Queen’s Private Secretary resigns amidst power struggle

Sir Christopher Geidt, the Queen’s private secretary, has resigned following a bitter power struggle between Buckingham Palace and Prince Charles, Mail on Sunday reports.

He will step down from his job this October after working for Her Majesty for the past 10 years.

In a statement issued by Buckingham Palace, Sir Christopher praised the Queen for the great job she continues to do which "brought stability, purpose and colour to country and Commonwealth alike".

Sir Christopher said he is confident that he was doing his best on the job, knowing the monarch's "unwavering commitment as sovereign" has the "full and active" support of her family.

It is expected that senior other Palace staff may follow Geidt’s resignation following a "shake-up of senior royal staff", Mail on Sunday revealed.

According to The Times, Sir Christopher’s fall from power came after a series of complaints from Prince Charles and Prince Andrew. Unusually, Queen Elizabeth II backed her sons over her staff.

The row between Sir Christopher and Charles’s staff, particularly his private secretary, Clive Alderton, stemmed over how to manage the turn over of power from the sovereign to the heir. According to sources, Clarence House wanted to hasten things and give the prince a bigger involvement in key royal events by the time he becomes 70 next year.

Prince Charles has just reached another milestone in his life when he officially became the longest-serving heir apparent to the British throne. He is expected to become the oldest person to become King one day.

The Times also reported that Prince Andrew might have given his support to his brother as it is believed that he bore grudges against Sir Christopher after the prince was forced to resign as UK trade ambassador when his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein was exposed in 2011. The queen’s second son also resents Geidt’s control over his expenses.

Sir Christopher, a former army intelligence officer and diplomat, once served as private secretary to the UN secretary general's special envoy to the Balkans, Carl Bildt. His deputy, Edward Young, is expected to succeed him as the Queen’s Private Secretary, which means the transition of power is believed to be more acceptable for Prince Charles and his team.