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The Royal Butler by Grant Harrold — A UK Lens on Life Behind the Palace Doors

Grant Harrold’s memoir The Royal Butler: My Remarkable Life in Royal Service invites readers into an often-hidden world: not the pomp of state occasions or the flash of red carpets, but the quietly exacting, intimate, and human side of Royal Household life. 

It’s a story of aspiration, discipline, and the unlikely closeness that can exist between servants and the very highest levels of society. Harrold offers a unique vantage point, having served King Charles III (when Prince of Wales), Queen Camilla, and others at Highgrove House in the Cotswolds. 

From Childhood Dream to Royal Service

One of the strongest threads through the book is Harrold’s lifelong fascination with royalty. He grew up dreaming not just of meeting the Royals, but of working behind the scenes — of joining that world of etiquette, tradition, and quiet service. 

He describes humble beginnings, his early jobs in service (cleaning, polishing, preparing), and the training (both formal and on-the-job) required to become a butler. The preparation is rigorous, often unseen, and demands both humility and constant attention to detail. It’s not glamorous all the time — but for Harrold, it’s a vocation. 

Life at Highgrove: Tradition, Humanity, and Moments of Magic

Harrold paints Highgrove not simply as a stately home, but as a living workplace, full of people with personalities, friendships, and quirks. It’s easy to assume that everything royal is staid and formal; one of the pleasures of the memoir is seeing how often humour, kindness, and humanity peep through.

Some memorable anecdotes:

Harrold recalls his first meeting with the late Queen Elizabeth II at a banquet and how nerves, formality, and the pressure of doing things “right” were intense. There’s a real sense of what it means to suddenly be in close quarters with someone so revered. 

He also recounts observing moments in the lives of Prince William and Kate Middleton before they became the Prince and Princess of Wales — dinners, conversations, and the growth of a relationship that would eventually become public and central. Harrold observes how their behaviour signalled their deepening commitment. 

Etiquette, Change & Modernising Traditions

Although steeped in tradition, The Royal Butler does not pretend that nothing changes. Harrold reflects on how younger royals adopt a more relaxed style in certain contexts, how public-facing demeanors are evolving, and how etiquette itself must adapt for modern times. 

For example, the younger members of the Royal Family are more willing to interact informally, to break strict protocols in ways that build warmth or accessibility. Harrold seems to view this change positively: a sign that tradition can coexist with approachability.

What the Book Offers (and What It Doesn’t)

What it does offer:

Insight into daily ritual. The real work of royal service — preparing meals, setting tables, managing staff relations, polishing silver, anticipating needs — all these are shown in detail. This gives a sense of respect for the work behind the scenes.

Humanity at the heart of hierarchy. Despite being “in service” to people of great formality and protocol, Harrold’s stories emphasise that Royals are people too — with kindnesses, small mistakes, expectations, and warmth.

An aspirational journey. Harrold’s story reminds us that dreams sometimes start small, and that perseverance, attention to craft, and humility matter.

What it does not offer (or less of):

Scandal or major gossip. While there are revealing moments, the memoir is less about juicy royal intrigue and more about the rhythms, challenges, and small victories of service. The tone is respectful, not sensationalist. 

A focus on political or constitutional critique. The book is personal; it is not about how the monarchy should or shouldn’t be run.

Themes & Reflections

Service and vocation. Harrold treats butlering not just as a job, but as a calling. There’s pride in doing things well, in knowing the rituals, in making sure no detail is overlooked.

Bridging worlds. He moves between contrasting social spheres — growing up in Scotland, doing manual service work, then entering an elite environment. That creates tension but also perspective: what does it mean to serve, to observe, to learn the unspoken codes of behaviour?

Tradition vs modernity. How do ancient protocols survive in a changing world? Harrold offers hope that tradition can adapt without losing integrity.

