William Heseltine

Who is William Heseltine?

Sir William Frederick Payne Heseltine, GCB GCVO AC PC was Private Secretary to Queen Elizabeth II from 1986 to 1990.

He is the son of H. W. Heseltine, a primary school master in East Fremantle, Western Australia. He was educated at Richmond Primary School, Christ Church Grammar School, Claremont, Western Australia, and the University of Western Australia, where he received a 1st class BA in history.

Heseltine joined the Prime Minister's Department in 1951, where he remained until 1962. He was Private Secretary to Sir Robert Menzies, Prime Minister, 1955–1959, and Acting Official Secretary to Viscount De L'Isle, Governor-General, May to August 1962. In 1960-1961 he was temporary Assistant Press Secretary to the Queen.

From 1962-1964 he was Assistant Federal Director of the Liberal Party of Australia, and in 1964 was attached to The Age. In the same year he was attached to Princess Marina for her tour of Australia.

Heseltine joined the Press Office of the Royal Household as Assistant Press Secretary to the Queen in 1965-1967. He was Press Secretary 1968-1972.

In 1972 Heseltine was moved to the Private Secretary's Office proper, becoming Assistant Private Secretary.