While we know that the Princess of Wales is famously work-shy, it’s bonkers that Kensington Palace would telegraph that fact by allowing Kate to languish for more than a year without her own private secretary. Hannah Cockburn-Logie was Kate’s last private secretary, and Hannah quit that bitch in the fall of 2022, right around QEII’s passing. Kate then tried to hire Alison Corfield, only Corfield took one look at that wig-wearing palace gopher and said “nope” before she even started work. Now Kate has a big new keen plan to hire a veteran. He hasn’t said yes though, which makes this Telegraph article read like a pressure campaign.
The Princess of Wales is set to hire a war hero who served as Elizabeth II’s equerry as her new private secretary. The Princess, who has been without her own private secretary for more than a year, has invited Lt Col Tom White to join her at a public engagement to see what the job entails at close quarters.
The choice of the late Queen’s former equerry would be a radical departure from the previous person tipped to take the role, Alison Corfield, who was described as a “straight-talking” brand management expert who would “shake up” the palace. Lt Col White, in contrast, has already worked at the centre of the institution, at the late Queen’s side until her death in September last year. Before that, the Royal Marines officer served in Afghanistan in 2009 as a member of 42 Commando.
As a 22-year-old lieutenant serving as 7 Troop’s commander, he helped avert tragedy in Helmand after the Taliban placed a booby trap bomb in a school. However, wires under the school room door were spotted before detonation.
The rumoured choice of Lt Col White as the Princess’s private secretary would see something of a return to tradition for the household, reflecting the Royal family’s close ties to the military and a link with her late grandmother-in-law. It is understood that no appointment has yet been made but a source said that Lt Col White was “likely” to be offered the job.
The 36-year-old father would be the first man in the position, in a restructured Kensington Palace office overseen by a yet-to-be-appointed chief executive. A Kensington Palace spokesman said that they did not comment on staffing matters.
Kensington Palace is only eager to comment on staffing matters when it comes to how Meghan “bullied” staffers by existing. As for this guy… I will feel so sorry for Lt. Col. White if he does end up as Kate’s private secretary. Imagine trying to bring that military sense of preparedness, loyalty and duty to Kate’s jazz hands, budget wigs and busywork. It’s also funny to hear that after all of the “we’re going to hire a fancy new CEO” keenery, no one has actually been hired yet. I would imagine that most seasoned professionals want no part of the Kensington Clownshow.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.
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- The Princess of Wales will visit Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Yeovilton, one of the Royal Navy’s two principal air stations, and one of the busiest military airfields in the UK. The base is home to a number of front-line squadrons and training units, including the Wildcat Maritime Force. The visit follows the recent announcement that His Majesty The King has appointed The Princess, Commodore-in-Chief, Fleet Air Arm (FAA)., NO UK USE FOR 48 HOURS,Image: 806221018, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: NO UK USE FOR 48 HOURS- Fee Payable Upon reproduction – For queries contact Avalon sales@Avalon.red London +44 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles +1 310 822 0419 Berlin +49 30 76 212 251 Madrid +34 91 533 42 89, *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Avalon.red / Avalon
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- `Catherine, Princess Of Wales reacts after inflating a lifejacket during her visit to Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton on September 18, 2023 in Yeovil, England. The Princess of Wales is visiting the airbase following her appoint as Commodore-in-Chief, Fleet Air Arm (FAA),Image: 806232818, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: Jules Annan / Avalon
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- Sittingbourne, Kent, UK, 27 September 2023: HRH The Princess of Wales joins a family portage session at the Orchards Centre, Multi Agency Service Hub in Sittingbourne, Kent to highlight the importance of supporting children with special educational needs and disabilities and their families. The session is ran by the Kent Portage Team. ***NO UK USE FOR 48 HOURS***,Image: 808854076, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: ***NO UK USE FOR 48 HOURS***, *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Paul Grover / Avalon
