Here are some older photos of the Duchess of Cambridge and her private secretary Rebecca Deacon over the years. Deacon is Kate’s right-hand woman, and Rebecca is usually hovering around Kate during Kate’s events. I think Deacon might be Kate’s longest-employed staffer? Which is notable because the Cambridges experience a lot of staff shakeups. I don’t have all the comparison details on every royal member’s staffing, but it definitely feels like Will and Kate burn through staffers at a steady clip. They’ve dealt with staffers leaving Anmer Hall, the Kensington Palace office always seems to be in flux, and their foundation seems… poorly managed. So, what’s new? Rebecca is leaving!
Princess Kate is losing a trusted member of her team. The royal’s private secretary, Rebecca Deacon, is leaving her position this summer, Kensington Palace confirms to PEOPLE.
“After a decade of service to The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry, Rebecca Deacon will be stepping down as Private Secretary to The Duchess of Cambridge,” a representative for the royal trio said in a statement. “She plans to leave the household in the summer. Their Royal Highnesses are incredibly grateful for all the hard work and support Rebecca has provided over the past ten years, and wish her well in the next phase of her career.”
The palace has yet to reveal who will take her place. As part of her duties as Princess Kate’s private secretary, Deacon handled her schedule and accompanied her on all official engagements, including overseas tours to India, Bhutan and Canada. Deacon has worked for the royal family for 10 years, and has served in her current position since 2012.
It has been a big week for Kate’s right-hand woman: Over the weekend, she announced her engagement to her now-fiancé Adam Priestly. William and Kate are expected to attend the wedding, which is set for later this month.
I always thought Deacon seemed like a strange bird, and either Deacon single-white-femaled Kate, or the other way around. Their styles and styling always seemed very similar. Deacon also dated a few guys – I think? – who were staffed around William and Harry. Anyway, it’s interesting because we need to keep our eye on who Kate hires to replace Deacon. Will it be a Ben Ainsley look-alike?? Ha.
Meanwhile, William and Kate were out in London on Thursday for the unveiling of a memorial for the soldiers who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Harry was there too! As was the Queen and the Princess Royal. Kate wore a giant blue hat.
The #DuchessofCambridge attends a Military Drumhead Service on Horse Guards Parade https://t.co/nDs4vS8dKv pic.twitter.com/GmT3yCKtiS
— Express Pictures (@Express_Pics) March 9, 2017
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are also in attendance chatting to military and civilian personnel at the Iraq and Afghanistan memorial. pic.twitter.com/CCDH7jhqwG
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) March 9, 2017
Photos courtesy of Pacific Coast News.
I wonder if Rebecca signed a NDA ? If not a memoir might be hitting the book stores in the near future…
I’d imagine an NDA is par for the course with the BRF, no?
I’d be really surprised if it isn’t.
Yes, but look at how many ex employees break it. I remember reading the Housekeeper’s book (she worked at Highgrove). I was surprised at how much information she revealed. She was neutral with regard the War of the Waleses but some were overwhelmingly on Diana’s side such as Burrell.
That book was published in the US, which at the time was out of their reach regarding the NDA iirc.
I’ve read that staff are asked to signed NDAs, and that they realized they needed to do this during the Charles and Diana’s years, so many stories came out that turned out to be true. Who knows. One of my favorite books was, “The Housekeepers Diary: Charles and Diana Before the Breakup” by Wendy Barry. There were some cute stories about William and Harry playing as kids at Highgrove, and their birthday parties, William driving his mini Aston Martin that we hear was given to George. It was a book more about their day to day life, playing, being in the garden, wandering into the kitchen, asking what the cook is making etc.
Isn’t she the one who described Fergie (heavily pregnant at the time) as a “beached whale”? It was a fun book to read, but some of the things – like the quote above – were not entirely in good taste. (And I don’t even like Fergie.)
“Strange bird”? “Single white female?” Do you even know anything about this (non-famous) woman at all? Smh.
