Queen’s Secretary Assails Report of Views on Thatcher

Queen Elizabeth II’s private secretary intervened for the first time in the “palace mole” dispute, saying suggestions that anyone in the royal household would--or could--reveal the queen’s thoughts about Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher are preposterous.

In a letter printed in today’s Times of London, William Heseltine challenged the accuracy of a report in the July 20 Sunday Times that the queen was dismayed at Thatcher’s leadership style and was critical of many of the government’s policies.

Heseltine said the queen has a right and duty to counsel her government but added that whatever her personal opinions, “she is bound to accept and act on the advice of her ministers.”

“It is equally preposterous to suggest that any member of the queen’s household--even supposing that he or she knew what her majesty’s opinions on government policy might be (and the press secretary certainly does not)--would reveal them to the press,” Heseltine said.

Heseltine confirmed that the queen’s press secretary, Michael Shea, was the palace official who briefed the Sunday Times when it was preparing a feature on the monarch.