Posted on 09/16/2017 2:35:21 AM PDT by iowamark
The Queen’s most senior courtier was forced out in a power struggle between Buckingham Palace and Prince Charles.
Sir Christopher Geidt, the Queen’s private secretary, left his post in July after complaints by the Prince of Wales and his brother, the Duke of York, sources have revealed now.
The unprecedented ousting — the first time the Queen has got rid of her private secretary — was the climax of increasing tensions between the two royal households.
It came amid differences over how to manage the transition of power between the Queen, who is 91, and her eldest son.
Royal sources said that the prince’s staff were keen to “accelerate” plans to increase his involvement in key royal events by the time he reached 70 in November next year.
The plans are referred to in some circles as “Project 70”.
Prince Charles’s team is thought to want him to be more involved in occasions such as the Royal Maundy service, when the monarch distributes alms to pensioners on the day before Good Friday, and in Commonwealth events. It would, one source said, be “to show that he is the king in waiting.”
The Prince of Wales is the longest-serving heir apparent in British history, having been next in line to the throne since his mother became Queen in 1952. His age also means that should he become king, he will be the oldest person to be crowned in Britain.
Clarence House, the official residence of Prince Charles, has denied the existence of Project 70 and maintains that the prince has never demanded a more prominent role for himself.
However, tensions have been evident for many years between Buckingham Palace and Clarence House. These culminated in July with the ousting of Sir Christopher, who had been the Queen’s private secretary for 10 years.
Sir Christopher, 56, denies that he was forced out but is said to feel bruised over his treatment and to think that the Queen failed to support him.
A former army intelligence officer and diplomat, Sir Christopher has played a key role in the transition to the next generation of the royal family. He was awarded a second knighthood in 2014 for his “new approach to constitutional matters … [and] the preparation for the transition to a change of reign”.
A close colleague said: “He has been a great private secretary. He has really steered the Queen through a very successful 10 years.”
However, he is said to have infuriated Charles after a speech he gave to 500 royal staff in May.
Announcing the retirement of the Duke of Edinburgh from public life, Sir Christopher called for the royal households to unite in support of the Queen.
His manner was allegedly regarded as presumptuous by some within Clarence House. Charles’s staff are said to have later complained about his behaviour to their boss. Both allegations are denied by Clarence House.
“Charles was told about this, was furious, and went to see his mother,” one source claimed. The message was: “This is just not possible, and Geidt has got to go.”
Sir Christopher was allegedly told that his future was untenable by Earl Peel, the lord chamberlain.
Prince Andrew, who is due to visit Australia later this month, is understood to have thrown his support behind his brother, helping to seal the courtier’s fate.
It has been suggested that Andrew’s antipathy stems from the role played by Sir Christopher in forcing him to step down as trade ambassador in 2011 over his friendship with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Another source suggested that Andrew disliked the fact that Sir Christopher controlled his expenditure.
Samantha Cohen, who as the Queen’s assistant private secretary was Sir Christopher’s No 3, was said to have resigned in solidarity. She is thought to have been persuaded by the Queen to stay long enough to look after the Commonwealth summit next April.
Sir Christopher’s removal makes it more likely that the transition will proceed at a pace that meets with Charles’s approval. The prince will take over the Queen’s estates including Sandringham and Balmoral, which are run by the Duke of Edinburgh. Charles is thought to want Sandringham to go organic.
Sir Christopher, who has a home on the Isle of Harris and is understood to have been allowed to keep his home at Kensington Palace, is being replaced by his deputy, Edward Young, a former adviser to Lord Hague of Richmond.
A statement by Buckingham Palace, Clarence House and Kensington Palace said: “While we never comment on the confidential employment details of individuals, it was previously announced in July that Sir Christopher Geidt is stepping down after ten years as private secretary. At the time of the announcement, the lord chamberlain paid tribute to the major contribution made by Sir Christopher, who in turn commended the support offered to Her Majesty by other members of the royal family.
“Recent years have seen an ever-closer working relationship between all the different royal households and their respective teams. The Prince of Wales and the entire royal family are committed to supporting the Queen in whatever way they can at Her Majesty’s request. Beyond that, we are not going to engage with a story based on rumours from unnamed sources.”
Is there anyone here with an iota of respect for British royalty? They’re a bunch of inbred freaks thinking they’re better than everyone else.
This is a bit worrysome. Isn’t Charles very pro-Muslim? I hate to think where this might lead.
Note the mention of the Duke of York. That is especially troubling given his fondness for hanging around degenerates and despots.
He’s very much pro-idiot ...
The House of Windsor is a national security nightmare.
Since and including Queen Victoria, the British royalty have been all extreme liberals and the once great British empire has crumbled because of them all.
“He’s very much pro-idiot ...”
But he does support diversity; he did marry a horse.
I always imagine my enemies crossing the open expanse, only to to reach the 1st berm as I cry out;
“So Sorry! Can’t kill you today. Bit of diarrhea today.
Thank you so much for catapulting the marvelous road kill.
Some off us have strong stomach, while others do not.
Anyway...much to sick and not so desirous to slaughter you today...
Would you be comfortable giving a go at your little siege against us in a few days?..
Sump’n like that...
Thought he won that in an arm wrestling match
The unnatural coupling of an ass and a horse.
WHY DOES THIS MATTER ON OUR FORUM?
During WW2, Great Britain was the only buffer between us and a Nazified Europe. The way things are going, we may not have such a buffer between ourselves and an Islamic Europe, which will be bent upon destroying Western civilization and imposing Sharia Law world-wide.
Other than that, perhaps nobody should care too much.
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