Lord Edward
Young
Global Chairman of APCO Family Office & former Principal Private Secretary to Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles III
Lord Edward Young specialises in guiding high-profile leaders, organisations and families through times of challenge, transition and renewal.
Lord Young spent the last twenty years in the Royal Household, notably as principal private secretary to Queen Elizabeth II, serving as Her Majesty’s chief adviser in her role as Head of State.
Over the years, he advised on many sensitive and momentous issues, ranging from formation of governments and big set-piece events such as The Queen’s historic state visit to Ireland in 2011, through to private family matters. As head of the Private Secretary’s Department at Buckingham Palace, he led a team of 80, comprising experts in communications, planning, policy, research, security and governance. He has been in the room, literally, for the last six changes of UK Prime Minister and has met many of the most senior figures on the world stage. On a lighter note, it was Lord Young who persuaded Her Majesty to take part in the famous James Bond helicopter sketch for the London 2012 Olympics.
Following The Queen’s death in September 2022, Lord Young was invited by King Charles III to stay on as His Majesty’s joint principal private secretary, to oversee the smooth transition to the new reign. Lord Young stepped down from this role last year, following The King’s Coronation. He was made a Life Peer, awarded the honours of GCB and GCVO, and appointed to the role of permanent lord in waiting to The King.
Earlier in his career, Lord Young was a senior adviser to the chief executive and chairman at Barclays plc and ITV plc during times of dramatic organisational challenge. He was also adviser and personal spokesman for The Rt Hon William Hague MP, the then leader of the Opposition, throughout the general election campaign of 2001.
Lord Young is now an active member of the House of Lords, including contributing to foreign affairs debates and as a member of the Lords’ Finance Select Committee. He is also serving as an adviser and confidential emissary for the commonwealth secretary-general on global head of state matters.