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- Britain’s Kate, the Princess of Wales, holds a speech after she participated in a series of workshops which focus on emotions, relationships and community action at Factory Works in Birmingham, England, Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023. The Prince and Princess host the forum for young people on World Mental Health Day.,Image: 812603974, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Kirsty Wigglesworth / Avalon
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- The Princess of Wales, known as the Duchess of Rothesay when in Scotland, meets farmers at Brodieshill Farm, Moray, Scotland, to learn about efforts being made to better support the mental health and wellbeing of young people, in Moray, Scotland.,Image: 819149516, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Jane Barlow / Avalon
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- Dereham, UK, 08 November 2023: Britain’s Catherine, Princess of Wales visits The Queen’s Dragoon Guards Regiment for the first time as their Colonel in Chief, in Dereham.,Image: 820716395, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: ***NO UK USE FOR 48 HOURS***, *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: CHRIS RADBURN / Avalon
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- Image Licensed to i-Images Picture Agency. 12/11/2023. London, United Kingdom. Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales , at the Remembrance Sunday service at The Cenotaph in London.,Image: 821569091, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: Licenced to i-Images Picture Agency. All Rights Reserved. UK copyright law applies to all print & online publications. i-Images space rates apply to all images. Magazines contact agency for fees before use. Images Single use only then repro fees apply. Info@i-images.co Tel: 07860204379, *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Stephen Lock / i-Images / Avalon
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- Catherine, Princess of Wales laughs as she listens to Tony Blair and William Hague swap anecdotes as they speak at the “Shaping Us” National Symposium at the Design Museum in London, UK, 15 November 2023,Image: 822228646, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Richard Pohle / Avalon
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- HRH King Charles III, Queen Camilla, William, Prince of Wales and Catherine, Prince of Wales receive President of South Korea Yoon Suk Yeol during the state visit ceremonial welcome at Horse Guards Parade in London, UK, 21 November 2023,Image: 823454013, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Tim Rooke/Shutterstock / Avalon
The obvious question is: to do what? No matter who Kate employs it doesn’t take away from the fact the woman is bone idle. Hence the reason why she could/can get away without having an official PS. The other reason could be that she’s been paying someone off the books to do the job and the auditors have said no more. 😉
He’ll be used to taking orders, so if one of those orders is go wash my wig, he will.
LOL, @seaflower!
LauraD ‘Paying someone off the books’ – who on earth could that be? Whoever it is may well have been on double-bubble also being paid separately as KM’s stylist. Now, who could it have been?
Wasn’t it reported that the move to Adelaide Cottage was because Kate wanted to be closer to her mother? I can see Carole fulfilling both these roles. Unofficially if course with payment under the table? As in ” off the books”, an accounting concept which may be familiar to the RF.
I’m also thinking Carole as Kate’s PS.
Has anyone seen a picture of Lt Col Tom White? He sounds like he’s in his mid 40s. Is he attractive? Is he single or does he have a family?
I’m sorry but this reads more like an old school newspaper classified ad and I have this feeling Keeny wants more than just a private secretary out of Tom and wants to grab his butt.
He’s the one in the checked jacket.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/royal-family/2023/11/24/TELEMMGLPICT000357652085_17008429841540_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqMN5csm4pVABgsgmM1fiIiovCdM7y5SFWu0uZ-GBQ2Ps.jpeg
Oh yeah. I’m 100% convinced Kate wants him to be more than her private secretary.
At least this guy has hair.
@seaflower, oh dear, this isn’t looking good for someone’s reputation, Princess “look at my lady garden”, wants to hire someone with a passing resemblance to Federer? I wonder why.?
Omg. Princess “look at my lady garden”😂
Mary Pester!
I hope the Lt Col sees the danger in working for this attention and sex starved Duchess. If he was smart enough to see that bomb before it could be detonated he will realize that this is another explosive.
He looks like Roger Federer so this fantasy hiring makes sense.
He looks like Roger Federer so this fantasy hiring makes sense.
I was just wondering whether this guy was one of the famously good-looking equerries. And yep, much more up Kate’s street than some highly-qualified professional woman.
Imagine all the hair-tossing & girly giggling etc. if he has to accompany her to events.
