The sad and tumultuous events of the last month lead me, for the third time this year, to publish a photograph of my grandfather, Cameron ‘Kim’ Cobbold (1904-1987), who lived with his wife Hermione (née Bulwer Lytton) in Knebworth House from 1948 to 1971. Kim has been much in our minds during the reminiscences of the extraordinary life our late Queen, as he was her Lord Chamberlain from 1963 to 1971. The Lord Chamberlain is the most senior officer of the Royal Household, effectively the Sovereign’s public (as opposed to private) secretary.
By chance I stumbled upon his brief case a few days after the Queen’s death (see photo). It is locked, and so far I have not been able to find the key. Tantalisingly, it clearly has a number of things inside it still. If there’s any secrets about the Queen, I shall be sure not to let you know!
The Queen came to lunch at Knebworth House at the beginning of my grandfather’s tenure of this role. It was the day she opened the Q.E.2 Hospital in Welwyn Garden City. My mother recalls that “after lunch we sat under the big Oak tree in the garden, and Henry was brought down to be introduced to her. (Aged 1) He was just walking. Neither were that impressed with each other! (May it be recorded that I have been very much impressed by her ever since.) I remember Hermione, trying to tempt the Queen with one of Mr Crocker’s peaches from the greenhouse.” (Mr Croker was the sole Knebworth House gardener at the time).
A small moment in a remarkable life that will not make it into the history books, but a memory that will always be treasured at Knebworth House.
Henry Lytton Cobbold
@HenryCobboldKH
