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The Windsors / So Farewell Then, Backstairs Billy

« on: November 26, 2007, 11:19:17 AM »

William Tallon, the late Queen Mother's former Page of the Backstairs and Chief Steward, has died age 72. Backstairs Billy cut a colourful and powerful figure at Clarence House where he had been in service to QEQM since 1953. Adored by Her Majesty, he was also the scourge of the other servants, with exacting standards and an increasingly 'queenly' style of his own. Despite the tabloid disdain for his personal and social life, he complained publicly via their offices that he'd been shabbily treated by the RF after QEQM's death in spring 2002. This was despite the PoW unexpectedly visiting him without an entourage while Billy was a patient on the Almroth Wright HIV Ward at St Mary's Hospital, London W2 (note - no cause of death has been made public yet) and also increasingly his royal pension by £100 pw from his personal funds. Charles also sent his Highgrove gardeners to pefect the garden at Billy's Duchy of Cornwall apartment in Kennington, London SE - he had lived in the rather grander Gate House, Clarence House until shortly after QEQM's death. Despite his discontent however, Billy never indulged in betraying his employer's confidence although his feud with Princess Margaret dating back to the 50's was common knowledge. When a tabloid erroneously reported that Billy and Lord Snowdon lunched together every Sunday, the two cheekily arranged to begin having lunch every Sunday. The RF (particularly HM) was reportedly incensed at Billy wheeling out Princess Margaret in her wheelchair during the QM's 100 Birthday celebrations at the ritual gathering of the family outside CH and making her wave despite her being clearly unfocused and rather pathetic-looking. Its seems Billy never paid much attention to the knowledge that the RF routinely treat their retainers rather poorly (QV notably excepted) and never thought ahead to his situation when his beloved mistress was no more. Truly the end of an era. For all your faults, Billy, still God Rest You: faithfull servant and friend.