Respect, humility & dignity. The key qualities for service. Not just about knowing how to polish silver or lay a table, but treating people with respect, remembering small personal details, being present (even when invisible), and doing the small things well.

For Whom This Book Will Appeal

Anyone fascinated by the monarchy and what life behind the scenes might look like.

Readers interested in etiquette, service professions, hospitality, and rituals.

Those drawn to memoirs of people who start in modest circumstances and find paths to very different worlds—but remain grounded.

People who enjoy personal stories rather than gossip-filled exposes.

Conclusion

The Royal Butler is a quietly compelling memoir. It doesn't promise royal secrets, but it delivers something arguably rarer: a window into what it actually takes to be part of the machinery, tradition, and humanity of the Royal Household. For all its formality and centuries-old protocols, the heart of the book is still about people — their humility, their kindnesses, their mistakes, and the love that service can inspire.

Grant Harrold has shown that behind the silver polish, the fine china, the formality, there is a deeply human world. And that is worth reading.

Published by Orion Books £22.00 in hardback. However, if you order here: https://amzn.to/4pD4ah8 you'll be able to buy it on Amazon for £11.23 in hardback, £10.99 in paperback and £12.99 in Kindle, for instant access. This is via the That's Books and Entertainment online bookshop. 

My wife who is not a Royalist, said: "This was an amazing book, it really shows the human side of the members of the Royal family. I think this will make a great Christmas gift for Royalists and also for people like me who love to read non-fiction biographical books."

Lapidus International Publishing Launches with Poetry Anthology Celebrating Marginalised Voices

Lapidus International is proud to announce the launch of Lapidus Publishing, a new imprint dedicated to uplifting underrepresented voices through writing for wellbeing. 

Its inaugural project, Flight, is a vibrant poetry anthology that brings together powerful work from writers affiliated with three Bristol-based organisations: Misfits Theatre Company (led by people with learning disabilities), Diverse UK (supporting autistic adults), and Bristol Drugs Project’s Lyrically Lifted (working with individuals impacted by drug and alcohol use).

Flight is the first in a series of publications funded by Plumb Lines, a legacy gift made to Lapidus International in memory of poet and disability rights advocate Katrina Plumb. 

The project supports writing for wellbeing initiatives that give voice to those who are often unheard in mainstream literature and publishing.

Its aim is to showcase what is possible when creativity and inclusivity come together, and signals the start of a wider effort by Lapidus Publishing to provide platforms for poetry, essays, and hybrid works that reflect the full range of human experience.

The anthology will be launched at Creative Bridges 2025, Lapidus International’s biennial online conference, taking place on 13–14 September 2025. The conference gathers writers, researchers, and practitioners to explore the therapeutic and transformational power of words. To mark the occasion and honour the voices within the book, free digital copies will be made available to festival attendees.

“We’re thrilled to share this powerful collection with the world,” Regina Beach, Editor of the Plumb Lines Project told us at That's Books and Entertainment. 

“The writers in Flight have created deeply moving work that reflects resilience, identity, and hope. Our goal is to elevate stories that deserve to be heard, and this is only the beginning.”

FACTFILE:-

Lapidus International is a UK-based organisation that champions writing for wellbeing across therapeutic, educational, and creative settings. 

Plumb Lines is a legacy-funded project managed by Lapidus, designed to support writing initiatives that engage underrepresented or marginalised groups in creative expression and healing through words.

https://lapidus.org.uk

Cambridge Literary Festival’s Winter Festival returns Sat 22- Sun 23 November

The Cambridge Literary Festival is back. Their winter edition is now on sale and this November they present literary heavyweights, stars of stage and screen, academics, journalists, crime writers plus a former First Minister of Scotland. 

Highlights include outstanding novelists Zadie Smith and Ian McEwan, Mick Herron of Slow Horses fame, Katie Piper, John Cleese marking 50 years since Fawlty Towers was on our TV screens and Larry Lamb of Gavin & Stacey fame. Join them this November for their twice-yearly celebration of the written word.

