Photos taken by Tall Paul during the Queen’s Balmoral photo shoot

Former footman Paul Whybrew, nicknamed ‘Tall Paul’ within the royal household due to his height of six feet, is part of a team tasked with the sensitive task of searching the late Queen’s private diaries and letters.

Mr Whybrew has been entrusted by the King to find out what will be archived and what will remain confidential, The Mail On Sunday reported, with the paper calling him the ‘Keeper of the Queen’s secrets’.

It may come as no surprise as Paul served the Queen for 44 years and was one of the few loyal associates to keep her company in her final days at Balmoral.

He pointed out the close relationship between the late monarch and her trusted aide and even took a behind-the-scenes look at one of her photo shoots.

His candid photos show Queen Elizabeth II beside a secluded stream called Gelder Burn on her Balmoral Estate, as she is photographed by Julian Calder and Mark Cator on the 60th anniversary of the late monarch’s coronation.

For the occasion, the Queen was dressed in the green velvet robe of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, the Scottish equivalent of the English Order of the Garter.

From her shoulders, held by white satin ties, hung the collar of the Order, made of golden thistles and twigs of rue, from which in turn was placed a small Saint Andrew and his saltire cross.

With the moors, sky, hills and babbling brook flowing down to the mighty River Dee, everything is gloriously Scottish, with one honorable exception.

Given the abundance of greenery, the Queen decided to match it all with the emerald-adorned Vladimir Tiara.

In Paul’s behind-the-scenes photos, the late Queen poses proudly as the photographers capture their desired image.

The stunning scene was one of more than 100 portraits in the book Keepers, a groundbreaking publication marking the 60th anniversary of the Queen’s coronation.

His candid photos show Queen Elizabeth II beside a secluded stream called Gelder Burn on her Balmoral Estate, as she is photographed by Julian Calder and Mark Cator on the 60th anniversary of the late monarch’s coronation

For the occasion, the Queen was dressed in the green velvet robe of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, the Scottish counterpart to the English Order of the Garter.

Paul (pictured right) was featured in the James Bond spoof sequence screened at the 2012 London Olympics, greeting 007 star Daniel Craig at Buckingham Palace and introducing him to the Queen, before joining them by a corridor with the corgis

Queen Elizabeth II and her then aide, Paul Whybrew (left), look around a Windsor Castle door in 2004

Written by Alastair Bruce and photographed by Julian Calder and Mark Cator, the book celebrated the bewildering array of official titles and designations that have evolved over a thousand years.

Mr Whybrew, who worked for the Queen for many years, was reportedly so close to the monarch that he sometimes sat by her watching television.

He starred in the James Bond spoof sequence shown at the 2012 London Olympics, saluting 007 star Daniel Craig at Buckingham Palace and introducing him to the Queen, before joining them down a corridor of the corgis.

In 1982, he apprehended intruder Michael Fagan who had broken into the Queen’s bedroom in the palace, with the footman sympathetically distracting him by offering him a drink and pouring him a whisky.

Meanwhile, the Queen kept a handwritten diary, which could provide an unprecedented glimpse into the late monarch’s thoughts and views on political and family life during her long reign.

Her ancestor Queen Victoria charted her thoughts each day in her diaries, and the 141 volumes of private diaries have been digitized and released online.

Paul Whybrew (far left) with the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh driving down Fleet Street for the 1981 Royal Wedding of the Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer (PA)

Paul Whybrew (centre) in his black uniform as the state hearse carries Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin to Windsor Castle (Aaron Chown/PA)

Mr Whybrew works on the project two days a week, using gloves to protect papers from the Queen’s desk as he sifts through letters and correspondence.

He is part of a team from the Master of the Household’s Department and the Royal Collection Trust.

The late Queen’s wardrobe is one of the other items to be catalogued, but it is clear that Angela Kelly, who was Elizabeth II’s confidante and senior dresser for many years and has since left the Windsor estate, is not currently involved. .

Mr Whybrew was made a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) for his royal service in honor of Elizabeth II’s passing after her death, and took part in ceremonial processions on the day of her funeral.

With his mother’s belongings being safely handled by Long Paul, the king would be sure that the palace can preserve her legacy while protecting her secrets.

A former aide said, “Paul is so discreet that he takes the Queen’s secrets to the grave.”