Sir William Frederick Payne Heseltine (17 July 1930 – 2 October 2026) was an Australian civil servant who was the Private Secretary to Queen Elizabeth II from 1986 to 1990.
Life and career
Heseltine was born in Fremantle, Western Australia on 17 July 1930, the eldest son of Henry Heseltine and Louise (née Payne), both teachers. He spent some of his childhood in Wyalkatchem, Western Australia. He was educated at Richmond Primary School, Christ Church Grammar School, Claremont, Western Australia, and the University of Western Australia, where he received a 1st class BA (Hons) in history. Heseltine joined the Prime Minister's Department (Australia) in 1951, where he remained until 1962. He was Private Secretary to Prime Minister Sir Robert Menzies from 1955 to 1959, Acting Assistant Press Secretary to the Queen from 1960 to 1961, and Acting Official Secretary to the Governor-General of Australia, The 1st Viscount De L'Isle, from May to August 1962.
From 1962 to 1964, Heseltine was Assistant Federal Director of the Liberal Party of Australia, and in 1964 was attached to The Age (Melbourne). In the same year, he was attached to Princess Marina for her tour of Australia. Heseltine joined the Press Office of The Royal Household as Assistant Press Secretary to the Queen and served in that position from 1965 to 1967. He was Press Secretary from 1968 to 1972.
In 1972, Heseltine was moved to the Private Secretary's Office proper, becoming Assistant Private Secretary. In 1977, he was promoted to Deputy Private Secretary and, in April 1986, to Private Secretary to the Sovereign, and Keeper of the Queen's Archives. He retired in October 1990.
He was appointed an Extra Equerry while Deputy Private Secretary to the Queen. He later worked as a company director, including as chairman of NZI Insurance Australia Ltd in 1992 (deputy 1991–1992); as director of NZI Insurance New Zealand in 1996; P&O Australia Ltd from 1990; and West Coast Telecasters Ltd from 1991 to 1996.
He had three wives, Ann Turner who died in 1957, Audrey Nolan who died in 2013 and Diana Loftus whom he married in 2016. He had two children with Nolan, John and Sophy.
Upon leaving royal service, Heseltine retired to his native Western Australia. He died on 2 October 2026, at the age of 96.
Appointments Privy Counsellor, 1986 Honorary Doctorate, Murdoch University, 1992
Honours Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB) 1990 Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) 1986 Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) 1977 Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO) 1990It's an Honour: GCVO, 19 October 1990, Private Secretary to HM The Queen 1986–90 Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO) 1982 Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) 1969 Member of the Royal Victorian Order (MVO) 1961 Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) 1988It's an Honour: AC, 26 January 1988, For service to the Crown as Private Secretary to The Queen of Australia Centenary Medal 2001It's an Honour: Centenary Medal, 1 January 2001, For service to Her Majesty, The Queen. Companion of the Queen's Service Order (QSO) 6 February 1990 (New Zealand) Royal Household Long and Faithful Service Medal 1985 (Queen Elizabeth II Version) Grand Decoration of Honour in Silver for Services to the Republic of Austria 1969 (Austria)
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