Michael Peat
Encyclopedia
Sir Michael Charles Gerrard Peat, GCVO (born 16 November 1949) was the Principal Private Secretary to Charles, Prince of Wales
and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall between 2002 and 2011.
. He was educated at Eton College
and at Trinity College
, University of Oxford
, where he received an MA degree. He later attended the INSEAD
in Fontainebleau
, France
, and obtained an MBA
degree in 1977. He became an Associate Chartered Accountant
in 1965 and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants
in 1975.
Peat joined KPMG
Peat Marwick McLintock in 1972, became a partner
in 1985. He led a 1986 study into the financial management
of the Royal Household
. From 1987 to 1990, he was the auditor
of the Privy Purse
and administrative adviser to the Royal Household. In 1990, he was appointed Director of Finance and Property Services of the Royal Household, while remaining a partner at KPMG. He retired from KPMG in 1993, and in 1996 was appointed Keeper of the Privy Purse
and Treasurer to the Queen, and Receiver General
of the Duchy of Lancaster
. He retired from these positions in 2002, when he was appointed as private secretary to the Prince of Wales, taking control of the Office of the Prince of Wales. In 2005 he was made Principal Private Secretary to TRH The Prince of Wales & The Duchess of Cornwall.
However, Peat stepped down as the Prince of Wales' Private Secretary on 24 January 2011. He continues to undertake investment and financial projects for the Prince and provide advice on a part-time basis. Peat is replaced as Principal Private Secretary by Mr William Nye, formerly Director of the National Security Secretariat, Cabinet Office
; a career civil servant with experience working at the Home Office
and the Treasury
.
(CVO) in 1994, promoted to a Knight Commander (KCVO) in 1998, and promoted again to Knight Grand Cross (GCVO) of the same order on October 17, 2011.
Charles, Prince of Wales
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales is the heir apparent and eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Since 1958 his major title has been His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. In Scotland he is additionally known as The Duke of Rothesay...
and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall between 2002 and 2011.
Life and career
Peat was born in 1949 and is great-grandson of William Barclay Peat, founder of the accountancy firm of Peat MarwickKPMG
KPMG is one of the largest professional services networks in the world and one of the Big Four auditors, along with Deloitte, Ernst & Young and PwC. Its global headquarters is located in Amstelveen, Netherlands....
. He was educated at Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
and at Trinity College
Trinity College, Oxford
The College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity in the University of Oxford, of the foundation of Sir Thomas Pope , or Trinity College for short, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It stands on Broad Street, next door to Balliol College and Blackwells bookshop,...
, University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
, where he received an MA degree. He later attended the INSEAD
INSEAD
INSEAD is an international graduate business school and research institution. It has campuses in Europe , Asia , and the Middle East , as well as a research center in Israel...
in Fontainebleau
Fontainebleau
Fontainebleau is a commune in the metropolitan area of Paris, France. It is located south-southeast of the centre of Paris. Fontainebleau is a sub-prefecture of the Seine-et-Marne department, and it is the seat of the arrondissement of Fontainebleau...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, and obtained an MBA
Master of Business Administration
The Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
degree in 1977. He became an Associate Chartered Accountant
Chartered Accountant
Chartered Accountants were the first accountants to form a professional body, initially established in Britain in 1854. The Edinburgh Society of Accountants , the Glasgow Institute of Accountants and Actuaries and the Aberdeen Society of Accountants were each granted a royal charter almost from...
in 1965 and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants
Chartered Accountant
Chartered Accountants were the first accountants to form a professional body, initially established in Britain in 1854. The Edinburgh Society of Accountants , the Glasgow Institute of Accountants and Actuaries and the Aberdeen Society of Accountants were each granted a royal charter almost from...
in 1975.
Peat joined KPMG
KPMG
KPMG is one of the largest professional services networks in the world and one of the Big Four auditors, along with Deloitte, Ernst & Young and PwC. Its global headquarters is located in Amstelveen, Netherlands....
Peat Marwick McLintock in 1972, became a partner
Partnership
A partnership is an arrangement where parties agree to cooperate to advance their mutual interests.Since humans are social beings, partnerships between individuals, businesses, interest-based organizations, schools, governments, and varied combinations thereof, have always been and remain commonplace...
in 1985. He led a 1986 study into the financial management
Managerial finance
Managerial finance is the branch of finance that concerns itself with the managerial significance of finance techniques. It is focused on assessment rather than technique....
of the Royal Household
Royal Household
A Royal Household in ancient and medieval monarchies formed the basis for the general government of the country as well as providing for the needs of the sovereign and his relations....
. From 1987 to 1990, he was the auditor
Financial audit
A financial audit, or more accurately, an audit of financial statements, is the verification of the financial statements of a legal entity, with a view to express an audit opinion...
of the Privy Purse
Privy Purse
The Privy Purse is the British Sovereign's remaining private income, mostly from the Duchy of Lancaster. This amounted to £13.3 million in net income for the year to 31 March 2009. The Duchy is a landed estate of approximately 46,000 acres held in trust for the Sovereign since 1399. It also has...
and administrative adviser to the Royal Household. In 1990, he was appointed Director of Finance and Property Services of the Royal Household, while remaining a partner at KPMG. He retired from KPMG in 1993, and in 1996 was appointed Keeper of the Privy Purse
Keeper of the Privy Purse
The Keeper of the Privy Purse and Treasurer to the King/Queen is responsible for the financial management of the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom....
and Treasurer to the Queen, and Receiver General
Receiver General
A Receiver General is an officer responsible for accepting payments on behalf of a government, and for making payments to a government on behalf of other parties. Receiver General is an alternative title for a Treasurer.-See also:...
of the Duchy of Lancaster
Duchy of Lancaster
The Duchy of Lancaster is one of the two royal duchies in England, the other being the Duchy of Cornwall. It is held in trust for the Sovereign, and is used to provide income for the use of the British monarch...
. He retired from these positions in 2002, when he was appointed as private secretary to the Prince of Wales, taking control of the Office of the Prince of Wales. In 2005 he was made Principal Private Secretary to TRH The Prince of Wales & The Duchess of Cornwall.
However, Peat stepped down as the Prince of Wales' Private Secretary on 24 January 2011. He continues to undertake investment and financial projects for the Prince and provide advice on a part-time basis. Peat is replaced as Principal Private Secretary by Mr William Nye, formerly Director of the National Security Secretariat, Cabinet Office
Cabinet Office
The Cabinet Office is a department of the Government of the United Kingdom responsible for supporting the Prime Minister and Cabinet of the United Kingdom....
; a career civil servant with experience working at the Home Office
Home Office
The Home Office is the United Kingdom government department responsible for immigration control, security, and order. As such it is responsible for the police, UK Border Agency, and the Security Service . It is also in charge of government policy on security-related issues such as drugs,...
and the Treasury
HM Treasury
HM Treasury, in full Her Majesty's Treasury, informally The Treasury, is the United Kingdom government department responsible for developing and executing the British government's public finance policy and economic policy...
.
Honours
Peat was made a Commander of the Royal Victorian OrderRoyal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
(CVO) in 1994, promoted to a Knight Commander (KCVO) in 1998, and promoted again to Knight Grand Cross (GCVO) of the same order on October 17, 2011.
External links
- "Sir Michael Peat: Right hand man." BBC. 6 November 2003.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3249155.stm
- "Sir Michael Peat: The royal axe man." BBC. 13 November 2003.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2457903.stm
- "The Guardian profile: Sir Michael Peat." The Guardian. February 25, 2005.http://www.guardian.co.uk/monarchy/story/0,2763,1424988,00.html