit. He has served her as the longest heir to the throne and he will of course continue to do so,’ the source added.
A Buckingham Palace spokesman made no comment about Sir Christopher’s impending departure or that of other senior members of the Royal Household. A senior source added: ‘Any senior management changes or appointments across the institution are always notified in the appropriate way.’
Jason Knauf, communications secretary to William, Kate and Harry, said Mr Head had no plans to leave. He made no comment on Mr Lane Fox’s planned departure.