Who Were Queen Elizabeth's Advisors?
The Crown has highlighted a number of the late Queen's private secretaries through the years, including Robert Fellowes and Robin Janvrin.
Throughout her reign, Queen Elizabeth had nine private secretaries. These men (and they were all men) were her primary advisors, and The Crown has depicted some of these advisors, including in a pivotal episode in season six, where Robert Fellowes (played by Andrew Havill) and Robin Janvrin (played by Jamie Parker) are featured.
As the royal family's website explains, "The Private Secretary is responsible for supporting The Queen in her duties as Head of State. The office holder is the channel of communication between the Head of State and the Government, not only in the United Kingdom but also in the other realms of which The Queen is Sovereign. The Private Secretary also liaises with the Armed Forces, the Church and the many organisations of which Her Majesty is patron."
Here, Queen Elizabeth's key advisors throughout her reign:
Sir Alan Lascelles
Private secretary from 1952 - 1953
Sir Alan "Tommy" Lascelles was King George VI's private secretary, and upon his death and Queen Elizabeth's accession, he became the young queen's private secretary. He retired at the end of 1953. He served in the British Army before working for the royal family.
Sir Michael Adeane
Private secretary from 1953 - 1972
Michael Adeane, Baron Adeane, was Queen Elizabeth's private secretary for 19 years. He served in the military, and then was King George VI and Queen Elizabeth's assistant private secretary, before taking over the role of private secretary. Adeane is pictured here, walking behind the Queen, in October 1963.
Sir Martin Charteris
Private secretary from 1972 - 1977
Martin Charteris, Baron Charteris of Amisfield, was the Queen's longest-serving Assistant private secretary. Before, he served as private secretary to then-Princess Elizabeth.
In The Crown seasons one and two, he's portrayed by Harry Hadden-Paton, and in seasons three and four, he's played by Charles Edwards. The show depicts him in the office much longer than he actually was.
Sir Philip Moore
Private secretary from 1977 - 1986
Philip Moore, Baron Moore of Wolvercote, served in World War II, before starting a career in the British government. In the 1960s, he was Deputy British High Commissioner in Singapore, then Chief of Public Relations of the Ministry of Defence, before joining the Firm as assistant private secretary to the Queen, and eventually becoming her private secretary. Moore is pictured here with the Queen in Morocco in 1980.
Sir William Heseltine
Private secretary from 1986 - 1990
William Heseltine, who is Australian, joined the royal household in the 60s as an assistant press secretary, before taking on the role of press secretary from 1968 to 1972. Soon, he moved into the Private Secretary's Office. After he retired from the Firm, he moved back to Western Australia.
Heseltine is pictured here with the Queen at the Derby in 1989.
Sir Robert Fellowes
Private secretary from 1990 - 1999
Robert Fellowes, Baron Fellowes is the brother-in-law of Princess Diana; he's married to Lady Jane Spencer. When Fellowes married Jane, he was an assistant private secretary to the Queen. (He previously served in the Scots Guards, then as a banker.) He worked for the royal household for over two decades, including the nine years he spent as the Queen's private secretary.
Fellowes is pictured with then-Prince Charles in 1993. In The Crown seasons five and six, Fellowes is portrayed by Andrew Havill.
Sir Robin Janvrin
Private secretary from 1999 - 2007
Robert Janvrin, Baron Janvrin, served in the Royal Navy before joining the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. In the 80s, he was recruited to join the royal household as a press secretary, and then became assistant private secretary, then deputy, before succeeding Fellowes as private ecretary. He retired in 2007.
In The Crown season six, Janvrin is portrayed by Jamie Parker.
Sir Christopher Geidt
Private secretary from 2007 - 2017
Christopher Geidt, Baron Geidt, began his career in the Intelligence Corps of the British Army, then working for the Royal United Services Institute for Defence Studies, before joining the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. In 2002, he joined the royal household. He served as private secretary for a decade before retiring. Most recently, he served as a standards adviser for Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Sir Edward Young
Private secretary from 2017 - 2022
Edward Young, Baron Young of Old Windsor, was Queen Elizabeth's final private secretary, and stayed on as co-private secretary to advise King Charles at the start of his reign (he stepped down this past May). He joined the royal household in 2004, and led the planning of the Diamond Jubilee.
Emily Burack (she/her) is the Senior News Editor for Town & Country, where she covers entertainment, culture, the royals, and a range of other subjects. Before joining T&C, she was the deputy managing editor at Hey Alma, a Jewish culture site. Follow her @emburack on Twitter and Instagram.
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