Buckingham Palace gets into a dispute with historians over the fate of the late queen’s personal letters and diaries – while the king entrusts his mother’s private papers to loyal palace assistant “Tall Pall”.
- King Charles assigned Paul Whybrow, known as “Tall Paul,” to sort papers
- Historians say the decision to entrust a palace aide with such a task is ‘worrying’
- They fear that important historical documents could be suppressed or even destroyed
Buckingham Palace has clashed with academics over the fate of the late Queen’s personal letters and diaries.
The Mail on Sunday revealed that the King has appointed loyal palace adviser Paul Whybrew, known as Tall Paul, to sort through the Queen’s private papers before they are transferred to the royal archives in Windsor.
But academics have described the decision as “deeply worrying”, fearing that important historical documents could be suppressed or even destroyed without the public’s knowledge.
A year after the queen’s death, it has yet to be announced which historian will be commissioned to write the official biography of Elizabeth II.
This means that, for now at least, it is left to palace courtiers, rather than highly trained impartial experts, to decide what to keep and what to destroy.
The history lecturer Dr. Alison McClean from the University of Bristol said: “The late Queen’s diaries have the potential to become a significant historical resource.”
The king has appointed loyal palace adviser Paul Whybrew, known as Tall Paul, to sort through the queen’s private papers before they are transferred to the royal archives in Windsor
Academics have expressed their concerns about the decision. One said he was “undoubtedly a valued and trusted member of the royal household with an intimate knowledge of its inner workings – but he is not a qualified historian or archivist.”
“Mr Whybrow is undoubtedly a valued and trusted member of the royal household with an intimate knowledge of its inner workings.”
“However, he is not a qualified historian or archivist and may not fully appreciate the historical significance of the material contained in these diaries.”
“There is also a risk that he will feel obliged to put his loyalty to the royal family above the interests of historians and researchers.”
Biographer and historian Andrew Lownie, who has campaigned for greater openness of the royal archives, said: “The royal family has destroyed records in the past and there are fears this could happen again.”
“It is important that an official biographer for her and Prince Philip is announced soon, with full access to their papers, and that any censorship is done with a light hand.”
A senior historian, who did not want to be named, said: “This is a clear break with the way things have been done in the past.”
“By doing it like this [with an aide going through the documents] You hinder the biographer and the biography and decide that your judgment is more important than the judgment of a historian.
Another well-known historian added: “We must remember the enormous damage caused by Princess Margaret when she went through the late Queen Mother’s papers.”
“She made a bonfire, put the papers in black plastic bags and burned them – including letters from Princess Diana.”
An authorized biography of Queen Elizabeth II would be the publishing sensation of the century.
Insiders told The Mail on Sunday that the frontrunners include award-winning historian Jane Ridley, who has written a biography of Edward VII.
Another candidate is said to be the British historian and television presenter Simon Sebag Montefiore.
King Charles, pictured on his state visit to France this week, has appointed Paul Whybrow to sort out the Queen’s private papers a year after his mother’s death