On Duty With the Queen: My Time as a Buckingham Palace Press Secretary

by Dickie Arbiter

  Arbiter, Dickie:

  in Abie’s Irish Rose 1

  at Balmoral 1

  BBC role assumed by 1, 2

  birth of 1

  on-camera briefing given by 1, 2

  and exercise 1

  fiftieth-birthday party of 1

  in Haifa 1

  and ice skating 1, 2, 3, 4

  IRN/Sky award for 1

  IRN/Sky award presented by 1

  in Johannesburg 1

  Kensington Palace move of 1

  in King and I 1

  LBC joined by 1, 2

  LBC quit by 1

  loud ties worn by 1

  LVO honour for 1

  move to Rhodesia by 1, 2

  name changes for 1

  and national service 1, 2

  in Oklahoma! 1

  public speaking by 1

  Queen summons 1

  on Queen’s bicentennial tour 1

  resident in Rhodesia 1, 2, 3, 4

  retirement of 1, 2

  with Rhodesia Broadcasting Corporation 1

  Rosemary marries 1

  see also Arbiter, Rosemary

  Royal Collection joined by 1

  and royal press office:

  approach regarding 1

  beginning of role in 1

  offer regarding 1

  return to role in 1

  at school 1, 2, 3, 4

  Sky, ITV and Channel 5 work by 1

  theatrical touring of 1

  in TV entertainment 1

  in Unicorn Theatre for Children 1

  Arbiter, Reg (1st stepfather) 1

  Arbiter, Rosemary (wife) 1

  DA meets 1

  DA proposes to 1

  DA’s marriage to 1

  and DA’s party 1, 2

  at Diana reception 1

  Kensington Palace move of 1

  lonely-hearts ad of 1

  at Windsor Castle 1

  Arbiter (formerly Presch, later Bernstein),

  Ruth (mother) 1, 2, 3

  passim, 1, 2, 3

  Bernstein marries 1

  and DA’s party 1, 2

  Diana’s parallels with 1

  fashion-buyer role of 1

  move to Rhodesia by 1, 2

  resident in Rhodesia 1

  Arbiter, Victoria (daughter) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

  and DA’s party 1

  at Diana reception 1

  drama-school scholarship of 1

  Kensington Palace move of 1

  stepmother’s relationship with 1

  Ardent Productions 1

  Asher (fellow pupil) 1

  Aylard, Richard 1, 2

  Balmoral 1, 2, 3

  Bashir, Martin 1, 2

  Beatrix, Queen 1, 2

  Beckwith-Smith, Anne 1

  Bernstein, Asher (2nd stepfather) 1

  Bernstein, Ruth (mother), see Arbiter, Ruth

  Blair, Tony 1, 2, 3

  Booth, Rev. Willie 1

  Brailsford, Simon 1

  Branson, Richard 1, 2

  Britannia 1, 2, 3

  decommissioning of 1

  described 1

  maiden voyage of 1

  Brooke, Peter 1, 2

  Bryan, John 1

  Buckingham Palace:

  Chinese Dining Room in 1, 2, 3

  Queen’s broadcast from 1, 2

  flags at, following Diana death 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

  garden parties at 1

  security breaches at 1

  summer opening to public of 1, 2

  Burrell, Paul 1

  Cambridge, Duchess of 1

  marriage of 1

  Cameron, Douglas 1

  Campbell, Alastair 1

  Centrepoint 1

  Chapel Royal 1, 2, 3, 4

  Charles I 1, 2

  Charles, Prince of Wales:

  in Africa 1, 2

  Australia visit by 1

  at Balmoral 1

  and Britannia 1

  and Camilla 1, 2

  stunt to publicise relationship of 1

  in Canada 1

  DA meets 1

  and DA’s on-camera briefing 1, 2

  deteriorating marriage of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

  see also Diana: Her True Story

  and Diana’s death, see Diana, Princess of Wales: death of

  at Diana’s funeral 1

  Diana’s separation from 1

  Diana’s throwaway comments concerning 1

  divorce of 1, 2

  documentary filming by 1

  at Expo ’ 1

  extramarital affair owned by 1

  in Gulf 1

  as heir 1

  honeymoon of 1, 2, 3

  in Hungary 1, 2

  in India 1, 2

  in Indonesia 1

  Morton book about 1

  own press office of 1

  polo injury suffered by 1

  and prospects of accession 1

  rumours concerning marriage of 1

  in South Korea 1

  Turkey holiday of 1

  TV interview of 1

  ‘villain’ status of 1

  wedding of, to Diana 1

  ‘whatever “in love” means’ comment of 1

  and Windsor Castle fire 1

  Chinese Dining Room 1, 2, 3

  Queen’s broadcast from 1, 2

  see also Buckingham Palace

  Churchill, Winston 1

  Condon, Paul 1

  Coppen-Gardner, Bill 1

  Corby, Tom 1

  Cornwall, Duchy of 1

  Couric, Katie 1

  Cousins, Robin 1

  Crawford, Geoff 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

  Daily Mirror 1

  Dean, Christopher 1

  Diana: Her True Story (Morton) 1

  Diana, Princess of Wales:

  in Africa 1, 2

  and AIDS sufferers 1, 2

  Australia visit by 1

  at Balmoral 1

  birthday party given by, for DA 1

  in Budapest 1

  and bulimia 1, 2

  in Canada 1

  car change of 1

  in car crash 1

  Charles’s separation from 1

  DA meets 1

  and DA’s art knowledge 1

  and DA’s loud ties 1

  death of 1, 2

  and condolence books 1

  and flags 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

  and funeral, see Diana, Princess of Wales: funeral of

  and Queen’s TV tribute 1, 2

  return of body after 1

  deteriorating marriage of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

  see also Diana: Her True Story

  divorce of 1, 2

  dubbed ‘People’s Princess’ 1, 2

  in Egypt 1

  and England football team 1

  at Expo ’ 1

  extramarital affair owned by 1

  funeral of 1

  broadcast worldwide 1

  date set for 1

  days preceding and preparations for 1

  eve of 1

  and internment 1

  Spencer’s scathing oration at 1

  in Gulf 1

  honeymoon of 1, 2, 3

  in Hungary 1, 2

  in India 1

  in Indonesia 1

  and leprosy sufferers 1, 2

  Morton book about 1

  on Necker Island 1

  in New York 1, 2, 3, 4

  organisations supported by 1

  Panorama interview of 1

  parallels of, with DA’s mother 1

  piano played by 1

  pre-Christmas reception given by 1

  rumours concerning marriage of 1

  in South Korea 1

  and Squidgygate 1

  and swimming 1

  Teresa meets 1

  on-tour faintness spell suffered by 1

  ‘victim’ status of 1

  wedding of 1

  weight loss by 1

  Dimbleby, Jonathan 1

  Eastwood, Jim 1, 2
r />   Edelmann, Anton 1

  Edward VIII 1, 2

  Edward, Prince, Earl of Wessex 1, 2

  film company of 1

  and News of the World 1

  sexuality of 1

  Edwards, Arthur 1

  Eldridge, Bill 1

  Eldridge, Mrs (housekeeper) 1

  Elizabeth I 1

  Elizabeth II:

  and abdication question 1

  absence of, after Diana’s death 1, 2

  statement concerning 1

  accession of 1

  ambassadors’ audiences with 1

  at Balmoral 1

  bicentennial tour of 1

  and Britannia 1

  at Charles–Diana wedding 1

  commitment of 1

  DA meets 1

  and DA’s composite skating picture 1

  DA’s farewell audience with 1

  and DA’s loud ties 1

  and Diana’s funeral 1

  and Fagan 1

  and family awareness 1

  and flags 1

  45th wedding anniversary of 1

  48th wedding anniversary of 1

  50th wedding anniversary of 1

  and French press 1

  golden wedding anniversary of 1

  Jubilees of:

