Peter Bill

In May 2008 Prince Philip attended a dinner at St James’s Palace organised by the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award team on behalf of Estates Gazette, a property magazine, celebrating its 150th anniversary. I was the editor. My job was to escort the Duke round the 300 or so guests in the ante room, before we went into dinner. He enjoyed himself so much it took 40 minutes. I was getting ‘hurry up’ signals. Just as I thought we were free to head for the table a distinguished property lawyer called Susan Freeman stopped us. This could be a bit embarrassing, I though. I knew Susan worked for Princess Diana’s divorce lawyers, Mishcon de Reya. I made the introduction, hesitatingly suggesting that he may have heard of her employers. The Duke did not miss a beat: “Oh! he said, “so you do property AS WELL.” I had a fit of the giggles and Susan has dined out on the tale ever since. The image captures the moment.
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