Behind Palace Doors: My Service As the Queen Mother's Equerry [Paperback]

Major Colin Burgess (Author), Paul Carter (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 28, 2008

The Queen Mother did not give one media interview in her 101 years. This is a brief glimpse into that wonderful world by a man who spent two years constantly at her side from 1994 to 1996 and then as a close friend until her death in 2002. In this sharp, funny, and evocative memoir, Major Colin Burgess draws on his years as her right-hand man to recount numerous stories of an extraordinarily long and eventful life. From dancing with Fred Astaire to living through the Blitz; from the time Princess Margaret caught fire at a dinner party to when Prince Charles sought solace in his grandmother as his marriage collapsed; each anecdote and observation provides an historic insight into one of our longest-surviving institutions. Constantly fascinating and packed from start to finish with previously untold stories that lift the lid on the idiosyncrasies of royal protocol, this is warmly remembered celebration of a life gone—and a way of life fast disappearing.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Major Colin Burgess worked as equerry to the Queen Mother between 1994 and 1996 and was made a Member of the Victorian Order by the Queen at an investiture at Buckingham Palace. Since leaving active service, Colin has worked in television production and management, producing more than 87 broadcast documentaries. Paul Carter is a sports journalist and is the editor of Sunday Sport.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: John Blake (May 28, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1844544443
• ISBN-13: 978-1844544448
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #354,441 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Equerry to the Queen Mum, August 11, 2008

By 

C. L. Kingsley "Sakurako" (Hartford, CT United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Behind Palace Doors: My Service As the Queen Mother's Equerry (Paperback)

Not quite below-stairs gossip nor entirely unbiased, either, this account of two years spent as an equerry to Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, gives only a glimpse of her life and activities during the years when Prince Charles and Princess Diana were making headlines with their marital problems. The ghost writer who helped the equerry to write this book said, in his preface, that there were so many other interesting stories that could have been shared but, for a number of reasons, were not. I wish they had been, since several chapters chat about difficulties that staff members of other royal households face rather than staying on point. I'm sure the author was very relieved not to have worked for either Prince Charles or Princess Diana while their marriage was breaking down, but the key bits of intelligence that those chapters provided were that the Queen Mother removed herself from the battle lines early on and that Prince Charles has a nasty temper. The overall focus of this book is more about the duties an equerry to a member of the British royal family is expected to fulfill and less about the Queen Mother. Still, it's a good, fast read and provides an interesting view of the other members of the Queen Mother's senior staff and their little foibles.

35 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A "must" read for the Queen Mother's fans, June 18, 2008

By 

JWEB (Houston, TX USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Behind Palace Doors: My Service As the Queen Mother's Equerry (Paperback)

This is a great insight written by a young military officer who was Equerry to the Queen Mother for 2 years. It's written with great respect and fondness of his experiences as her close personal assistant. A rare glimpse into the everyday life of the Queen Mother and her association and influence in the Royal Family. An endearing book that touches on her home at Clarence House, other members of her household, his duties, and describes her "little extravagences" like Lobster, strawberries in winter, champagne, and daily fresh flowers in all the rooms. He describes her other residences at Royal Lodge and the Castle of Mey in Scotland. Full of interesting little known facts and antecdotes. No scandals (she never had any)or unflattering gossip. You'll LOVE this book. Easy reading!!

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Upstairs, Downstairs at the Palace, September 10, 2008

By 

Charles M. Del Vecchio "choo choo charlie" (Philadelphia, PA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Behind Palace Doors: My Service As the Queen Mother's Equerry (Paperback)

Interesting read. Gives a behind-the-scenes look at palace life. Nothing juicy. Make a cup of tea, put your feet up and relax for an hour or two.