Oliver Dawnay

Oliver Payan Dawnay CVO (4 April 1920 – 18 March 1988) was a British civil servant, banker, and stockbroker. He served as private secretary to Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother from February 1951 to 1956.

Dawnay was born to Major-General Guy Dawnay. He received education at Eton College and Balliol College, Oxford. After completing his studies, he worked as a civil servant in the Ministry of Economic Warfare.

During World War II, Dawnay joined the British Army. He served as an adjutant with the 1st Battalion of the Coldstream Guards and the Guards Armoured Division. His military service included participation in D-Day in 1944, and he was mentioned in dispatches for his wartime conduct. Following the end of the war, he joined the Foreign Office Conference Department.

After his military service, Dawnay worked in merchant banking with Dawnay Day, prior to his appointment as private secretary to Queen Elizabeth, wife of King George VI. He was appointed to this role in February 1951, succeeding T. C. Harvey. As private secretary, he oversaw the affairs of the Queen's daughter, Princess Margaret, and was involved in the discussions regarding Princess Margaret's proposed marriage to Peter Townsend. He also communicated the Queen’s concerns regarding a biography of King George VI to its author, John Pudney. In that correspondence, Dawnay expressed objections to depictions of King George VI’s health, emphasizing his active engagement with visitors late in his life.

In July 1951, Dawnay was involved in a notable rescue near his home in Reading, Berkshire, where he saved a woman and her three children from a car that had crashed into the River Blackwater. The driver of the vehicle was killed in the incident, and eyewitnesses credited Dawnay with saving the children's lives.

In 1956, Dawnay concluded his role as private secretary to the Queen Mother and returned to his banking career. He was succeeded by Martin Gilliat, who served as her private secretary for 37 years until 1993.

From 1961 to 1980, Dawnay was a partner at the stockbroking firm Grieveson, Grant & Co. He maintained a friendship with the Queen Mother after his departure from her service.

In 1963, he married Iris Peake, a former lady-in-waiting to Princess Margaret, as his second wife.