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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]]>
