Royal superfan, Terry Hutt, has died.
Mr Hutt, who was 91, was a familiar face to many as his support for the Royal Family meant he camped out to get a front row seat at many of the biggest events of the past 70 years.
He died after a long illness with his family at his side.
Terry Hutt, from Weston-super-Mare, was one of the stars of the camp outs that took place at St. Mary’s Hospital, London, when William and Kate were expecting their three children. He famously slept outside the hospital for two weeks awaiting the arrival of Prince George in 2013.
However, it was another George who had first sparked his interest in the Royal Family.
Terry Hutt was born in London and, as a young boy, met King George VI when he visited the area during the Blitz. He recalled being given a gift by the king and his wife, later Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, and became fans of the royals from that moment.
He followed the royals avidly and claimed that Queen Elizabeth II had a special nickname for him. Speaking about his passion for all things royal in 2016, he said Elizabeth II called him ”the Union Jack man” and added that he loved to be able to make her smile when she saw him.
One of his first royal camping trips was to Westminster Abbey where he arrived in plenty of time to grab a spot to see the then Princess Elizabeth arrive for her wedding to Prince Philip in 1947. Terry Hutt was 12 at the time.
Almost seventy years later, he spent days sleeping on a bench to catch a glimpse of a royal baby who bore a striking resemblance to Queen Elizabeth II when she was young. In 2015, he was in the front row to see Kate emerge from St. Mary’s carrying Princess Charlotte for her debut in front of the world’s press.
Terry Hutt was instantly recognisable, and not just because his face had become so familiar. He usually wore a suit made of Union Jack material, complete with matching hat, hence the nickname given to him by the longest reigning Monarch in British history.
As well as his love of royalty, Terry Hutt had many passions and campaigned avidly for a number of causes including the NHS and Birnbeck Pier.
Speaking after his death, his daughter, Tracey Joy, said ”alife well lived and as we are grieving we look back at his fight for life, love for his family.”
Terry Hutt, royal superfan, 1935 – 2026.