Although of course he’s not even confirmed as wanting the job. I wonder if these equerry types really have a choice?
Nope nope. He looks too much like Rodgers Federer. It’s a trap. This dude doesn’t need this in his life. Whenever they decided to get rid of Kate they will sacrifice him. He needs extra pay and danger money to even consider this.
I knew it! Let the affairs rumors begin!
Seriously, this is one train that is easy to see barreling towards a crash. FFS, Kitty, Willnot is playing you so hard with this one.
Hope he has a psychology degree plus a degree in adult toddler taming and a very thick skin. She cannot keep staff.
I mentioned this on the other thread, but the excerpt Scobie posted that I saw on Twitter mentioned her having 5 secretaries in 6 years, and that she’s been without for a year. Interesting that he highlights it and then there’s suddenly fire to get it done.
Also the Afghanistan story is here is really strangely worded. He’s supposed to have done this heroic thing, but they switch to passive voice about who saw the b*mb wires? I’m not saying the story’s made up, just really poorly written.
Omid’s excerpt also mentioned being her secretary was boring and uninspiring, or something to that effect. I mean, I guess he was working with an elderly house bound woman who wasn’t in full control of her faculties before, so maybe this won’t be a huge shift.
For most of this year, it’s seemed like W&K have been inching toward divorcing. They don’t look very loving towards each other, they seem to live separately, she’s not been abroad with him, she’s not been seen in new outfits whereas he has, and she hasn’t had a secretary. Lately, K has been praised by KC, she was front and center at the South Korean charm offensive, and now she is going to have staff after having gone a year without? Why?
I think this is to keep the separation quiet. A commenter below wondered if Charles is making this hiring decision. I can see that because it would mean he’s making the duchess work and that they ultimately report to Charles.
How is a guy who served in Afghanistan going to last in a job that requires dealing with Duchess Dolittle? He will lose his mind from boredom and frustration by the end of week one.
@Lucy: I thought the same thing about the story of his purported heroism. He served in Afghanistan, that alone is admirable; maybe it’s the tabloids ’embiggening’ this fellow? You’d think having served would be good enough to be Kate’s PS, but no, they’ve got to make him into a hero & apparently his presence in the vicinity of the school was what they latched onto? Did he neutralize the bomb? Who spotted the wires? What, exactly, was his role, if any? Of if he’s going to be associated with Kate, he’s got to be the bestest solder/secretary to ever have walked the earth! (heavy sarcasm folks, if it wasn’t obvious).
If he hasn’t accepted the role, why are they announcing his name? It’s completely ruins this man’s privacy and any negotiating he may be trying to do behind the scenes. Things like this is probably why they also can’t hire a ” CEO” who wants to deal with people who operate so outside of business norms. They want to pretend they are a Fortune 100 company but still operate with medieval standards.
They called the woman she wanted to hire the last time a lot of misogynistic names ironically to hype her up. Then, she quit before starting the job.
@Dee(2) – and let’s not forget the “Diversity Tzar” where there were (according to the palace) no suitable candidates. I still maintain the people who were interviewed either turned them down or told them things they didn’t want to hear.
And the fancy new CEO
This is like Alison Corfield all over again. I think out of duty he will probably take the job.
What I wonder is Kate hiring him. Or is Charles hiring him. Maybe Charles is trying to get the two of them to actually do something. And he’s starting with Kate. Her being late to the coronation and other events. A military man wouldn’t put up with that. This may be one of those situations where she can’t fire him. And has to do what he says. And with her and her family being on the outs right now. What could she say to get out of it.
I can see this being true.
Charles knows Kate and Will are separated and if Kate wants it to remain a separation and not a humiliating divorce then Charles WILL make her sing for her supper and she will do as he says. He’s the boss now, not William. And if Kate decides to engage in an affair with the Lt Col, then it makes the divorce easier and everyone is happier in the long run. William can be divorced and easily make a deal with Kate and Kate won’t be barking up his tree ever again.
RIP Lt. Col. White’s name
My first thought – Kate, you in danger girl. We know Kate likes male attention. PWT can foist her off onto her new MALE private secretary…… Cue the affair rumours. PWT goes for divorce.
