Kate Middleton is still looking for a private secretary that helps her put her life in order. This position entails deep trust and secrecy so it’s not easy to find the correct candidate, especially after one of the top choices for the job rejected the offer.
The person who turned down the offer is Alison Corfield. She is a public relations guru and was chosen by Kate herself to bring order to Kensington Palace. Before she was contacted to be part of the royal family’s team, Corfield worked with the popular chef Jamie Oliver between 2015 and 2020 as her campaign manager where they pressured the government to offer free school meals to curb childhood obesity.
However, Alison finally decided not to join the Princes of Wales team because she did not want to be in the spotlight and draw the media’s attention. According to The Telegraph, “She didn’t want the publicity that comes with working at that level for such a well-known institution.”
Having a private secretary is a fundamental role in any royal house and the person who accepts the job needs to know their functions are the most versatile ones. They can be the head of the cabinet who is in charge of that every event runs smoothly. This includes private meetings, commitment monitoring, coordinating social media posts, carrying the bags, or collecting the gifts that members of royalty receive from the public on their outings.
This position was previously occupied by the diplomatic Hannah Cockburn-Logie who resigned after Queen Elizabeth II passes away due to personal motives. She joined Kate’s office in June 2020 after 20 years of working in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. She was also a key figure in organizing the 2016 royal tour through India and Bhutan for the then Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
After Cockrun-Logie resigned, she was replaced by Natalie Barrows who has been on Kate’s team since 2017.
