Penny Junor - The Firm

Pimlott, Ben, The Queen (HarperCollins, 2001)

Sampson, Anthony, Who Runs This Place ? (John Murray, 2004)

Books like this are only ever as good as the people one talks to, and these days, in the wake of so many damaging memoirs and betrayals, it is so much easier for people close to the Royal Family, in whatever capacity, to play safe and say they don’t want to be involved. I understand their position entirely. Fortunately, however, there are some who are prepared to take a risk – and I would like to thank those people most sincerely for their generosity in giving up their time to talk to me (sometimes, when my tape recorder failed me, on more than one occasion!) and to pass on their knowledge and expertise about the business of monarchy. I hope that I have faithfully represented them – any errors are down to me (and possibly my tape recorder). Many of them spoke to me anonymously; those who were prepared to be named appear throughout the text so I will simply say a blanket thank you. I am very much indebted to you all and have very much enjoyed meeting you.

I have also had a lot of help from the Press Offices at Buckingham Palace and Clarence House, and would particularly like to thank Penny Russell-Smith, Samantha Cohen, Colette Saunders, Ailsa Anderson, David Pogson, Meryl Keeling, Emma Copper and Elizabeth Plant – and from across the Mall, Paddy Harverson, Patrick Harrison, Rebecca Packham and Alexandra Birney.

My publisher Trevor Dolby has been inspirational and I have thoroughly enjoyed working with him. Likewise, Monica Chakraverty, Commissioning Editor at HarperCollins, who helped pull everything together in break-neck time without ever losing her good humour or patience. My thanks to them both – and to everyone else at HarperCollins, particularly Terence Caven, Louise Edwards, Lucy Vanderbilt, Jennifer Callaghan and Rhiannon James.

Then there is Jane Turnbull, my friend and agent who is just the very best.