Five women quit as Scottish Jubilee aide is hit by bully claims
ONE of the Queen’s top ceremonial aides with a key role in the Platinum Jubilee celebrations this year is facing allegations of bullying, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.
Three secretaries and at least two porters – all women – have quit since David Vines White was appointed as Garter Principal King of Arms last July.
Sources confirmed ‘multiple complaints’ had been filed against Mr White, 60, a member of the Royal Household, whose role as Garter at the College of Arms includes walking in front of the Queen at the state opening of Parliament.
He also advises Buckingham Palace and the Government on state events, including those to mark the Queen’s 70th year on the throne.
His boss, the Duke of Norfolk, who is in charge of organising state occasions, confirmed he was made aware of the accusations on Friday, adding: ‘I have had an initial discussion with David White and arranged to meet him imminently. I take my responsibility as head of the College of Arms extremely seriously and will take any action necessary.’
The news comes as the Royal Household wrestles with allegations of staff bullying made against the Duchess of Sussex, which she strongly denies. Buckingham Palace has also endured claims that Prince Andrew would ‘shout and scream and become verbally abusive’ towards staff.
As Garter, Mr White will preside over the investiture of the Duchess of Cornwall when she is sworn in as a Royal Lady of the Order of the Garter, the most senior knighthood in the honours system, in June.
He would also pronounce the Queen’s death from the balcony of St James’s Palace.
Mr White was appointed by the
Duke of Norfolk on behalf of the Queen following the retirement of his respected predecessor Thomas Woodcock, 70, who was among the few people allowed to attend Prince Philip’s funeral and has since been knighted by the Queen.
Sir Thomas received the Royals at Chelsea harbour during the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant in 2012.
Several sources said there had been no staff complaints during Sir Thomas’s 11 years as Garter, but that his former secretary Lydia Birch quit just three months after Mr White arrived. Ms Birch’s replacement lasted just one day, quitting when Mr White allegedly ‘threw a tantrum’.
His next secretary, Caroline Goldsack, resigned after a month. Two porters at the College of Arms have also left. One source said: ‘He threw tantrums. There was a culture of bullying, undermining and making staff cry. Perhaps the pressure is getting to him. He started a new job and with the jubilee there’s a lot on.’ Another source close to the College of Arms confirmed: ‘There are multiple complaints.’
It is understood that complaints have been lodged with Buckingham Palace about Mr White’s ‘aggressive behaviour’ and ‘tantrums’. The palace said the College of Arms was dealing with the matter.
Glasgow-born Mr White receives £35,000 a year from the Government for expenses and around £60,000 a year as an honorarium. He lives in Central London and also has use of a grace and favour flat in the College of Arms.
The genealogist, educated at Marlborough College and Cambridge, has worked since 1988 as an expert for the College of Arms in the City of London, the official heraldic authority for England, Wales, Northern Ireland and much of the Commonwealth. Last night, he said: ‘It is upsetting that these allegations are being made when no such use of the formal processes we have in place have any record of them and I do not recognise this as account of recent events.’
Ms Birch could not be reached. Mrs Goldsack declined to comment.