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Yesterday evening,
Waterstones in High Street Kensington hosted Blink Publishing’s
launch of Dickie Arbiter’s book On Duty with the
Queen.
Numerous royal correspondents, publishers, close family members and
friends gathered to celebrate the book launch with a drinks and
canapé reception. Dickie made a short speech at the beginning of
the evening thanking the guests for attending and signed a number
of copies of his book.
One special invitee was singled out in particular during his
speech; the eleven year old girl called Katie that Dickie wrote
about in his book, who presented The Queen with a bunch of roses
when Her Majesty was speaking to the crowds outside Buckingham
Palace after the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, has now grown
up and was invited to the launch. During his speech, Dickie
presented a bunch of roses to Katie, just as she did to The Queen
17 years ago.
Having already received great praise from the media and
acquaintances, we can only presume that the public will also warmly
welcome the book.
In the book, Dickie recalls his experiences from the years of
being press secretary for Her Majesty The Queen. After his
appointment to the position in 1988, Dickie was launched into the
world of the Royal Family and the busy media relations that went
with them. He witnessed at first hand the difficulties that
the Royals faced in the 1990s and was the one who had to break the
news to the media of Diana’s death in 1997. I would certainly urge
anyone wishing to read an honest and frank account of the goings-on
in Buckingham Palace, and about what it is really like working for
the Royal Family, to purchase a copy.
On Duty with the Queen is available to buy in hardback
online and in book stores from Thursday 2nd October.
Also, keep your eyes peeled on Royal Central on Thursday
when we will be publishing our interview with Dickie about the
book and his time as press secretary.
Photo credit: Blink Publishing / Leo Wilkinson
Photography]]>