Have you looked at any of the photographs when these two are out together? SWF definitely applies.
kind of funny when kate is known for swf her late mother in law style…
Nothing remotely odd about two women who have known each other intimately for ten years dressing alike. Besides she probably has a dress code or get clothes cheap.
You don’t know how well they do or don’t know each other. I doubt it is “intimately”, but she has been employed by W&K for 5 years not 10.
Neither of them dresses according to the dress code.
I agree. It is entirely possible that Kate chose – consciously or subconsciously – someone within her own physical type. It happens all the time.
I recall reading elsewhere that Deacon worked for TQ before moving into the Cambridges HH after they got married, so she’s only been with the Duchess for about 5 years but yes thats a long time for them but a very short time for a Private Sec (TQ’s have been there for years).
I saw a quote about the role and it mentioned ‘not overstaying their welcome’ which could suggest Katie Keen asked her to leave or Chuck has finally taken control of the DoLittles staff – he does pay for them after all. There has been too much drama around the younger members of their staff what with all the love triangles – doesn’t present a very professional image of everyone involved in that office.
As for Deacons wedding, there are reports that Katie Keen ‘pulled out all the stops’ so that Rebecca could get married in the Chapel Royal at St James’s Palace – thats BS as ANYONE who has an association with the Royal Household (current and former staff) can get married there, a perk from TQ. Again another poor attempt to make these 2 seem like good employers, even thou they have a revolving door.
I wonder if W&K like to rotate staff as not to allow anyone to collect too much information on them.
All they’d have to do is have a meeting of all former staff and there’d be a lot of juicy information pieced together!
And did I read correctly — she got engaged over the weekend and will be married next month? Dang. Good for her for just biting the bullet and getting it done.
Pregnant?
That’s when it was publicly announced. They could have enjoyed being engaged ‘privately’ with friends and family knowing for a while.
Hi Betty, I’ve noticed a couple of times you have used the abbreviation of thou for though.
It gets me every time because it’s pronounced so differently (th-ow) instead of (th-oh).
I just thought I’d mention it, because it keeps tripping me up, having a meaning all of it’s own, I mean! I keep trying to turn my brain off, but I have to read your posts a couple of times (pleased to!) before actually getting your meaning! It’s me, it’s not you, but I thought I’d share my thought with you even tho it doesn’t matter in big picture thinking!! Cheers, gh
Shirley Gail,
Relax chickadee
I think you forgot to highlight your own abbreviation of said word: “tho” (last full sentence).
I didn’t notice it personally, but it’s a valid point. If you’re going to abbreviate “though” at all, it makes more sense to use “tho” than “thou,” to avoid confusion.
Yes, very valid point.
And I think Shirleygail did a good job of making her point in a relatively “relaxed” way.
All in for Shirleygail. Friends tell friends.
Probably got tired of doing all the work for Miss Dolittle.
Sixer, get in there and give us the scoop. I heard staff benefits include complimentary chutney.
and bagged almonds? or was it chestnuts?
It was chestnuts from Amner IIRC.
I have my first rhubarb of the year so my own chutney is imminent, thankyouverymuch!
Can you even imagine me advising Katie Keen on what to wear? She’d look worse than she does already!
Sixer you mean worse than jeggings? Say it ain’t so!
jazzed up sweatpants (like say, karl lagerfeld walmart line) might actually suit a lady whose skirts fly up all the time
I still don’t fully understand exactly what jeggings even are, that’s how clothes-clueless I am!
Jeggings are tights that masquerade as jeans – same colour, seams, pockets etc, but not the same thick cotton fabric. 😊
You have rhubarb? Really? I’m so jealous I could cry. It started snowing again last night and it’s still snowing. Another 4 inches to go with the 2 feet that still cover my lawn. Plus Sixer, I hear it’s spring where you live now? Our spring doesn’t start until March 20/21. I thought Britain and Canada had similar weathers but I guess it’s warmer where you are than here.
I can get it by March if I force it undercover. But next month will be best. Sorry! I LOVE rhubarb.
