Former Buckingham Palace employee recalls almost being fired

Katherine Jenkins recalls Palace lunch with Queen Elizabeth II

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Queen Elizabeth II had many employees who were at her beck and call at any time of the day. One of these was Duncan Gowin, who worked at the Palace between 1984 and 1989.

Duncan shared a funny story about how he once almost got fired after acting inappropriately, in the eyes of those in charge.

The former Buckingham Palace employee claimed to have met the Queen “between 1,000 and 1,200 occasions” during his five years working as a Royalty Protection officer.

The 73-year-old has recently shared his favourite stories about what it was like working for the late monarch.

He recalled chatting to Her Majesty on “many occasions”, particularly about astronomy.

Speaking to the Mirror, Duncan said: “I chatted to her on many occasions. When I was at Balmoral, they would go for barbecues and come back late, around midnight.

“The Queen would come out to walk the corgis. I’d be up a tree as part of the protection plan.

“If she wanted to speak to me she’d flash her torch and I’d come down. She was an incredible astronomer, pointing out the stars, and so kind, always asking after my wife and daughter.”

Duncan spent much of his employment patrolling outside the Queen’s bedroom in Buckingham Palace, but he also travelled up to Balmoral Castle from time to time.

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However, his first day at the Scottish residence was almost his last.

He was given a warning by his boss when he accidentally said the F-word in front of the Queen.

Duncan explained: “One of the Queen’s Shire horses got its leg stuck in a single strand wire fence.

“I called a ghillie to bring pliers to cut the strand and free the horse. It was only a minute or two, but it seemed like an hour.

“The ghillie turns up in a Land Rover, and I said, ‘where the f*** have you been?’.

“Then I noticed that the Queen was with him. I was so embarrassed.

“I apologised profusely. But she never ever mentioned it again.

“Unlike my boss, who said, ‘this was your first day at Balmoral, and it may well be your last’. Luckily, it wasn’t.”

Duncan went on to pay tribute to the Queen, remembering her as a “very special person”.

He said: “I had wonderful times at Balmoral. We were invited to dances. All the staff.

“I have very happy memories. The Queen was a very special person.”

Duncan was born in Scotland and now lives in Leatherhead, Surrey.

He left Buckingham Palace in the 1980s, but some of the staff he worked with are still at the Queen’s primary residence today. It is not known, yet, if they will serve King Charles when he moves in to the Palace.

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