Zadie Smith makes a welcome return to discuss her thrilling collection of essays Dead and Alive; Former First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon joins us in a sure to be riveting conversation with fellow Scot and Festival Honorary Patron Ali Smith; Mick Herron makes his much awaited debut at the festival with the next instalment in his Slough House series.

An unmissable and continent-spanning conversation will take place between international barrister Philippe Sands and Colombian writer Juan Gabriel Vásquez; veteran news presenter and broadcaster John Suchet, shares his passion for the music of Beethoven in his deeply personal book In Search of Beethoven.

Emerging from the Cambridge Footlights, John Cleese makes his first appearance at the festival to celebrate 50 years of Fawlty Towers; their always enlightening Cambridge Series welcomes two eminent academics. 

Fellow and Associate Professor of Downing College Bonnie Lander Johnson discusses how we became so disconnected from nature and offers some hope in her book Vanishing Landscapes; and, with too many accolades to mention, Partha Dasgupta is the Frank Ramsey Professor of Economics and a Fellow of St. John’s College and will share his latest book On Natural Capital in which he makes the case for bringing economics and ecology together to save the natural world and thereby save ourselves.

Natalie Haynes continues to stand up for the Classics with her latest show, No Friend to this House, which gloriously reimagines the myth of Medea.

Other confirmed writers include beloved poet Wendy Cope with her Collected Works; BBC's Chief International Correspondent Lyse Doucet discussing The Finest Hotel in Kabul: A people’s history of Afghanistan.

Scientist Tim Gregory on Going Nuclear, which makes the case for nuclear power to tackle our climate and energy crisis. 

Inspirational Katie Piper empowers us to reimagine aging; former President of the Supreme Court, Lady Hale joins once more to give an entertaining top-to-bottom tour of the legal system; Cambridge cook, writer and journalist Bee Wilson shares her latest, The Heart Shaped Tin, which will resonate with all of us; Ukrainian food writer and chef Olia Hercules shares her latest book Strong Roots: A Ukrainian Family Story of War, Exile and Hope; and local writer Megan Hunter has done it again with another exceptional novel, Days of Light.

www.cambridgeliteraryfestival.com

10 Perfect Christmas Gifts for Book Lovers

Finding the right present for the bookworm in your life doesn’t have to be difficult. 

Whether they love curling up with a novel, collecting beautiful editions, or adding to their bookish accessories, these Christmas gift ideas are sure to delight any reader.

1. Special Edition Classics

From clothbound editions of Dickens to illustrated versions of Tolkien, a beautifully bound book makes a timeless and thoughtful present.

2. Book Subscription Boxes

Give the gift that keeps on giving with a monthly delivery of surprise books, often paired with treats like chocolate, tea, or themed gifts.

3. Audiobook Memberships

Perfect for commuters or multi-taskers, an Audible or similar subscription means they can enjoy stories on the go.

4. Personalised Bookmarks

A handmade or leather bookmark engraved with their name or favourite quote adds a special touch to their daily reading.

5. Cosy Reading Lights

Clip-on lights, stylish lamps, or even rechargeable book lights make reading in bed or on dark evenings easier.

6. Tote Bags with Literary Quotes

Book lovers always need something sturdy to carry their next haul from the bookshop—bonus points if it’s decorated with a witty or classic line.

7. Literary-Themed Candles

Scents inspired by libraries, favourite characters, or classic novels create the perfect cosy atmosphere for reading.

8. Hampers for Reading Nights

Put together a hamper with a great novel, a soft blanket, festive hot chocolate, and maybe a few biscuits. It’s the perfect night in.

9. Gift Cards to Independent Bookshops

If you’re not sure what’s on their “to be read” pile, a gift card lets them choose while supporting a local shop.

10. Book Stands and Holders

Ideal for hands-free reading, whether for a cookery book in the kitchen or a novel on the sofa.

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