A MEMBER of Royal Staff has shared a touching memory of the Queen, after serving her for Royal celebrations for over 30 years.
Speaking to GB News’ Weekend Breakfast as the Queen’s coffin left Balmoral and headed to Edinburgh, Royal Pageantmaster Bruno Peek reflected on his duties including three Jubilee celebrations.
He said: “I know it’s so sad, so sad. I was actually in Turkey on holiday when I heard and I just had to go back to my room. And I don’t mind admitting I shed a few tears, because it signals the end of an era.
“And I just felt the light of the world had gone out, you know, because she’s such a good and gracious lady.
“I’ve been involved with her jubilees; the Golden Jubilee, Diamond Jubilee, Platinum Jubilee, and 90th birthday and other events. And she was also always so gracious. And so kind when I was by her side, undertaking these duties for her.”
Discussing her Platinum Jubilee celebrations, which took place in June this year, Peek added: “When I do these events, I build a team around me of people, lots of people who really know what they’re doing. So there is that comfort value of bringing people together, not just in celebration, but the people who need to be with you when you’re organising these events.
“We’ve had some funny moments during rehearsals, especially rehearsing the lighting of the principal beacon on several occasions, where things went wrong, but that’s why you have rehearsals. But I can honestly say in all the 30 years I’ve been organising these events for Her Majesty the Queen, we’ve not had one report of an accident in 30 years. People really took notice of what we were saying, and what we were asking them to do.”
The Queen’s funeral has been announced for September 19, and will be declared a Bank Holiday across Great Britain. Peek commented: “The detail is part of what I enjoy, because it’s the detail that helps the pageantry, and the public enjoy or mark these special occasions. I always enjoy getting down into the detail of these events. It’s so much fun, and I’m going to miss her.”
He added: “It’s very sad. Her passing words to me on Jubilee night were ‘Thank you’. And I’ll never forget that she just looked at me and gave me a wonderful smile, and just said thank you. I’ll never forget those words.”
