Exclusive Author Interview with Grant Harrold
Life as a butler to King Charles and new book about life in royal service.
Meet Grant Harrold, a lad born and raised in Airdrie who always dreamed of serving the Royal Family. This year he is coming to Wigtown to talk about his life as a butler to King Charles and his new book about life in royal service.
Tell us about your early life in Scotland
I was born and raised in Scotland, in Airdrie. From an early age I was fascinated by tradition, ceremony, and the idea of service. I remember being very taken with the sense of history that surrounds you in Scotland – the castles, the countryside, and of course the royal connection. Even as a young boy, I would dress up, practice laying tables, and dream of what it might be like to one day be part of that world. Scotland really instilled in me both a love of heritage and a grounding in family and community. I would also often visit Royal homes like Balmoral Castle to get a glimpse of the Royal family while they were there.
What attracted you to life as a butler and how did you enter royal service?
From childhood, I was determined that one day I would work for the Royal Family. I was drawn to the role of a butler after watching the movie Remains of the Day, because it combined service, tradition, and a certain elegance. It’s not just about serving at table – it’s about anticipating needs, creating a sense of calm, and making people feel at home. In the summer of 1997 I began working at Ben Alder Lodge which gave me invaluable experience then onto Woburn abbey in 1999 to work for the Marquess and Marchioness of Tavistock who later became the Duke and Duchess of Bedford. Eventually in 2004 after six months of interviews I was offered the extraordinary opportunity to join the household of Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, and later I worked with Their Royal Highnesses Princes William and Harry and of course Kate Middleton. It was the fulfilment of a dream I had carried since boyhood.
If there was a visit to Scotland what sort of preparations did you have to make?
A royal visit to Scotland required immense planning and precision. We would make plans for the visits many months before, especially for the summer trip when they would take up residence there for a few months at Birkhall. Everything had to be just right – from the household staff to the menus, to the table settings and even down to the smallest detail of where a glass or fork was placed. There was also a special awareness that Scotland was very dear to Her late Majesty The Queen, and to Their Majesties The King and Queen. Balmoral, in particular, had its own traditions – whether that was the Ghillies Ball or a barbecue on the estate. We would make sure that these traditions were observed with respect and also that guests felt welcomed in the warm, informal Scottish way. It was about blending royal protocol with genuine hospitality.
Tell us about some of your experiences working for the royal family when in Scotland.
Some of my fondest memories come from time spent in Scotland with the Royal Family. Life at Balmoral, for example, was quite different from London or even the King's home of Highgrove in the Cotswolds – there was a more relaxed, fun atmosphere. You might find yourself helping at a grand dinner one evening and then preparing for a picnic on the hills the next. One of the most extraordinary moments of my life was dancing with Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at the Ghillies Ball at Balmoral. For me, that was the realisation of a childhood dream and a memory I will treasure forever after watching a documentary in 1992 when I saw the queen dancing and told my father that one day I wanted to do this as well. Scotland was a place where the Royal Family could truly relax, and it was a privilege to serve them there.
You can buy tickets for Grant Harrold's event online.
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