she was born on 7 november 1916, the daughter of captain william taylor who was killed in action during the first world war in 1917. she attended tunbridge wells high school and then served in the women's auxiliary air force during the second world war. after the war, she worked at "the daily telegraph" and the brains trust before being employed by eton college, which brought her to the attention of buckingham palace. she joined the royal household in 1958 and became chief clerk to the queen's private secretary in 1961, serving until 1978.