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staff heard the strains of the music they knew they should not enter the room. It was simply two old friends enjoying the memories of times past. But, even in these surroundings, neither forgot for a moment whothe other was – it was mistress and servant, and that was the way both preferred it. And he still wouldn’t sit down in her presence.
    When the Court adjourned to Balmoral, William often tried to hide away at night because he wasn’t all that enthusiastic about Scottish highland dancing, which is de rigueur at Balmoral. The Queen Mother’s niece told the story in a book she wrote, that on one occasion when Prince Charles was still single, he had to search the castle to find William, because ‘Granny wants you for the Gay Gordons’. This was in the days when the word ‘gay’ was used only to describe joy rather than its current sexual definition, so there was no hidden double entendre intended.
    During his service at Clarence House, William was given the use of Gate Lodge, a small but elegant single-storey property just outside the gates leading onto The Mall, surely one of the best addresses in London?
    The house was a treasure trove as William was given hundreds of gifts by members of the Royal Family and also by suppliers to Queen Elizabeth. There were paintings, photographs, and prints, including sketches of the actor Keith Michel in his role as Henry VIII for a BBC TV drama along with his six wives. The Queen Mother had been given the prints, but she couldn’t find the right place for them so she passed them on to William. She also presented him with items to make up a large dinner service, giving him a plate or soup bowl every Christmas. She died before he was able to complete the set.
    In the latter stages of William’s service with The Queen Mother, the Gate Lodge deteriorated intoappalling condition. The walls were dripping with damp, the roof leaked, the plumbing needed attention and the doors didn’t close properly. But the Comptroller of the Household refused to allocate the funds required for the repairs and The Queen Mother had no idea what the problem was. William never told her; he just put up with it.
    However, within six weeks of her death, he was evicted from the property as the Prince of Wales was taking over Clarence House and William was informed that Gate Lodge was needed as a ticket office for the opening of the five State Apartments. He was moved out with indecent haste and indeed, the Lodge remained empty and in the same state of repair for some years after The Queen Mother’s death.
    William was devastated to lose his beloved home, but Prince Charles came to his rescue offering him a Grace and Favour apartment in Kennington, part of the Duchy of Cornwall’s estate, near the Oval cricket ground.
    The death of Queen Elizabeth truly was the end of an era. Her Page of the Backstairs had lost not only his home, but also the woman he had regarded as a surrogate mother for over half a century. For most of his adult life, William had never known any other existence . Clarence House during the week; Royal Lodge at weekends and Birkhall, Her Majesty’s home in the Scottish Highlands, during the summer months. His routine coincided with hers; the only time he took off was when he knew she was with her daughters or grandchildren. Princess Margaret thought the world of him, though she would occasionally have a joke athis expense. He didn’t take offence and both Margaret and The Queen included William in their family celebrations. He once showed me his collection of Royal Family Christmas cards, which numbered over 200. He also told of the day, when Princess Margaret was still living as a single woman at Clarence House and The Queen Mother entered the drawing room to find her daughter and William sitting side-by-side on a sofa. She was obviously surprised as Margaret was known for her imperious ways and the idea of sitting with a servant would normally have been anathema to her. But the