Sir William Heseltine, the Australian civil servant who served as Private Secretary to Queen Elizabeth II from 1986 to 1990, has died at the age of 96. He passed away on October 2, 2026, in Australia. His death was confirmed by family sources.
Born Sir William Frederick Payne Heseltine in Wyalkatchem, Western Australia, he entered public service with the Australian Prime Minister’s Department in 1951. Heseltine worked there until 1962.