<![CDATA[Martin Michael Charles Chateris, later known as
Baron Charteris of Amisfield, was born in 1913.
He is best known as Her Majesty's Private Secretary during the
1970's.
Charteris was the second son of Lord Elcho, heir to the 11th Earl
of Wemyss. He was educated at Eton College and Royal Military
Academy Sandhurst.
In 1936 he was commissioned in to the King's royal Rifle Corps.
Injured, he October 1939 he was sent home and on his way back was
torpedoed in the Bay of Biscay. He did make it home to convalesce
but returned to service in 1941. In 1945, Charteris became Head of
Military Intelligence in Palestine.
Five years later he would become Private Secretary to then Princess
Elizabeth, succeeding his friend Jock Colville. Colville wanted to
return to the Foreign Office.
Upon the Queen's Accession in 1953, Chateris was transferred to
Buckingham Place to serve as one of three Assistant Private
sectaries.
In 1972 Micheal Adeane retired and Charters became Private
Secretary.
During his tenure, he planned The Queen's Silver Jubilee in 1977.
The Silver Jubilee celebration was quite an undertaking for Her
Majesty. She was had a busy schedule visiting 14 Commonwealth
countries and every region and almost every country of the United
Kingdom.
Charteris retired in 1977. He became director a few companies as
well as Provost of his Alma Mater, Eton College. He retired from
Eton College in 1991. Charteris then accepted a role as Honourary
Academician of the Royal Academy of Arts.
Charteris was awarded a GCB, GCVO and OBE for his services to The
Queen and his other work. He was also a Privy Counsellor.
Baron Charteris became a life peer in 1978 and in the same year a
Permanent Lord in Waiting.
The Baron was the first of The Queen's Private Secretaries to
receive as Private Secretary to The Queen of New Zealand, The
Queen's Service Order of that country.
Baron Charteris of Amisfield died on 24 December 1999.
Featured photo credit: Wootang01 via photopin cc]]>