It’s okay Sixer, I should probably apologize to you. Winter really stresses me, but there’s only 10 more days of the season I hate left. I’m sure once the snow is gone, the rhubarb will show. I love the stuff too. It’s my all time favourite pie. I’ve decided that I’m going to teach myself to make jelly this year, I’ve never made jelly before just jam. I’m going to start with my rhubarb.
My complete lack of interest for the royals suffered a minor blow when I saw the last pictures. Kate looks amazing. The hat brings an edginess to the coat, which compliments her eyes and brings her saphires to life.
On this note, I’ll let you discuss the rest as I am fairly ignorant of all other Royal matters and intend to keep it that way.
She looked beautiful.
I think she looked very nice too.
Yes, she does look quite pretty in the blue hat. Well done, Kate.
I thought the hat looked like a lampshade. Not a fan of this style.
Same here. Maybe her hairdo is throwing it off. I think it looks ridiculous on her.
The hat needed it’s own introduction.
I think she looks great too. If I have any quibble it’s that the hat seems a bit too big. But better than the satellite dishes with sticks she wears a lot of the time.
I loved the hat until i found out it is made from rabbit fur felt. I just can’t………
Full disclosure: Vegan here.
Seriously? Rabbit fur? I don’t like it either.
Full disclosure: Vegetarian
Full disclosure: meat eater. But the idea of wearing fur is icky to me.
Co-sign on not wearing Thumper :’-(
I was okay with the hat when I thought it was felt. There is no need for it to be rabbit fur and it just seems like more waste. I feel like if you are going to wear animal fur, then you should be the one having to kill the animal and understand that you took a life just for a piece of clothing. And in Kate’s case, she didn’t need another damn hat. She has too many clothes as it is.
Meat Eater.
If the rabbit was eaten, I support the hat. Use evry bit of an animal you are going to eat. No waste.
No a fan of bunny hats, but I do think it was great to see her without her hair blowing around.
Yes, Kate looks amazing. But once I read LAK’s comment, I was disappointed. Can’t Waity use a bit of common sense?
To be fair, while it made LAK unconfortable, LAK doesn’t seem to insist that veganism is the only and the best choice for everyone. Anyway, I am quite sure my shoes or bag has leather so I have no fight in this. I just think at least Kate has never presented herself as an animal activist.
But I’d like to know erh…are the rabbits still alive? I don’t intend to wear rabbit fur but I still have some compassion if they’re still alive yikes.
They are killed and skinned for their fur, unlike say sheep that are sheared like a hair cut.
Some people eat rabbit. It’s fairly common in rural England, or at least it was. I doubt Kate’s hat came from those rabbits though. Probably rabbits bred for fur. And I too hope they were killed humanely,
Agree; I’m usually very critical of Kate’s fashion choices but I like this look. She looks like an adult.
Yes, she looks fine when she does Princess Diana cosplay. Di would’ve had a slightly wider crown on her big blue hat though, and probably a bit larger sapphire and diamond pieces. Which would’ve looked even better.
Her jewelry is tanzanite not sapphire just btw. The hat does make it pop though compared to other times she has worn that set.
Let’s hope they hire someone who can stop Kate from flashing her bits.
if god could hear you.but i fear it is what we french call un cas desespéré
William and her mom are the only ones with that kind of power!
Wow that happened once – maybe twice? Sorry Kate can’t control the wind!!
I can imagine she did all the work, while Kate got all the credit for it. She must have done tremendous amount of research and briefed Kate on all the info, so that she seemed smart and educated. It’s all smoke and mirrors with Kate.
Kate has never, not once, appeared smart, educated, or researched on any topic as far as I can recollect.
It was all so poorly done from plagiarizing Charles’ thank you notes, copy and pasted letters that only had to be written yearly (like the public wouldn’t figure out she couldn’t be bothered to “write” a different yearly public letter of support. Stealing lines from the charity website and copy and pasting from previous speeches that were a mess content-wise. It was fitting work for these two – she gave the appearance of work with as little effort as possible, consistently not meeting a constantly lowering bar, and a pretty empty schedule of appearances to squeeze in and bare bones prepare for. Her main job was probably “taking care of Kate” as that is her top priority from the people around her.
