Personal treasured memories including private letters and diaries of the late Queen Elizabeth II could be considered for publication following the Queen’s long 70-year reign on the throne.
Her Majesty kept a handwritten diary during her prestigious role and it is believed her personal life as well as her role as the monarch would have been personally documented.
Currently, former footman, Paul Whybrew has been tasked with sifting through the documents to help decide which might be eligible for national archives.
The caveat is that any documents considered too sensitive or personal will remain confidential, under the discretion of the King.
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Mr Whybrew, also affectionately referred to as ‘tall Paul’ must sift through the private papers with the greatest confidentiality considering they contain the Queen’s most personal reflections.
Paul Whybrew, who towers at 6ft 4in, was in the Queen’s service for 44 years as one of a few loyal staff members and was with her in her final days at Balmoral.
It is unknown how long the project might take to complete, but a source has called tall Paul “the keeper of the Queen’s secrets”.
As reported in Hello! Magazine, the late Queen was very fond of writing letters and there is one interesting letter sent to Sydney’s Lord Mayor that has been locked away in a vault and cannot be opened for another six decades.
The late monarch sent a letter to Sydney’s Lord Mayor with these instructions on the envelope: “On a suitable day to be selected by you in the year 2085 AD, would you please open this envelope and convey to the citizens of Sydney my message to them. Elizabeth R.”
It is not uncommon for a late monarch to have personal letters published. Queen Victoria’s personal diaries were published and are available online to view.
An 18th birthday entry read: “Today is my eighteenth birthday! How old! and yet how far am I from being what I should be. I shall from this day take the firm resolution to study with renewed assiduity, to keep my attention always well fixed on whatever I am about, and to strive to become every day less trifling and more fit for what, if Heaven wills it, I’m someday to be.”
Letter writing is a craft held dear to the Royal Family, with Princess Anne penning an open letter to her mother after her passing.
The Princess Royal’s personal letter read: “I was fortunate to share the last 24 hours of my dearest Mother’s life. It has been an honour and a privilege to accompany her on her final journeys. Witnessing the love and respect shown by so many on these journeys has been both humbling and uplifting.”
If an arrangement is reached to release the Queen’s personal files, the documents would be kept by the Royal Collection Trust which controls Royal Exhibition files.