That seems like too much diabolical work for the Prince of Wails but I could see Charles quietly orchestrating this.
Or Camilla. The gloves are off there I think.
I could see this as Camilla’s or William’s idea. Burger King cannot be the only party in that marriage with affair rumors once the divorce rollout begins.
Yeah, let’s have the person that spends every day all day with her be a mildly attractive younger male war hero. Huh. 🤔
Keen certainly can’t have a straight talking secretary, Keen needs someone who will flatter her and treat her like a fragile baby.
What is this about? A man for the job. Hmmm is she looking for a hired side piece trap? A way for Peg to say she is cheating I’m out? All she does is photo ops nothing useful so a man will whip her into shape? This is something new. Oh the possibilities.
No matter what happens, Kate’s mother to the future King of England,
and she will never have to work again, which is all I think Kate cares about. She’ll probably even stay at Windsor if they divorce in the same way Diana stayed at Kensington. I think Carole Middleton has been more obsessed with getting the titles for Kate than Kate ever was. But now due to their shady finances being exposed, I can see them giving up. So on either side, what’s the point of hanging on?
He is married with children. I doubt Bones can bring anything to the table for him to even consider having a affair with her. You have to be interesting to begin with and we know she ain’t.
Since when have facts been pertinent to anything leaked by any palace?
He will be spending time with her alone, which is all that is necessary to start this rumor.
Tiffany, thanks for pointing that out. I was going to. This man (and his wife) don’t need the bm shouting rumers about an affair. They don’t deserve that and neither do their children.
I’m hoping this is just another lie because they’re actually jabbing a bit at Cant. It doesn’t appear that the absence of a Private Secretary has been an issue. At all.
They said he was father, I noticed the lack of married father, just father so maybe he’s divorce. Maybe a affair will soften her up and humanize her, who knows
If he takes this job, there will be nonstop tumors and innuendo about their relationship. Maybe that will get the press off the Sussexes for a couple articles now and again.
I can’t see this as being a positive move in any way for the Lt Col. Also, why on earth would his wife be okay with this? The very least that would happen is that there would be rumors about her husband’s relationship with the lonely Khate.
On one hand, using someone already familiar with the palace aka Kate’s (lack of) work ethic means he’s less surprised with her and therefore less likely to quit in a year. On the other hand, so much for wanting to do things “differently” and being “modern” but they end up hiring someone already part of the system.
And as a military man, he knows hierarchy & how to behave with those who outrank him, because heaven knows Kate will never let him forget who’s the FQ & who’s the lackey.
It’s interesting that she picking a man for job this time. It shows that she’s unable to work with other women.
Kate seemed to get on really well with Jason Knauf. He was technically William’s secretary right? But it feels like one of his duties was to emotionally support Kate. They were often seen by each other in pics and didn’t she have phone calls with Jason pretty regularly in the court circular?
Jason Knauf was the Communications Secretary but he was allowed to act more like a Private Secretary. I’d be shocked if he’s not hired as the new CEO of KP.
Welp, his resume is an interesting one…he spotted a booby trap before it detonated while serving in Afghanistan. Sounds like his tour of Afghanistan makes him well prepared for the palace intrigue and the demands of that job. Good luck Lt. Col. “White”!!!
YES.
Oh my god this will at least be entertaining.
They’re setting Kate up to get a side dude and giving William grounds for divorce. The new James Hewitt.
This reads like KP is hiring a “handler” for Kate. Like Sam for Britney.
That would make sense.
As a bit of background, I’ve been reading Alison Weir’s “The Six Wives of Henry the VIII”. Katherine Howard had hired the man accused of being her lover as her private secretary- to protect her from the gossip, as the person at the centre of the story, was also controlling it. (There is debate whether they were lovers or if he had SA’ed her – unfortunately there is no nuance here… her morals would have been questioned either way). Ultimately, this didn’t work and she was beheaded. Regardless, My first thought is that Kate is now moving her lover into position, so of they are seen together, no one questions the reason.