Lindsey: Additionally, Poor grammer, sentence construction, composition, misspelt words, letters not headed or tailed etc etc and so forth.
Based on her public output, she wasn’t good at her job. And Kate clearly didn’t care about details or pride in her work and presentation because she allows this crap to go out in her name. With her signature.
Sounds like she could care less about the groups.
Only about how she looked. Appearances are everything. Pathetic. These people deserve more.
I for one cannot WAIT for Harry and Meghan.
Maybe she is quitting because she doesn’t want to have to travel after getting married? I wouldn’t want to have to be a beck and call girl married, I want sex every night and not to have to deal with the whims of the mega rich.
But that’s me.
If she just got engaged, but is getting married next month, I’m going to guess she’s pregnant. She probably doesn’t want to travel or work strange hours.
Maybe she has already found a better job, with higher pay, and working with normal people.
As I wrote elsewhere, in what world do everyday people quit their job when they get engaged or get pregnant? She could still do the majority of her job in the office, and not go on the two overseas trips if she can’t handle them health-wise. I think quitting because she ‘s getting married is an excuse to get out of the job, an excuse W&K can’t fight.
Head of security, PR guy they had for years, housekeeper and groundsman, first nanny (the one they lied about having, although she was elderly and wanted to stay retired), now Rebecca. These two cannot keep staff.
What if she’s pregnant by someone she is not meant to be pregnant by…? Like Willy?
Agree, it makes a good excuse to get out of the job—my life is changing, got a hubby now, bye William and Catherine! (sigh of relief)
I wonder if Natasha Archer is going to leave the Cambridges’ employ too? She is marrying Chris the Royal Getty Images Photographer this year.
Don’t forget the poor security dogs that were shot once they left Wales for good 🙁 They served for a couple years. Granted they didn’t quit. It is just disgusting.
@NOTA, in my experience, lots of people. I was an attorney but stopped working when was about to have my first baby, and I have quite a few friends who left professional careers to be SAHMs as well. Not everyone can afford to do this, obviously, and I know I’m fortunate that I can, but it’s a valid choice and not one to be mocked IMO.
Where did I say it wasn’t a valid choice? Given how low her royal salary was likely to be, unless her future husband is rolling in it? I expect to see her with a new job within the year. Marriage being the excuse to quit W&K now.
Must have been a dull job considering the Cambridge’s carry few engagements.
Carole has already handed in her CV.
Carole’s a shoo-in; she’s got connections, ya’ know.
I like this blue and the whole ensemble looks fabulous on her however there was one photo of her chatting to guests which she looked as though she was trying to look concerned but the vanity got in the way.
Is Miss Deacon marrying an aristo or is she one as she looks like she has one of those Middleton signet rings on her pinkie.
Probably a gift in lieu of pay, or their idea of a bonus. Here, flash my crest around and show everyone how generous I am.
It must be a nightmare to work for them. Babysitting them, taking care of them when they throw tantrums etc.
She needs the babysitter and he’s the tantrum thrower.
She loves being “taken care of” and “looked after”
I cant believe they are almost the same age Rebecca looks a lot older.
working for her would age you.
Outdoor event and Kate wears the floaty style coatdress-typical. She was probably hoping for another Marilyn moment right in front of the Queen.
The look reminded me of her first appearance while struggling with morning sickness with Charlotte.
Though I didn’t mind the hat – it set off the sapphire jewellery nicely. The shoes? Typical Waity again.
Actually it is the estimated $30,000 tanzanite set that she first showed off at a memorial service.
I don’t like this jewelry with this outfit at all. I think it’s tacky with a coat dress.