  Diamond 1, 2, 3

  Golden 1, 2

  Silver 1, 2, 3

  long marriage of 1

  and Northern Ireland 1

  Oklahoma! seen by 1

  personal sorrows of 1

  Phantom of the Opera seen by 1

  popularity of 1

  return of, after Diana’s death 1

  and Royal Collection 1

  themed away days for 1

  tours and state visits by 1

  TV tribute by 1, 2

  wealth of 1

  and Windsor Castle fire 1, 2

  and Windsor Castle workers’ reception 1

  Windsor Castle’s fond memories for 1

  Elizabeth, Queen Mother 1, 2, 3, 4

  Elliott, Anabel 1

  Else (maternal grandmother) 1

  Eric (uncle) 1

  Eva (au pair) 1

  Fagan, Michael 1

  Fayed, Dodi 1

  death of 1

  Fellowes, Lady Jane 1, 2, 3

  Fellowes, Sir Robert 1, 2

  Ferguson, Sarah, see Sarah, Duchess of York

  Fincher, Jane 1

  Francis Mary 1, 2

  Gandhi, Mohandas 1

  Gavin, Kent 1

  George I 1

  George II 1, 2, 3

  George III 1

  George IV 1, 2, 3

  George V 1

  George VI 1

  George, Prince 1, 2, 3

  Gianni 1

  Gibbins, Michael 1

  Gilbert, Philip 1

  Gilbey, James 1

  Göncz, Árpád 1

  Göncz, Maria 1

  Gordon-Walker, Mr (headmaster) 1, 2

  Graham, Tim 1

  Greening, Sir Paul 1

  Haegarty, Dr Margaret 1

  Hampton Court Palace 1

  Handel, George Frideric 1

  Hanrahan, Brian 1

  Harry, Prince:

  in Afghanistan 1

  in Britannia 1

  desk job of 1

  at Diana reception 1

  and Diana’s death 1, 2

  walkabout with William 1

  at Diana’s funeral 1, 2

  and media 1

  on Necker Island 1

  polar expeditions of 1

  protected from media glare 1

  romances of 1

  wild-child nature of 1

  Haslam, John 1

  Hayes, Brian 1

  Henry I 1

  Henry VIII 1

  Henry Street Day Care Center 1

  Heseltine, Sir William 1

  Hewitt, James 1

  Highgrove 1, 2

  Hogg, Gladys 1

  Holmes, John 1

  Holness, Bob 1

  Hunt-Davis, Gay 1

  Hunt-Davis, Miles 1

  Hunter, Angie 1

  Hussein, Anwar 1

  Hussey, Lady 1

  Hussey, Lord 1

  International Business Leaders Forum 1

  Ireland, Jane 1

  IRN, see LBC/IRN

  IRN/Sky awards 1

  Jahan, Shah 1

  Jaipur, Maharaja of (‘Bubbles’) 1

  James I 1

  Janvrin, Robin 1, 2, 3, 4

  Jephson, Patrick 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

  John, Elton 1

  Jones, Courtney 1

  Jones, Ian 1

  Josef (maternal grandfather) 1

  Juan Carlos, King 1

  Kennedy, John F 1

  Kensington Palace 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

  King, Larry 1

  Lauder, Harry 1

  LBC/IRN:

  DA joins 1, 2

  DA leaves 1

  Lloyd, Christopher 1

  Lloyd Webber, Andrew 1

  McCartney, Paul 1

  McCorquodale, Lady Sarah 1, 2

  McCoy, Simon 1

  McGregor, Lord 1

  McGrigor, Kiloran 1, 2

  Mackie, Philip 1, 2, 3

  Major, John 1

  Maktoum, Sheikh 1

  Margaret, Princess 1, 2, 3

  death of 1

  press secretary of 1

  and swimming 1

  Margarethe, Queen 1

  Markham, June 1

  Mary I 1

  Mason, Sgt Maj. Alan 1

  Mather, Lt Col. Anthony 1, 2

  Michael, George 1

  Middleton, Catherine, see Cambridge, Duchess of

  Mirror 1

  Morgan, Piers 1

  Morrison, Mary 1

  Morton, Andrew 1, 2

  Mountbatten, Lord Louis 1, 2

  Mumtaz Mahal 1

  Necker Island 1

  News of the World 1

  Nicks Jennifer 1

  Nicks, John 1

  Nunn, Robin 1

  O’Brien, Sally 1

  Oklahoma! 1, 2

  Onions, Ron 1

  Ozal, Turgut 1

  Panorama 1

  Parker Bowles, Andrew 1

  divorce of 1

  Parker Bowles, Camilla 1

  Charles admits affair with 1

  at Charles–Diana wedding 1

  Charles’s first public appearance with 1

  divorce of 1

  Paul, Henri 1

  Perkins, John 1

  Phantom of the Opera, The 1

  Philip, Prince, Duke of Edinburgh:

  at Balmoral 1

  and Diana’s death 1

  at Diana’s funeral 1

  45th wedding anniversary of 1

  48th wedding anniversary of 1

  50th wedding anniversary of 1

  and French press 1

  golden wedding anniversary of 1

  in Hungary 1

  long marriage of 1

  Oklahoma! seen by 1

  Phantom of the Opera seen by 1

  press secretary of 1

  on Queen’s bicentennial tour 1

  return of, after Diana’s death 1

  support of, for Queen 1

  themed away days for 1

  whale found by 1

  and Windsor restoration 1

  Phillips, Hayden 1, 2

  Phillips, Capt. Mark 1

  Presch, Eric (uncle) 1, 2, 3

  Presch, Fritz (uncle) 1, 2

  Presch, Hans (father) 1, 2

  death of 1

  Presch, Peter (cousin) 1

  Presch, Ruth (aunt) 1, 2

  Prince’s Trust 1, 2, 3

  Purcell, Henry 1

  Raff (grandson) 1

  Rees-Jones, Trevor 1

  Rhodesia Broadcasting Corporation 1

  Riddell, Sir John 1, 2, 3

  Ross, Malcolm 1

  Rowling, JK 1

  Royal Collection 1, 2, 3, 4

  Royal Standard 1, 2, 3

/>   on Diana’s casket 1

  see also under Buckingham Palace

  Russell-Smith, Penny 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

  St James’s Palace, swimming pool in 1

  St Paul’s Cathedral 1

  Sandringham 1, 2

  Sarah, Duchess of York 1

  Shaw, Norman 1

  Shea, Michael 1

  Smith, Graham 1

  Smith, Janet 1

  Snow, Jon 1

  Sofia, Queen 1

  Speed, Anthony 1

  Spencer, 8th Earl 1

  Spencer, 9th Earl 1

  Diana’s cooled relationship with 1

  at Diana’s funeral 1, 2

  funeral oration of 1

  Squidgygate 1

  Stillwell, John 1

  Stock, Harry (uncle) 1, 2

  Suharto, President 1

  Sun 1

  Sunday Times 1

  Rich List of 1

  Taj Mahal 1, 2, 3

  Tallis, Thomas 1

  Teresa, Mother 1, 2

  Tidy-Harris, Sylvia 1

  Today 1

  Torvill, Jayne 1

  Trudeau, Pierre 1

  Unicorn Theatre for Children 1

  Vargas, Elizabeth 1

  Venkataraman, President 1

  Victoria and Albert, HMY 1

  Victoria, Queen 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

  Walter (great-uncle) 1, 2

  Webb, Jessie 1

  Wessex, Countess of 1

  Westmacott, Peter 1

  Westminster Abbey, Diana’s funeral in, see Diana, Princess of Wales: funeral of

  Wharfe, Ken 1, 2, 3

  Whitaker, James 1, 2

  William I 1, 2

  William IV 1

  William, Prince, Duke of Cambridge:

  in Britannia 1

  at Diana reception 1

  and Diana’s death 1, 2

  walkabout with Harry 1

  at Diana’s funeral 1, 2

  hunting in Spain 1

  marriage of 1

  and media 1

  on Necker Island 1

  niche of 1

  protected from media glare 1

  and public speaking 1

  sleeping rough 1

  Windsor Castle 1

  fire at 1, 2

  restoration bill for 1, 2, 3

  restoration project at 1, 2

  reception for workers 1

  state banquets at 1

  Witchell, Nicholas 1

  Woodward, Rear Adm. Bob 1

  World Trade Center 1

  Wright, David 1

  Wyatt, Steve 1

  Wycherley, Mervyn 1

  York, Duchess of:

  and Bryan 1, 2

  press secretary of 1

  and Wyatt 1

  York, Duke of, see Andrew, Prince

  Young Card Players, The (Le Nain) 1

  Me and my dad in the summer of 1946, months before he died.

  Not quite Denis Compton – he gave me the cricket bat. My mother is the glamorous wicket keeper, c. 1948.

  Chilling out with the snappers in Nigeria.

  Celebrating my 50th Birthday lunch at Kensington Palace, given by the Princess of Wales. Diana took the picture.