Martin Charteris, Baron Charteris of Amisfield

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Martin Michael Charles Charteris, Baron Charteris of Amisfield, GCB, GCVO, OBE, QSO, PC (7 September 1913 – 23 December 1999) was a confidante and aide to Queen Elizabeth II.

Charteris was the son of Hugo Charteris, Lord Elcho and a brother of the 12th Earl of Wemyss. He was educated at Eton and the Royal Military College Sandhurst and fought in the Middle East during World War II, rising to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. On his return, he married Hon. Mary Margesson (a daughter of the 1st Viscount Margesson) on 16 December 1944 and they had three children.

In 1950 he became Private Secretary to then Duchess of Edinburgh and as her Assistant Private Secretary from her accession in 1952 until 1972 when he was promoted to Private Secretary. He held this post until his semi-retirement in 1977 and returned to Eton as its Provost.

In 1978 he was created a life peer as Baron Charteris of Amisfield, of Amisfield in East Lothian.

Charteris was probably most notable due to an interview he had with The Spectator in 1995 where he described the Duchess of York as "vulgar", the Prince of Wales as "whiney", and the Queen Mother as "a bit of an ostrich."

Court offices
Preceded by Sir Michael Adeane	Private Secretary to the Sovereign 1972–1977	Succeeded by Sir Philip Moore
Academic Offices
Preceded by The Lord Caccia	Provost of Eton 1978–1991	Succeeded by Sir Anthony Acland