OPINION:
September 2013 – I vividly remember taking this photo in the drawing room of Craigowan House on Her Majesty the Queen's Balmoral Estate.
I was fortunate to be the staffer accompanying then Prime Minister John Key along with his family to spend a weekend with Her Majesty and the royal party. While the Keys stayed in Balmoral Castle itself, I was a few hundred metres down the road in Craigowan House with the Queen's then Private Secretary Sir Christopher Geidt who also had a deep interest in and affection for New Zealand.
I took this photo on the first night of our visit. While John, Bronagh, Stefi and Max were at a dinner with the Queen, Duke of Edinburgh and others, I was well looked after by Sir Christopher. He poured me a large scotch and set me up comfortably in the drawing room while he finished some calls and prepared dinner. My notes of the time record it was a superb venison pie, mashed potatoes and broccoli washed down with a bottle of French red and followed by rhubarb pie!