Dickie Arbiter LVO – Royal Commentator

Dickie Arbiter began his broadcasting career in Zimbabwe (Southern Rhodesia) in the mid-1960s. Following a return to the United Kingdom in the early 1970s he joined LBC News Radio/IRN (Independent Radio News) as a newscaster and program presenter. During late Queen’s 1977 Silver Jubilee he was asked to report on the British royal family. In 1981 he was responsible for organizing the UK’s commercial radio coverage as well as taking on as lead commentator of the wedding of Prince Charles to Lady Diana Spencer. With the success of the Royal wedding coverage, he was appointed IRN’s Court Correspondent with accreditation to Buckingham Palace – being only one of two such correspondents with continuous and unfettered access to the Palace. His new role meant travelling extensively both at home and abroad, covering the British monarchy, his area of expertise. In 1988, he joined the Buckingham Palace Press Office, serving not only as press spokesman to the late Queen Elizabeth II but also spokesman for The King, when he was The Prince of Wales and his late wife, Diana Princess of Wales. In addition to his role as Royal press spokesman, Dickie was responsible for the media management of ceremonial occasions. These included all major state events inside Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle inward State Visits, the late Queen’s major UK engagements and the operational media requirements for royal funerals, including that of the late Diana, Princess of Wales. For his service to the crown, In the 1996 Birthday Honors, he was appointed Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order (LVO). Since retiring from Royal duty, Dickie went back to his broadcasting roots as a television commentator. Having spent going on fifty years covering royalty, heads of state, and other globally recognized figures, his knowledge qualifies him to bring his own personal insight into the public forum as a royal analyst and international lecturer. On this episode, Dickie shares his one way ticket to Whitefish, Montana to horseback ride and enjoy a cowboy lifestyle. In our conversation, we also cover a wide swath of topics including: 1. The role of the Monarchy 2. A window into the late Queen’s personality 3. The Republican movement in the UK and 13 realms where the Sovereign is Head of State 4. His tea with then Prince Charles & Lady Diana Spencer three days before their 1981 wedding…and what their relationship was really like 5. Lovely anecdotes of time spent with Diana during royal engagements 6. Behind the scenes look at managing the press for Diana’s funeral 7. The painstaking details that go into an overseas royal tour 8. How the King is navigating his relentless schedule despite his cancer  9. The U.S. President the late Queen tolerated and the U.S. First Lady with which she had a frosty relationship 10. The drama surrounding Harry and Meghan 11. The late Queen’s last days 12. What he really thinks of the Netflix series “The Crown”.