Warrant Officer Ellis Norrell, who died at 87, was an unofficial childminder for Prince Charles and was a constant presence aboard the yacht that was the Queen’s home away form home. He was also privy to a side of Royal Family so few will ever see.
Norrell, also known as Norrie by his close friends, was a Royal Family member for more than 34 year aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia. The Queen once described Norrell as “the only place I can truly relax”.
He worked his way up from Able Seaman and Warrant Officer and served everyone on the vessel, from Princess Anne to the Duke of Edinburgh. Princess Diana once reprimanded him for making Princess Diana feel like a ‘naughty girl’.
In 1988, he retired and was presented with a pair of cufflinks by the Queen and a signed photo. He was made a member in the Royal Victorian Order.
Warrant Officer Ellis Norrell, who died at 87, was an unofficial childminder for Prince Charles and was a constant presence aboard the yacht that was the Queen’s home away form home. He was also a constant presence. Pictured: The Queen greets Norrie on a walkabout aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia in 1950s
He rose from Able Seaman to Warrant officer and served everyone from Princess Anne to Princess Diana. Princess Diana once reprimanded him for making Princess Diana feel like a ‘naughty girl’. Pictured are Prince Charles and Princess Diana, along with Norrie, on their honeymoon aboard the yacht.
Norrell, also known as Norrie by those close by him, served the Royal Family over 34 years onboard the Royal Yacht Britannia. The Queen once described Norrell as ‘the only place I can truly relax’. Pictured in 2013
His unofficial duties included taking care of a young Prince Charles (and Princess Anne) who spent a lot their childhood on the vessel. They were said to be fascinated with the crew.
He had previously told the story of teaching his royal siblings to fly kites and to lay lobster pots. He also arranged treasure hunts and let them pretend to steer the ship.
Norrell, who was on their honeymoon exploring the Greek islands with Prince of Wales, told Princess Diana not to play the keyboard in the recreation space for seamen. After she complained, the Royal Yachts flag officers told her off.
Norrell reminded Diana that ‘Your Royal Alignment, you shouldn’t be here, I’m quite happy to take you back to your quarters’.
Norrie was part of the 220-strong crew that travelled with Princess Anne and Prince Charles on the ship’s maiden voyage in 1954. They were then five and three years old, and were travelling to Tobruk, Libya, to meet their parents. Charles and Anne on another Royal Yacht Britannia trip that year.
In 1988, Queen Elizabeth gifted Norrell a pair of cufflinks along with a signed photograph. He was also made a Royal Victorian Order member. Pictured: Norrell is thanked by the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh for his service in the year before he retired.
The Queen Mother welcomed Warrant Officer Norrell to Royal Yacht Britannia. Norrell was trusted to care for the Royal Family while onboard the yacht.
Norrell’s Britannia days saw the first state visits by Princess Margaret, the Duke of Edinburgh opening the Melbourne Olympic Games in 1956, and the Queen’s visit to Portugal in 1957.
He was part the 220-strong crew of the ship’s maiden journey in 1954. He traveled with Princess Anne and Prince Charles, then five and three years respectively, to meet their parents in Tobruk, Libya.
Norrell stated that it was the Queen’s home in an interview. “Wherever she went in this world, she could return at night to her staff.” It was a place she could kick her heels off and relax.
He also recalled the moment that Diana’s grown-up Prince of Wales brought the first bed to the ship.
Norell received the Royal Victorian Medal in 1973 as a personal gift from the Sovereign for his leadership and model seamanship.
Britannia was retired from service in 1997. The bronze from one of the propellers was repurposed to make a statue of Norrell wearing the dress uniform of a skilled seaman.
The sculpture can be found now alongside the gangway from the decommissioned vessel in Edinburgh.
Norell was released to pension, but quickly re-employed at Windsor Castle.
He was a custodian for artifacts and was part of the royal household over the next eight years. This meant that he took care of royal heirlooms after the 1992 fire.
According to The Times, he claimed that his most prized possession is a painting of him by the Prince of Wales. This painting was created during his honeymoon.
Norrell was born in Portland, Dorset on December 7, 1933. He married Grace Michie while serving on Britannia. They had three daughters, Katrina Sheena and Audrey. In 2005, his wife died.
They would take trips together when he wasn’t working, to Florida, Hong Kong, Croatia, and even to a remote cottage in Balmoral.
Norrell was born in Portland, Dorset on December 7, 1933. Grace Michie, who served on Britannia in 1957 married Norrell. They had three daughters, Katrina (Sheena), Audrey and Audrey.
His wife died in 2005.
He joined the Navy at HMS St Vincent in Gosport, a boys’ training institution. He was accepted into the Permanent Royal Yacht Service in 1954, following his father’s footsteps, who was a Boy Seaman in the Royal Yacht Victoria and Albert.
Warrant Officer E V Norrell, born December 7 1933, died October 9 2021.
Norrell with the signed photograph he received from the Queen upon his retirement in 1988. He was re-employed at Windsor Castle after he left the Royal Yacht Britannia.