My through a

Celebrities share the stories behind their favourite photos.this week: the Queen’s former press secretary Dickie Arbiter, 81

1980

I returned to the UK in 1974 and went to work for

LBC Radio in London. I separated from my first wife, who I’d married in Rhodesia, and became a single dad to my daughter Victoria. After doing an interview on LBC, I was asked to take part in a charity horse ride, and having ridden since I was nine, leapt at the chance of getting into the saddle on a Household Cavalry horse at Stag Meadow in Windsor. This is me in action on that day. I still ride twice a week in Wimbledon.

1990

This was taken at a 50th birthday party given for me by Diana in her Kensington Palace apartment. I was allowed to have 20 guests including my wife, daughter and mother. It was a jolly, informal occasion. I was known for always having a mobile phone with me, so for fun Diana commissioned her chef to make a mobile phone birthday cake for me, seen here. It was reflective of her impish sense of humour. 1988

I love this photo on the Long Walk at Windsor – I’m with Victoria, then 14, my second wife Rosemary, and my English bull terrier Kim. It was taken after the announcement that I was to become one of the Queen’s press secretaries. I’d been a court correspondent for ten years when out of the blue I was asked if I’d be interested in joining The Firm as a spokesman; naturally I said yes. I was ready to make the move from poacher to gamekeeper. 1989tours’

During my years as a royal spokesman I did ‘his

with the Prince of Wales, ‘her tours’ with Princess Diana and ‘their tours’ with them together – about 22 in total. Diana was a good sport and always willing to have a go at things. Here she’s playing bowls on a visit to Indonesia (that’s me with the bright tie). Her first official overseas tour on her own, to New York, was earlier in 1989. At the end of it she gave all her aides, including me, a silver apple as a memento. 1992

I’ll never forget the day Windsor Castle caught fire, that’s why I look so glum. The Queen showed great resilience and was very complimentary about the fire brigade, which did a terrific job in fighting the blaze and preventing the entire building going up in smoke. Prince Philip, ably assisted by Prince Charles, did a magnificent job in overseeing the restoration work, which was completed for around £37m, most of it raised from royal palace tourist visits rather than the public purse.

2011

After leaving the Palace I became a royal commentator, and I’m proud my daughter, now 47, has followed in my footsteps and become a royal commentator too. Here we’re outside Kensington Palace a few days before William and Catherine’s wedding – I was commentating on it for Sky, Victoria was working for US network CBS. I didn’t consider us rivals because we had different audiences.

As told to York Membery. Follow Dickie on Twitter @Royaldickie 1946