An autobiographical presentation by William "The Butler" French.

William joined the Royal Navy at 15 where he was trained as a chef but then moved on to become a No.1 Steward. He then graduated to personal steward/valet to a senior officer at NATO HQ. He saw action in the Falklands aboard HMS Battleaxe.

After a short spell as Leading Steward, he was appointed Royal Class Steward on the Royal Yacht Britannia, opening up a whole new world for him. He served Her Majesty The Queen and Prince Philip on royal tours as well as service on board during their annual holidays in the Western Isles of Scotland with many other members of the royal family.

After the de-commissioning of Britannia, William’s skills and experience took him to Ascot House, near Wing, where he managed a household of 30 staff. When the house was taken over by the National Trust, he moved to Kensington Palace as ‘breakfast butler’ and was at the Ritz Hotel in Paris on the night of Princess Diana’s tragic demise.