Raised in Derbyshire, Paul was born to a lorry driver and was initially going to work in a local colliery. However, at the age of eight, he decided that he was going to work at Buckingham Palace after witnessing the Changing of the Guard whilst on a family trip to London. Paul studied at William Rhodes Secondary School in Chesterfield, before attending High Peak College in Buxton where he invested his time into Hotel Management.
At the age of 18, Paul joined the Royal Service. As a Buckingham Palace footman, he progressed to become the Queen’s personal footman only a year later. In 1987, Paul moved to join the household of Charles and Diana, heirs to the throne, at their Highgrove House in Gloucestershire. Until Diana’s death in 1997 he was their butler, and was honoured with the Royal Victorian Medal for his services after she passed.
With his wealth of experiences behind the closed doors of Buckingham Palace, Paul released a memoir in 2013 named A Royal Duty. Following his career as a respected staff member to the Royal Family, it takes the reader through a journey of his time at the Palace, from working for the Prince and Princess of Wales, to serving Diana at Kensington Palace after her divorce. The highs and the lows, the conflict and the triumphs, Paul doesn’t miss anything out. The book was celebrated as an international best-seller.
As an expert in serving the elite, Paul is the ideal speaker to represent hospitality of the highest quality. Industry events surrounding customer service and retail are the perfect platform for Paul to share his tried and tested strategies to success. Able to give an insight into the inner workings of the Royal Palace, his behind the scenes experience is invaluable.
