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James Thurlow's professional life has taken him into the royal houses and palaces of England, ensuring the honed machine which is a royal household continues its smooth operation.

Dealing personally with members of the Royal Family and working intimately with the protocols and tradition of the monarchy, James Thurlow's insights into royal life range from the architectural concerns of the building of Hampton Court to the menu preparation for a modern garden party at Buckingham Palace (of which he has attended a great many!).

James Thurlow on the British Monarchy:

"I was at Kensington Palace finalising some detailed arrangements when the young Prince William came home from his first day at school.

"He had gone into the kitchens to see what was for tea and to tell the chef all about his exciting time. The chef, not unnaturally, asked the Prince what he had had for lunch. Prince William told him, but could not say what he had had for sweet, only that he had liked it.

"The chef, intrigued, telephoned the school and (after going to some lengths to confirm his station in the household) ascertained that sweet that day had been tinned peaches.

"I think that illustrates the strange position our Royal Family now hold. Here was a young lad who had never experienced simple tinned peaches: yet he was also a prince of the Realm for whom it was perfectly natural to go to the kitchens and chat to the staff."

James Thurlow's experiences of royal life are particularly poignant in his memories of the late Diana, Princess of Wales. While the current clamour to publish hysterical accounts of the Princess' life arouse a deep detestation; James Thurlow ensures that his escorted journeys through the places that were special to her offer a new knowledge of perhaps the 20th Century's greatest icon.

Lecture Tours

James Thurlow has a special interest in delivering lectures, particularly in the United States, to bring his knowledge of England's royal history to educational establishments, societies and groups.

Copiously illustrated and imbued with wit and humour, James Thurlow's introductions to a nation's heritage particularly focus on the castles and great houses, their history and their incumbents past and present.

If you might be interested in arranging a lecture tour, or ensuring your place on a tour itinerary, please e-mail James Thurlow in the first instance From Here.

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