The Honourable George Edward Adeane (4 October 1939 – 20 May 2015) was an English barrister and royal advisor who served as Private Secretary to the Prince of Wales from 1979 to 1985.
Contents
Early years and education
Adeane was born in 1939, the son of Michael Adeane (created a life peer as Baron Adeane in 1972) and Helen Chetwynd-Stapylton, the daughter of Richard Chetwynd-Stapylton. The family had a long history of service to the royal family. His maternal great-grandfather was Arthur Bigge, later Lord Stamfordham, private secretary to Queen Victoria and King George V. His paternal great-grandfather was Admiral Edward Stanley Adeane. Adeane's father was Private Secretary to the Queen for 19 years, between 1953 and 1972.
He was educated at Eton College and Magdalene College, Cambridge, where he graduated with an MA. He was a Page of Honour to The Queen from 1954 to 1956.
Career
In 1960 and 1961, he was a Plebiscite Supervisor in Southern Cameroon. He was called to the Bar at the Middle Temple in July 1962 and specialised in libel until 1979. As a barrister, he defended Time Out magazine, owned by Playboy Publications, Inc., in 1973, when they had accused Fiona Lewis, an actress, of being involved with South American revolutionaries. She was awarded damages.