She manages to spend huge sums on really forgettable jewelry. That isn’t special enough for the price tag or her £100,000 (IIRC), maybe it was dollars, platinum necklace with circles for the Olympics (she loves a theme element, Olympic Rings/ Rings on the necklace).
https://impassionedfashion.wordpress.com/tag/blue-dress/
Tweed is hardly *floaty*. For once she looks appropriate, professional, and very pretty.
By floaty I meant the skirt portion wasn’t form fitting. Diana liked her coatdresses with more of a tailored, slim look. Waity is stuck on twee clothing to match her twee hair though in this case we got a reprieve- she tied her hair back. And don’t kid yourself -a very windy day (silly Waity gets a thrill) can move tweed.
Kate looks good. I like the hat and coat dress. But…her face looks a bit different. Her jowls are gone and her eyebrows are trying to escape her face.
Congrats Rebecca. Many happy years. Please find a new career because this one did not highlight your abilities. If anything, it was a testament to what not to do with a bad client.
The large hat is likely to hide the fresh batch of Botox. Her brows in particular are showing the effects.
The caterpillars (Kate’s eyebrows) put on weight – they returned home to graze again. I think Kate spends a lot of time looking at her face wondering what tweak next because she’s too afraid to do anything new and exciting with her hair.
but how do you get rid of jowls – other than with a facelift? Does botox help? just wondering…
Laser neck lift and tightening, fillers, there are a few nonsurigical options.
She has jowls, i think, because she is so thin. When she puts on some weight, her face fills out. I lost 30 pounds, and once I hit 25 pounds loss, i think my face looked worse. I added 5 back, and I think I look better. And I’m still 30 pounds over my wedding weight at 25 years old, but i can’t even imagine how dreadful my face would look if i lost 25 more pounds. (I’m in my 50s, BTW)
I know someone who was the personal assistant to a VIP (very high ranking former government official). When he quit, he was able to just do nothing for a year because he had saved up so much money, due to the fact that he worked so much and was never able to incur actual expenses.
Kaiser, Harry wasn’t just “there too”. He was front and center giving a biblical reading. Makes sense he would participate at a higher level, as he’s the member of the family who served in a war zone in Afghanistan.
Harry, IMO, did an excellent job with the biblical reading.
“…Deacon handled her schedule and accompanied her on all official engagements,…”
So, she had a quite uneventful job, i guess.
Zing!
Are the buttons different on the coatdress? They look a mix of silver and blue. I’m guessing it’s just the light, the buttons are the same.
Call me crazy, but I absolutely LOVE the big blue hat and I think she’s wearing it well.
Also to add, it will be interesting to see with Deacon’s exit if Kate’s style will change at all. Maybe she’s the one who has been saying all this time, “You look great in those jeggings!”
Probably not, as it’s Natasha Archer who dresses Kate (you know, the stylist w/out any stylist training 😜).
But kudos to Kate on this outing; she finally got it right for a change. She looks like an adult and professional (and very pretty).
I agree, she definitely got it right here.
i liked it too until i read that its made of rabbit fur.
Ugh I can’t muster up a single f*ck for this princess
Isn’t the reason she’s leaving because she is getting married very soon? Key detail left out here. She probably wants to start a family and a life that doesn’t revolve around working for the royals.
That’s in the article.
Love the whole ensemble. She looks gorgeous. On average people tend to change jobs after ten or fifteen years. It shows versatility and looks good on a resume. I’m sure the perks of this particular position were great but a person needs their own life after awhile.
OK, I love that giant blue hat. Want. Also want a wardrobe to go with it.
Does anyone know if Diana treated her staff nicely?
Ask the housekeeper. She said she was in love with her own image, people like that are hard to live with…prone to histrionics and such and of course their was a third party in the marriage. I don’t think I would have handled it any better. And then of course the adulation from the entire planet. People like that well they believe their own press and she called the people”my public” !!
Kitty, a lot of Diana’s behavior depended on her mood, she could be your best friend or your worst enemy.
No wonder their staff leave them as they act so high and mighty instead of treating people with respect …Noone puts up with these two twits for long as they are both lazy…over entitled brats