Prince William’s former right-hand woman has lifted the curtain on life within the Royal Family.
Share stories about the late Queen, the Princess of Wales and the decade she spent helping to shape the future king.
Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton served as Prince William and Harry’s trusted private secretary for ten years and then helped the Princess of Wales adjust to royal life.
After earning an MBE for his role in dismantling a Colombian drug cartel, he had previously served as an equestrian to the Queen Mother and described it as “absolutely unforgettable”.
Among his daily tasks was preparing the famous martinis before the Queen Mother’s dinner.
“The recipe consisted of seven parts gin to one part vermouth,” he recalled.
“We literally shook the vermouth over the top. Lots of ice.”
Despite her reputation for generous hospitality, the Queen Mother had a clever trick to avoid going overboard.
“Every time I was refilling everyone’s drinks, she would always say, ‘Can I have some ice?’ So everyone else was rolling around in the hallways while she was just wonderful.”
Lowther-Pinkerton said their conversations often revolved around the Second World War, when the Queen became a symbol of resilience to the British public.
“If Adolf Hitler called her the most dangerous woman in Europe, that’s all you need, right?” said.
The former palace aide believes many of the Queen Mother’s defining qualities can now be seen in the Princess of Wales.
“The princess reminds me of her in many ways: low-key but very, very duty-driven and actually very strong,” he said.
He also fondly recalled the Queen Mother’s playful side, including the time she dared him to throw peas into the bowl of a chandelier in the dining room.
Working alongside both brothers, Lowther-Pinkerton said helping to guide the young princes through some of the most important years of their lives was a responsibility she never took lightly.
