Any help possible?

[AshleighRolfe]

Hello everyone, I am a new member and can’t wait to be one of the community. I am seeking help finding my great great great uncle who worked for the royal family.
If I provide some information maybe someone knows him or has more images of him.
His name is Charles French
There is video evidence that he did served through the reign of Queen Victoria, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, whilst Queen Elizabeth II was a young teenager.
He was the Queen Mother’s personal groom and riding master to young Elizabeth and Margaret.
There are multiple images of him with king George VI and the Queen Mother.
A video on YouTube Titled. Harvest Time at Sandringham 1943. When the royal family went to inspect the harvesting fields at sandringham. My uncle was there on that day sitting next to the Queen mother in the carriage.
I am deeply honoured my heritage has pledged commitment to the crown.
I am proud of my uncle.
I just want to know more about him.
Any information would be fantastic!
Thank you so much for reading!

[Lady Daly]

Wonderful photos of your X3 Great Uncle Charles French with the BRF. There might be further written documentation of his service history to the royal family at one of the libraries in London. Having been a previous member to Ancestry.com it seems they have a large UK section including the British census. Also, you may not have exhausted your own family's knowlege about your X3 Great Uncle. I did find 2 more pictures with a very young Princess Elizabeth and her riding master Mr. French.

https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-ph...ip%3d0%26pl%3d
Photograph of Princess Elizabeth (1926-) during a riding lesson in the Park at Windsor. Dated 20th Century
Click on the link to bring up second picture of Princess Elizabeth and Mr French.

[AshleighRolfe]

Oh my goodness, thank you so much for your reply this is so great. I hadn’t looked at many libraries yet! Thank you so much for this image Lady Daly.
All my best to you!

[Tarlita]

Also Ashleigh perhaps you could write to Buckingham palace. You will receive a reply, and the secretaries there will pass your enquiry on to any relevant historian at the palace archive perhaps at Windsor where they may be able to supply you with his employment details.
Be specific about what it is you would like to know.
Possibilities are boundless.

[AshleighRolfe]

This is such a great idea, I just wouldn’t know where to start? I would love to see his employment details and how long he actually worked there for. Have you an idea or to write to Buckingham palace for this specific reason?

[Tarlita]

Perhaps you could address your enquiry to The Archivist at Windsor castle asking about his employment details. If that is not the correct department within the firm then they will pass it on to the relevant person/department.
I wrote to Christopher Lloyd at St James' palace in the 1990's and received an excellent reply.
Whatever happens you will receive a reply.

[AshleighRolfe]

Thank you so much for this information, do I need to look up the correct details to send this to and do you know how it can be sent?

[Tarlita]

You could write a letter, address it to The Archivist Windsor Castle.
I would start by saying,
Dear Sir/Madam,
Keep your enquiry short and concise. Make sure you include your name, address and email information.

Other members here may have better advice for you.

[Somebody]

Welcome! I look forward to your posts in the other topics as a new member of the community!

I wonder whether it would help to also specify your relationship to him a bit more - as that might explain your interest. 3x great uncle sounds a long way back. That would be your grandparent's grandparent's brother, that would take me back to the early/mid 18th century... but in your case (based on the pictures) I guess he was born in the late 18th century?

[AshleighRolfe]

I have contacted Windsor castle’s archives team, hopefully I’ll get a reply soon. Thanks so much for this advice.
All my best
Ashleigh

[AshleighRolfe]

I believe he would’ve been born mid to late 19th century, being around 1860/70 as Queen Victoria reigned until 1901. He then served The Queen Mother until Queen Elizabeth II was in adolescence. This being the famous video at sandringham of 1943.

[CyrilVladisla]

When you wrote to the Archivists of Windsor Castle, did you include the month and day of Charles French's birth?

[AshleighRolfe]

I don’t actually know his birth date or death date, I gave as much information as I could. I gave a rough date of when we worked there. Maybe I should contact them again?

[Lilyflo]

Hello Ashleigh

I have subscriptions to several family history websites and I've found some information that's in the public domain so it should be OK to share it with you here.

In the 1939 Register, it looks like he was at Sandringham with his wife:

Charles French / DoB 14 June 1880 / married / Retired Groom
address: Hall Stables, Sandringham, Norfolk

[AshleighRolfe]

Ohh my goodness, I am going to see if I can check this out! Thank you so much!

[AshleighRolfe]

I am not subscribed to any family tree type of websites so this was so helpful you don’t understand

[Lilyflo]

Originally Posted by AshleighRolfe

Ohh my goodness, I am going to see if I can check this out! Thank you so much!

Feel free to send me a private message and I'll show you where the information is.

Edited to add, I've just found more information about him, which I'm sharing with Ashleigh privately and I'll leave it up to her to post what she chooses. My retirement hobby is genealogy, I am an online parish clerk and I conduct free research for people.

Further edited to add for people's amusement: one of my GGG Grandfathers was also called Charles French but he's a different one. :)

[Lady Daly]

Congratulations Ashleigh, it looks like you are well on your way to finding out more about your X3 Great Uncle Charles French. Well done, Lilyflo

[Lady Daly]

Double post, deleted

[Tarlita]

That is great Lilyflo that you can help. My earlier posts I should have said were suggestions only.
Good luck Ashleigh.