Edward Young (courtier)


Sir Edward Young, is the Private Secretary to Queen Elizabeth II. As Private Secretary to the Sovereign, he is the senior operational member of the Royal Households of the United Kingdom. Young was recruited to the Royal Household in 2004, serving as the Queen's Assistant and then Deputy Private Secretary until his promotion to Private Secretary in 2017. He is the 24th holder of the office of Private Secretary since its inception in 1805.

Early life and career

Edward Young was born on 24 October 1966, and was educated as a boarder at Reading School in Berkshire.
Young worked for the international side of Barclays Bank between 1985 and 1997 where he held a range of executive roles including as a specialist in international trade finance and as manager for the Corporate Bank European Currency Programme. In 1997 he moved to Barclays' Head Office to become the bank's Deputy Head of Corporate Public Relations.
From late 1999 to 2001 he was advisor to the Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, Michael Portillo and then to the Leader of the Opposition, William Hague. In 2001, he was appointed Head of Communications at Granada PLC working primarily on the merger with Carlton Communications to form ITV PLC in 2004.

Career as a courtier

Assistant and Deputy Private Secretary, 2004-2017

Young began as the Assistant Private Secretary to the Queen in September 2004. He was promoted to Deputy Private Secretary in September 2007 after the promotion of Christopher Geidt from Deputy Private Secretary to Private Secretary, on the retirement of Sir Robin Janvrin, Private Secretary from 1997 to 2007.

''Ireland''

As Deputy Private Secretary he played a key role in the planning of Her Majesty's visit to the Republic of Ireland in 2011. He is credited with assisting the Queen in writing the highly praised speech, which she began with a few words in the Irish language. The Queen's visit was hailed as a diplomatic triumph that improved Anglo-Irish relations.
''2012 Olympics opening ceremony and Diamond Jubilee''
In 2011, it was Young who asked Her Majesty to take part in 2012_Summer_Olympics_opening_ceremony#Happy_and_Glorious_|the James Bond parachute drop which opened the London 2012 Olympic Games. Young led the national planning of Her Majesty's Diamond Jubilee.

Private Secretary, 2017-

Young became Private Secretary in 2017, on Geidt's retirement.
As Private Secretary, Young is also Keeper of the Royal Archives and a Trustee of the Royal Collection Trust.
As head of the Private Secretary's Office, Young has direct control over the Press Office, the office of the Director for Security Liaison, the research, correspondence, anniversaries and records offices, and the Queen's Archives.
As Private Secretary, Young is a member of the so-called 'golden triangle' of senior British officials – the others being the Cabinet Secretary and the Principal Private Secretary to the Prime Minister – with key responsibilities in the event of a 'hung parliament' in the United Kingdom.

Honours and awards

Young was appointed Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order in the 2010 Birthday Honours, Commander of the Royal Victorian Order in the 2015 Birthday Honours, and Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order in the 2020 New Year Honours.
On 11 October 2017, Young was sworn of the Privy Council.
Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order 2020 New Year Honours
Commander of the Royal Victorian Order 2015 Birthday Honours
Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order 2010 Birthday Honours