Queen’s first openly gay footman reportedly demoted due to high public profile
Ollie Roberts seen accompanying Queen Elizabeth II on day 3 of Royal Ascot at Ascot Racecourse on June 21, 2018 in Ascot, England. (Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for Ascot Racecourse)
The first openly gay footman to serve Queen Elizabeth II has reportedly quit his job after being demoted from his position because of “courting publicity,” The Sun reported on Sunday.
Ollie Roberts, a 21-year-old who has previously served in the Royal Air Force, was recently appointed to the role of personal footman to the monarch, which required him to live on the grounds of Buckingham Palace and to travel with the monarch.
According to The Sun, Roberts was demoted to ordinary footman, meaning he could no longer walk the Queen’s dogs, take in her mail, hand her a blanket for her knees or be seen in public near the monarch.
Roberts and the Queen (Provided)
Roberts had made a first appearance by her side in June, for the Trooping the Colour annual ceremony in honour of the Queen’s official birthday, and was seen shortly afterwards accompanying the monarch on her outing for Royal Ascot, when she wore rainbow-coloured roses on her hat.
A source told the tabloid newspaper that Roberts was told he had been “overdoing the press stuff.”
“They told him his profile was becoming too high and he wasn’t there to draw attention to himself,” the royal insider continued, adding: “He thought about it for a couple of days then decided he should quit. He feels badly let down when he was proud to be gay in such a good job.”
(olroberts96 / Instagram)
Roberts, who has deleted his Instagram profile, did not provide The Sun with a comment. Buckingham Palace has also not commented on the story.
Many had welcomed the appointment of an openly gay man to one of the most visible positions beside the Queen, who cemented her commitment to tackling anti-LGBT discrimination in the 2017 State Opening of Parliament.