Christ almighty the Borgia queen is on manoeuvres AGAIN. Two points from me.
One, this has me worried I must admit. I mentioned last week that back door talks bully and inactive barbie were having with senior MOD officials and military men to try and make invictus theirs were happening, NOW we have an Afghan veteran, just like our ginger warrior going to work for keen??? When we know, a military man wouldn’t refuse our late Queen, because she was his commander in Cheif, and actually worked, but, why would he want to working for a lazy, useless, wigwearing flasher?
Two, I remember the rumours about Diana and her married male aide!! They were the talk of camillas friends in the press, so we know who started the rumour AND who profited from it!!
History is repeating folks
That’s right! Camilla is using yet another tried and true tactic… pressure Charles to pressure William to make it happen.
I kind of love this drama for them. It may be mostly bluster too – especially if William knows there is a spy in his house of “love” …
I wonder if rather than take over Invictus per say W&K are trying to convince the MOD to do a UK or commonwealth only veterans games akin to the Warrior games. They could then tout their support of veterans issues and sport for veterans without including Harry. I could even foresee them going well why do we need a separate international event, or why should we fund a separate event.
All I’m getting from this is that Kate can’t get along with other women so they finally had to bring in a dude.
I think we’re going to have to take bets on how long that guy will remain. Will he last longer than a British Prime Minister who can’t outlast a letuce ?
I absolutely do not see Kate being behind this decision.
Kate doesn’t have all that much work for someone to do, so it would be an excellent job for someone who wants to step back a bit from one of the high powered foreign office jobs. But they’d never actually make that arrangement, would they.
They’re installing a “company man” to monitor and control her post-separation. The institution needs to lock her down with a handler who answers to them.
They’re giving Kate the Diana treatment. This actually makes the most sense now that I think about it.
Rknot
“They’re installing a “company man” to monitor and control her post-separation. The institution needs to lock her down with a handler who answers to them.”
That all tracks.
He’s still to be pitied, cutting the umbilical cord to her debtor mother won’t be easy
Kate has not hired a PS in a year, does she need one?
Maybe if she did some useful work instead of cosplaying Diana, in fashion but no true charm as Diana had, she’d need a PS.
Why can’t all of the BRF stay home and just write a personal check to good charities?
That would be useful. 👍
Sounds like this man’s life will be ruined if he takes the job.
I hear Carole is broke , hire her. She is in desperate need of the money.
Lol!
Okay guys what if Wills NEW Dresser is a gal, and that’s why she is so keen in this Harry replacement. It’s a diggity dog tactic. He won’t bite. No use for the job.
I hope this man says, “NO”. If they (whoever they are) want a man as her Private Secretary, they should get an older man … someone in their early 60s. If they want to keep her contained for a separation, then someone that age would be perfect. Of course, the bm couldn’t destroy his life in the same way they could and would with a 36 year old, but someone needs to be careful here. They can’t keep destroying people’s lives, because it will come back to haunt them.
So, she’s been in her separation Cottage for just over a year now. Was the “No private secretary” part of the whole “she’s getting sidelined/divorce prep” plan? I mean, she hasn’t worked a lot (a little more lately now that people have been talking a lot about separation/how little she does, and how woefully under prepared she seems to be when she does go out).
It Is Known that Kate doesn’t much like that part of her job and has been pretty successful at dodging it. Low interest on her part plus low interest in supporting what she does on the Palace’s part == no sane person is going to take the job/stick around for long.
Although the “this is her new safe-pair-of-hands handler put in by BP” theory has a lot of plausibility. I can also 100% believe that they know she can’t abide other women, but there will definitely be rumors planted of an affair when the time is deemed right.
Isn’t it interesting that Scobie has stated that Cant is afraid, etc., and the power to be must approach her cautiously or whatever? There are some who also believe that she is either medicated or drinking before engagements. Is it possible her mental health is fragile? I have no idea. I can only use ask myself how I would feel being in her position. I wouldn’t fair well (nor would I have stayed this long).
He’s a good-looking bloke, that’s for sure.